Juneteenth: My Story of Freedom and Access
In celebration of Juneteenth, Colorwave champions the dual themes of Freedom and Access by highlighting the importance of choice in career paths and the ability to generate wealth without restrictions.
Through Colorwave, I met fellow alum Takiyah Hartwell who helped me pivot into my first tech and startup role in talent acquisition. Through Takiyah's advocacy and what I learned about startups and compensation as a fellow, I experienced a life-changing tenure at a top Y Combinator startup. During this time, I earned the most I'd ever earned and was able to build a healthy savings.
Through connection to an individual who advocated for me in the hiring process.
I've learned how formulaic hiring decisions can be. Being a non-traditional hire, it struck me how crucial it is to have someone who influences hiring decisions recognize your value and advocate for you. If I had cold-applied, I would not have been considered, though I would later excel in the role. Takiyah expanded my realm of possibilities and helped remove a barrier. The support of the Colorwave community encouraged me when I knew I wasn't being embraced by creating an affirming counterspace.
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