Getting to know someone meaningfully is the foundation of all strong relationships, whether it’s friendship, romance, or professional connections . The right questions can spark authentic conversations, reveal true personality traits, and build trust. But not all questions work the same way. The best ones are respectful of boundaries, invite openness, and encourage genuine sharing rather than superficial answers. Let’s explore some of the best questions you can ask to get to know someone new. Whether you’re networking, meeting a new co-worker for the first time, or deepening a work friendship, these questions can open the door to a genuine connection. Questions About Background And Life Experiences One of the best ways to start getting to know someone is by understanding their background and life story. Asking about where someone grew up and what that experience was like gives insight into their roots and early influences. Asking about a memorable experience from their youth often...

Authenticity and research fuel successful brand partnerships — and Aaron Walton recognized this long before it became the norm. At AFROTECH™ 2024 , Walton, CEO and founder of award-winning ad agency Walton Isaacson, joined Shardé Marchewski, Wayfair ‘s Head of Supplier Diversity , for a conversation on how aligning values and culture with the right celebrity can elevate storytelling and impact consumers. The session offered creatives a behind-the-scenes look at major brand collaborations and practical strategies for securing and executing high-impact campaigns. Walton’s brand story began after graduating from Babson College in 1983. With a passion for advertising , he joined the Pepsi-Cola Company as a research analyst, learning how to tell stories with data before being promoted into brand marketing , marking the start of a game-changing career. “The truth is everything that we do now, whether it is an event or some type of communication, starts with looking at what the business...

For CeD Mixon, balancing user-centered design with data-driven product strategy is core to his approach. As a seasoned design leader, he collaborates closely with product managers, VPs, and cross-functional teams to keep the end goal sharply focused on the user. At AFROTECH™  Conference 2024 , Mixon shared actionable insights on when to lead with design thinking and when to lean into product-led growth. The session offered practical frameworks to help engineers, designers, and solution architects align product development with both user experience and business goals. With over a decade of experience scaling companies from small startups to global platforms impacting millions, Mixon reflected on entering the tech industry at a time when he was often the only Black person in predominantly white spaces. Purchase your ticket to AFROTECH™ Conference 2025 now!   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by AFROTECH™ Conference (@afrotech.conference) “In the beginning, I wasn’t that...

When you leave your job , there’s a high chance the company’s human resources department will ask you exit interview questions. These interviews allow you to provide feedback and reflect on your time at the company. This conversation might seem awkward or uncomfortable, but handling it gracefully can benefit you and the company. Your responses can shape your reputation and even provide valuable insights for your future career. What should you expect in an exit interview, and how should you answer? Let’s break down the most common exit interview questions, why they’re asked, and how to answer them in a way that’s professional and constructive. We’ve also included a list of thoughtful questions to ask your employe r to demonstrate your professionalism and help you close this chapter with confidence. Why are you leaving your current role? Why it’s asked:  This is typically your employer’s first ques tion. They want to understand your reasons for leaving: Is it a personal decision, a...

Program managers play a crucial role in guiding complex projects, aligning teams, managing resources, and ensuring that strategic goals are met within organizations. Hiring the right program manager means finding someone with not only the technical know-how but also the leadership skills, communication abilities, and strategic vision necessary to oversee multifaceted programs successfully. Crafting the right interview questions is essential to uncovering these qualities. This article provides an in-depth guide to strategic interview questions explicitly tailored for program managers. These questions help assess candidates across key competencies such as leadership, project execution, communication, stakeholder management, risk mitigation, and strategic thinking. By using these targeted questions, hiring teams can better predict which candidates will excel and drive organizational success. Leadership And Team Management Questions Program managers must effectively lead diverse,...

