Destiny McClain

Community is the ultimate multiplier in the tech ecosystem. 📈 I had the pleasure of hosting this month’s ATL BLK TCH Monthly Dinner at Platez Southern Kitchen and Cocktails. Supporting Black-owned businesses like Platez is a core part of our mission as we build out the Coding with Culture framework. The conversation centered on the strategic impact of Goodie Nation newest venture, Goodie FC. It’s inspiring to see how intentional investment and community-led initiatives are reshaping the landscape for Black founders and technologists. We are more than just a demographic; we are a powerhouse of innovation. ATL BLK TCH is dedicated to ensuring our voices are central to the tech narrative in Atlanta and beyond. 🚀 #BlackTech #GoodieNation #GoodieFC #AtlantaBusiness #CodingWithCulture

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🚀New Dawn For Black Professionals! Last year, with our world-class AI experts from Amazon, Meta, and experienced serial AI tech entrepreneurs with inputs from hiring managers, we launched the Generative AI Accelerator Program for Black professionals. Our goal: To equip Black professionals with the practical, in-demand AI skillsets companies are hiring for, helping them stand out in the AI revolution and supporting those ready to launch their own AI Consulting businesses. Fast forward to today: ✅ 200+ professionals trained ✅ 99% satisfaction rating ✅ 75% apply real use cases at work ✅ 30+ job offers in AI-related roles ✅ 9 AI consulting startups incubated ✅ 4+ alums serving on their companies AI Innovation Committee…….and countless inspiring success stories Now, registration for Cohort 5 has officially opened! Classes begin November 10th, 2025 This program is for everyone, regardless of background or experience. You need hands-on Generative AI skills to stay competitive and advance your career in this new era. 👉 Enroll Now: https://lnkd.in/g8H5nygj

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Excited to bring Hour of AI to Mississippi with Congressman Bennie Thompson! #HourOfAI, an initiative led by CSforALL and supported by Microsoft, is designed to demystify AI learning for 25 million students, educators and families through free, hands-on activities and certifications. Opportunities like Hour of AI spark curiosity today and build the skills employers need tomorrow. Proud to work alongside our local Clairborne County educators and Mississippi nonprofits to make AI literacy accessible. Learn more at Aka.ms/HourOfAIOverview Microsoft AI Skills Microsoft On the Issues Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy #HourOfAI #Microsoft #CSforALL

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Most Black girls never get the chance to see themselves in tech. Tiffany Gamble, CSM is working to change that. At Emerging Ladies Academy and Gamble Tech Firm, she is creating real pathways for Black women and girls to learn, build, and lead in tech spaces where they’ve historically been excluded. Her work shows why representation is not a bonus, but a requirement for a more equitable future. Read her story at the link in the first comment Explore how Zoe can help you design accessible, empowering learning experiences for every student. #blackgirlsintech #accessibilitymatters #futureoflearning #vrlearning #immersivelearning

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I had the opportunity to participate in a panel this evening for the 2026 Blacks in Cybersecurity Mentoring Program, and it was truly a full-circle moment. As an alumna of the program, I was invited to share my journey. I talked about where I am in my cybersecurity career today and how this program played a pivotal role in shaping that path. Being able to reflect on that growth and speak candidly about my experience was both rewarding and energizing. Programs like this are critical in creating access, building confidence, and developing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. I’m grateful to be part of a community that continues to uplift and invest in one another. A special thank you to Chad Nevills for the invitation, and to the mentees for your engagement and thoughtful presence. I’m excited to see all that you accomplish. #Cybersecurity #Mentorship #BlacksInCybersecurity #GRC #CareerGrowth

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AfroTech wasn’t just an event for us at CUPRI, it was a clear reflection of how quickly the workforce is shifting, and how urgently new career pathways need to be built. Here are the core themes that shaped our conversations at the booth: 1️⃣ The Work We Do We shared CUPRI’s mission, our focus areas (energy, healthcare, technology & finance), and why strengthening talent pipelines is becoming increasingly critical in today’s economy. 2️⃣ The Professional Development Program (PDP) Attendees wanted to understand how professionals can stay competitive. We walked through how the PDP supports: • skills alignment • policy & workforce insight • career mobility • leadership development 3️⃣ The Reality: Jobs Are Changing AI and automation are reshaping the entry-level landscape. A common concern we heard: “How do I stay employable in an AI-driven market?” 4️⃣ Our Response CUPRI is building training pathways designed to: • reskill professionals • boost employability • prepare people for AI-integrated roles • create sustainable access to future-of-work opportunities 5️⃣ Why This Matters AfroTech reinforced a truth we already knew: Talent exists. Access doesn’t at least not equitably. And that’s what we’re committed to changing.

