Shon Jones traded what would have been a career in pharmacy for a future in technology, where he found a lifelong passion. The Houston native was raised by parents who both worked in technology. As a teen, he recalls going to work with his father to put computers together for the summer and later working for Compaq for a few years. His career took a pivot, one that nearly led to him become a pharmacist. In 1997, he geared his studies around that career field but had a change of heart after considering the impact of charging $100 for medicine he said was valued at 30 cents. “That didn’t seem to align with my spirit. That’s not for me,” he told AFROTECH™ in an interview. Jones decided to focus on computer information systems. He enrolled at the University of Houston while simultaneously working as a network administrator, according to his LinkedIn. When he obtained a degree in c omputer and information technology administration and management at the University of Houston, he already...

NFL player Jaylon Smith admits that he didn’t have any idea how to manage his earnings once he entered the league, but as his career has continued to grow, he is ready to conquer the business world. Smith has been playing football since he was 7 years old. His talent on the field led to the Dallas Cowboys drafting him at 20 years old in 2016, ESPN reported . He signed a four-year contract valued at $6.5 million, according to Spotrac. However, managing those earnings came with its challenges. “Now I acquire some money at 20 years old with zero knowledge on how to manage, grow and preserve it. I didn’t grow [up] in my household with a budget. So that’s another layer of dynamic that we have to think about as well on why my peers are going broke,” Smith explained on the “Black Tech Green Money” podcast, hosted by AFROTECH™ Brand Manager Will Lucas. Smith has come a long way from draft day. The Las Vegas Raiders linebacker, who played college football at Notre Dame, is a serial investor...

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...

Ope Amosu turned a hobby into a thriving restaurant. The London, England, native is a child of Nigerian immigrants who relocated to Houston, TX, and to him food is fellowship and also a gateway to community. It’s why he pivoted from the oil and gas industry — where he held roles at General Electric (GE) such as senior commercial development leader and corporate account executive — to launch ChòpnBlọk, a fast-casual restaurant inspired by his West African roots. Co-founded with his wife, Janelle, the restaurant has become one of Houston’s standout culinary destinations. Photo Credit: ChòpnBlọk “Food was one of those universal languages where we could cross many barriers to ultimately get a a super diverse, broad community and share with them who we are, where we come from, what we own, what we have provided. That’s really what the passion is about. Landing on food as the vehicle is what set me on this path,” Amosu told AFROTECH™ in an interview. Non-Traditional Journey Amosu’s...

Derek Lewis’ corporate experience gave him the upper hand in becoming a franchisee. Lewis had an extensive career at PepsiCo that spanned 35 years, and he managed multi-billion-dollar operations. He spent the first seven years in various sales roles before rising through the ranks to become Pepsi Bottling Group’s regional sales manager (2001–2004), followed by three separate vice president roles (2001-2008) and two senior vice president positions (2008-2019). He exited the company at the end of 2022 after serving as president of multicultural business at PepsiCo North America for one year. Franchisee Lewis is now occupied as a franchisee of Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks, with 10 traditional locations slated for Central Florida. He is projected to be the largest franchisee in the Southern Region of the United States, according to a news release shared with AFROTECH™. His locations have broken ground at Orlando’s Kia Center and Camping World Stadium, and most recently in Oviedo, FL. Leslie...

As faith leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers navigate the fast-shifting terrain of artificial intelligence, automation, and digital globalization, few figures have leaned into this moment with as much intentionality — or complexity — as Bishop T.D. Jakes. Known to many as a pastor, to others as a media mogul, and increasingly to investors and technologists as an ecosystem builder, Jakes is reasserting his role at the intersection of innovation, equity, and cultural capital. This is where his ongoing initiative, the Good Soil Forum, enters the chat. The conference, which has convened business owners, technologists, creatives, and investors for years, positions itself as a gathering and a long-term infrastructure. It reflects Jakes’ emphasis on sustainability, access to capital, and the kind of practical knowledge often kept behind institutional gates. What has shifted recently, however, is not the mission — but the moment. When Technology Hits Close To Home For Jakes In 2024,...

Remaining a student has led Carmelo Anthony into various industries. The former NBA player, who retired in 2023 and is a first-ballot Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, reflects on his evolution from the 19-year-old drafted in 2003 to a businessman who is now a serial investor and founder in the wine and cannabis sectors. One of Anthony’s biggest takeaways: He is no longer operating in fear. “A top lesson that I’ve learned was ‘stop being afraid,'” he recalled in an interview with AFROTECH™. “ A lot of times when you’re younger and you in these powerful roles and there’s people who are making decisions and there are people writing checks, it’s like ‘You too young to understand it,’ until you grow and until you get older, you go through it and you understand what you truly want to do.” He continued, “At 19, 20, 21, I didn’t have any type of sense of business. I knew street business, I knew street knowledge. I have foundational ethics and morals that could carry over from the streets...

Erin Harkless Moore believes artificial intelligence (AI) can improve the Care Economy. Since 2020, Moore has served as vice president and managing director of investments at Pivotal Ventures, a company launched by billionaire philanthropist Melinda French Gates to advance social progress and accelerate women’s influence globally, per its website. Gates has even committed $2 billion towards the mission. Furthermore, alongside partners, Pivotal Ventures prioritizes an expansive list of pillars within the $648 billion Care Economy, including mental health, paid medical and family leave, and women and tech innovation. Moore is tasked with leading a team responsible for selecting, investing in, and managing a diverse portfolio that adheres to Pivotal Ventures’ mission, her LinkedIn states. “We really start with our investment thesis and our direct investments in care looking at you know tech solutions that reduce burdens of care, lower cost of care, and improve access to care, and...