Landing a second interview is a clear sign you’re a strong contender for the role. You’ve passed the initial screening, and now the employer is evaluating not just whether you can do the job , but whether you’re the right fit long-term. In a second interview, you can dive deeper, ask lingering questions, and leave a lasting impression. It isn’t just about fielding questions, though. As the candidate, you have the opportunity to ask questions as well, and you should. Strategic, thoughtful questions demonstrate your professionalism, curiosity, understanding of the company’s goals, and how much you’ve thought about the role. Here are some questions to ask in a second interview to showcase your talents and help everyone make an informed decision. Digging Into The Role Itself You probably got a general overview of the position during the first interview. Now’s the time to ask more nuanced questions to ensure you understand the full scope of what’s expected. What would a typical day or...

Artificial intelligence (AI) is driving a wave of transformation, reshaping how organizations adapt and compete — making it essential to foster a culture of innovation and adaptability to navigate disruption and ensure long-term success. At AFROTECH™ 2024, Temi Soleye, the senior director of learning & performance at Merlin Labs, and Ashley Gatewood, the change & transformation leader at Google, came together to discuss the opportunities and challenges AI presents for businesses, how to lead effective transformations and what it takes to build a future-ready workforce. When it comes to AI and transformation, Soleye noted that AI has productivity tools, such as support for coding and coders — but its challenges and opportunities go hand in hand. “High performance culture depends on the people, but it also depends on the processes and the systems,” Soleye said. Adding that, to streamline workflow, people should consider what the person currently does and how artificial intelligence...

Artificial intelligence (AI) now touches nearly every aspect of life — from health care and national security to smartphones and entertainment. At AFROTECH™ 2024 , Tanneasha Gordon , U.S. data and digital trust principal at Deloitte & Touche, joined Jarell Oshodi, privacy executive and counsel, to explore balancing AI innovation with protecting sensitive information and maintaining trust in a data-driven world. Diving deep into ethical frameworks, Gordon described AI as a “broad field of computer science, really focused on designing and deploying systems that mimic human intelligence,” viewing it through three paradigms: Our five senses, creativity, and consciousness. Purchase your ticket to AFROTECH™ Conference 2025 now!   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by AFROTECH (@afro.tech) When asked about AI’s benefits, Gordon pointed to increased productivity, efficiency, and cost savings across individuals and enterprises. However, she highlighted five key risks: Deepfakes and...

Representation matters now more than ever — a key theme highlighted during the AFROTECH™ 2024 Conference panel discussion, “Fueling Ambition For Women On The Rise.” The Summit Stage came alive with an inspiring conversation between two powerhouse leaders: Gabrielle Wesley , chief marketing officer of Mars Wrigley North America, and Jennifer Lynne Williams, chief development officer at the USA Basketball Foundation. Moderated by Zuhairah Scott Washington, founder and CEO of Unlimited Ventures, the session explored bold leadership, inclusive innovation, and the fearless pursuit of impact. Through personal stories and hard-earned insights, the panelists offered attendees tangible strategies to fuel their own ambition and rise in their careers. Both Wesley and Williams reflected on the impact of seeing Black women who looked like them in leadership roles and how mentorship shaped their own journeys, expressing a deep commitment to doing the same for the next generation — serving as...

No matter who occupies the White House, Maryland Governor Wes Moore remains steadfast in his commitment to three core pillars for his state’s 6.2 million residents: work, wages, and wealth — and creating pathways for all three. At AFROTECH™ Conference 2024, Moore — Maryland’s 63rd and first Black governor — joined Blavity Inc. Co-Founder and COO Jeff Nelson for a powerful fireside chat focused on economic empowerment, youth engagement, public safety, and sustainable community development. The governor shared insights on building resilient, self-sufficient communities, equipping the conference room of innovators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers with tangible steps to create a lasting impact. Buy your AFROTECH™ Conference 2025 ticket now! Reflecting on his personal journey into public service, Moore shared that he didn’t come from a political dynasty — far from it. Now, he says he sees the world in two categories: Marylanders and future Marylanders. “I had to convince members of my...