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🔥 We’re excited and proud to unveil the August issue of Speakers Magazine — themed "The Power of the Pivot" in honor of Black Business Month! 🖤💼 We are all navigating change. This issue is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and rising strong — especially for Black entrepreneurs and speakers who are moving with purpose, not panic. Our cover star and #ExpertInsight feature is the brilliant Omar L. Harris: best-selling author, leadership strategist, and LinkedIn Top Voice. He’s dropping serious gems on how to lead like a J.E.D.I. in today’s post-DEI era. ✊🏾 You’ll also hear from a powerhouse lineup of contributors who are making moves and mastering their message: 🔹 Esther Dillard – sharing truth and transparency about pivoting in journalism 🔹 Paul Wilson, Jr.– on faith-based entrepreneurship and purpose-driven leadership 🔹 KEN BROWN – on cultivating a winning mindset and pivoting beyond setbacks 🔹 Saran T. B. – on what it really takes to stay visible and valuable in this market 🎬 This issue is not just a read — it’s a resource for any speaker, coach, or changemaker ready to speak, sell, and shine in today’s media-saturated world. 🌟Videos included on every page of the August issue!!! Let this be your permission slip to pivot boldly, build strategically, and shine unapologetically. 💥 👉🏾 Read now: https://lnkd.in/gfUcCuZ3 #SpeakSellShine #ExpertInsight #SpeakersMagazine #BlackBusinessMonth #PowerOfThePivot #PamPerryPR #BlackExcellence #GetOutThereAndGetKnown

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Over the past five years, Cohort Sistas has built more than a digital community. We have built structured programs that support Black women and other underrepresented doctoral scholars from application to defense to career transition: ✨ Monthly Success Series workshops designed to support academic, professional, financial, and mental well-being ✨ Multi-month discipline-based mentorship through the flagship Sista Circle Mentorship Program to support program retention ✨ Career pathway expansion and preparation through ASCEND for doctoral candidates nearing completion ✨ A national Career Summit convening cross-sector leaders, opening pathways to post doctoral employment Together, these programs have supported more than 1,000 scholars across universities nationwide (and beyond the United States!) But this milestone is not just about looking back. On March 7, we will share how we are deepening university partnerships, expanding cross-sector collaborations, and building the infrastructure necessary to strengthen pathways into and through doctoral education at scale. Join us in DC (just a few tickets left), the Bay Area, or virtually as we unveil the next phase of our work. 🔗 cohortsistas.org/5YearGala

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Black History Month is not only a time to reflect on history — it’s a time to evaluate progress. Despite meaningful contributions across every industry, Black professionals remain underrepresented in executive leadership roles. Equity in the workplace requires more than recruitment — it requires: • Leadership development pipelines • Mentorship and sponsorship • Transparent promotion practices • Structural accountability Sustainable change happens when inclusion is built into systems — not left to chance. #BlackHistoryMonth #WorkplaceEquity #InclusiveLeadership #DEIWork #SynergyConsulting

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This is the season of mentorship. As we step into a new year, technology and AI continue to accelerate how we work, create, and scale. Virtual tools and AI agents are powerful—they help us streamline, automate, and move faster than ever before. Yet progress without people is incomplete. Mentorship remains essential. Staying connected to individuals inside and outside of our niche helps us sharpen perspective, exchange wisdom, and build strategically—not just efficiently. Growth still happens in relationship. Insight still comes from conversation. And value is still created through trust. Use the tools. Embrace the innovation. But don’t lose the human connection that sustains purpose, leadership, and legacy. Who are you learning from this season—and who are you pouring into? #MentorshipMatters #LeadershipDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #HumanConnection #AIandLeadership #CareerDevelopment #LifelongLearning #GoodStressCollective #GoodStressSolutions