Cliff Worley Sr., head of portfolio marketing at Oakland, CA-based venture firm Kapor Capital, believes artificial intelligence (AI) is going to make us all entrepreneurs. Based on its website, Kapor Capital invests in businesses that improve the lives of low-income communities and communities of color. It was also an early investor in Blavity Inc. At AFROTECH™ Conference 2024, Worley led a dynamic workshop offering a comprehensive overview of the most effective AI tools for founders. The workshop aimed to equip attendees with the knowledge and strategies  to streamline workflows, enhance productivity, and optimize budgets using cutting-edge AI innovations for business success. Purchase your ticket to AFROTECH™ Conference 2025 now! “If you’ve ever had that idea that you’ve always wanted to build, now is the time to do it,” Worley said while on stage.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by AFROTECH (@afro.tech) Drawing parallels to the internet in 1988 and the release of...

Marche Robinson has advice for content creator seeking monetization. Robinson has worn many hats from attorney to content creator to founder of the vegan and cruelty-free haircare brand Isaline Beauty, which she launched in 2020. Having multiple streams of income has worked to her benefit, as she admits it has allowed her to take greater risks and be more intentional with the opportunities presented to her as a content creator, as explained on the “Black Tech Green Money” podcast hosted by AFROTECH™ Brand Manager Will Lucas. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Marche Robinson (@marcherobinson)   “I worked for, I think, seven years before I went full-time with, or I won’t say full-time content creating, but before I left corporate America, one thing I loved when I worked my day job was…I never felt the pressure to align with a brand that I didn’t feel spoke to my life or resonated with my followers…,” she explained. “If you ask my managers, I’m very rigid when it comes to...

Cybersecurity remains one of the most important — and unpredictable — topics shaping today’s technology landscape. At AFROTECH™ 2024, Nicole Dove, director of security engineering at Riot Games, led a session on how bad actors use artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance cyberattacks and how defenders are evolving to stay ahead. Moderated by Dr. Christine Izuakor, founder and CEO of Cyber Pop-up, the session also included Oluwadamilola Obamehinti, who has over a decade of experience at major tech companies including eBay. During the session, Dove and Obamehinti were presented with high-stakes real-world scenarios to respond to live. “We’ve all heard a lot of the nightmare stories over the last year, especially when it comes to security,” Izuakor said. “Everything from unprecedented amounts of data being leaked to social media hacks to a global IT outage — and it’s important as leaders for us to be able to respond in ways that are efficient, to remain calm, to think critically while...

As data remains the backbone of digital advertising and regulatory scrutiny continues to grow, technologists are uniquely positioned to influence the industry’s future. At AFROTECH™ 2024 , Juliette Stancil, senior assistant general counsel of data privacy at Intuit Inc. — the parent company of TurboTax, QuickBooks, Mailchimp, and Credit Karma — led a workshop tackling the intersection of digital advertising and data privacy. Stancil unpacked current challenges, evolving platform rules, and privacy-first innovations — equipping attendees with the insights needed to navigate and influence a rapidly shifting landscape. “I would encourage anyone to really read through privacy settings and the privacy policy of any of the places you tend to visit or where you ingest content,” Stancil shared early in the session. “And you might be surprised at the number of capabilities you have to set permissions around what gets collected and what gets used, particularly for marketing and advertising...

Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), once known primarily for powering video games, have evolved into the backbone of today’s most advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems. At AFROTECH™ 2024 , Seyi (Shay) Ogebule, Ph.D., product lead at Intel and a seasoned expert in IoT and tech manufacturing, took the Cybersecurity Stage to share how GPUs are revolutionizing edge AI. “What powers AI? How does AI work? What’s behind the scenes?” Dr. Ogebule asked the audience. “So, I spent a lot of my career and my work over a decade-plus behind the scenes trying to create those specialized chips so that you can enjoy the benefits of AI.” Purchase your ticket to AFROTECH™ Conference 2025 now! During the panel, viewers learned about the latest breakthroughs in GPU technology, which is used to process massive volumes of data, and how such advancements are making general computing and AI more efficient, accessible, and impactful. As Ogebule explained, the growing demand for real-time, intelligent...