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AFROTECH is right around the corner 👏🏾 and I’ve been getting a ton of questions about what to wear. Here’s my quick guide on how to show up comfortable, confident, and camera-ready for the week — because first impressions matter, even at tech conferences. 🎥 Check out my latest reel for outfit tips + inspo for #AfroTech2025! #BlackInTech #ConferenceStyle #WomenInTech #CareerGrowth #Networking”

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Yesterday, I saw a post about “bringing your whole self to work.” Here’s the reality: For many of us, especially Black and Brown professionals, we don’t have the luxury to do so... even when we’re excelling at work. For years, I code-switched -- I was being tone-policed at work. IYKYK. Here's how I showed up at work: - Using indirect language so I wouldn’t sound “too direct.” - Softening my tone so I wouldn’t be called “aggressive.” - Holding back disagreement so I wouldn’t be labeled “defensive.” - Toning down my humor so I wouldn’t be seen as “unprofessional.” Years later, I made a conscious decision to stop code-switching at work -- and honestly, it's the most freeing decision I’ve ever made in my career. I’ll be clear: survival comes first. You do what you need to do in your environment. This was simply the shift I made when I felt ready. Here’s what changed when I dropped the filter: 1️⃣ I showed up authentically as me. - No performance. No second-guessing how I “should” sound in meetings. 2️⃣ My humor landed. - As someone from Haiti, where people are savagely funny and candid, it would be a disservice not to bring that sharpness into the room. 3️⃣ I shared my ideas more boldly. - Once I stopped code-switching, I wasn’t shrinking to fit in. I stood in my truth more, and that freedom made it easier to share ideas exactly as I saw them. 4️⃣ My confidence grew. - Alignment between who you are and how you show up is insanely powerful. And that authenticity carried over into my work in program management. How? Humor has helped me ease tense moments, candor has helped me build stronger trust with partners, and bold ideas have sparked better ways of working. If I dimmed my culture, my language, or personality, I’d be dimming my light and the very skills that drive my success and make my programs thrive. And me, I'm going to show up authentically, lead programs, drive results, and keep it 💯. Respectfully. Life is too short to live it as someone else. You do you, fam. 💅🏾 👉🏾Authenticity is power. Period.

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The tech sector is shifting gears. The 2026 Job Search Outlook requires all job seekers to shift their approach. #BlackTechJobs #JobSearch2026 #CareerAdvice #Recruiting #TalentAcquisition #TechJobs #CyberJobs

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I carry an Ivy League education from one of the leading institutions for educational transformation. But this work was never meant to stop with me. Through I Love My HBCU, through mentoring, through access to grants & funding opportunities…we are building something bigger. A pipeline of leaders. Thinkers. Builders. Doers. People who are ready to transform their communities & the world around them. Because education is only powerful when it’s activated. And knowledge means nothing if it’s not shared, multiplied & put to work. This is about legacy. This is about impact. This is about creating access where there once were barriers. You’re not just learning…you’re being equipped to lead. ✨ If you’re ready to step into your role as a World Changer, tap into the trainings on YouTube & start building what you’ve been called to create. Link in bio.

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Cultural fluency and innovation are redefining Black entrepreneurship. With WABA's curated digital tools—spanning AI, automation, and inclusive branding—Black founders gain the power to scale, automate, and engage authentically. 💼 Explore how ethical automation and culturally-centered strategies are driving legacy and impact. Join changemakers and discover proven solutions for smart, resilient growth. Read now: https://lnkd.in/dwMUMPF9 #BlackEntrepreneurs #DigitalEquity #InclusiveInnovation

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Attended this as well, a great session and my key takeaway was relationships and collaborations matter. If you want to work in tech, get to know people in these spaces, what their work entails and provide value.

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The tech world is evolving fast, and the future isn’t waiting for anyone. At the Atlanta Black Tech Network AI Panel hosted at Clark Atlanta University's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Development, I was able to gain powerful insights about where artificial intelligence is headed and how to stay ahead of it. One thing that really stuck with me: ✨ “Let them tell you no. Don’t tell yourself no.” That mindset applies to everything: tech, career growth, and self-development. A few key takeaways: 💡 Be intentional about your network. Create a spreadsheet and track your connections monthly, quarterly, and annually. Include categories like industry or expertise. 🤖 AI isn’t replacing people. It’s reshaping how we work, and humans still need to stay in the loop. 📈 Resumes are evolving. Soon, your work will speak louder than your titles. Being able to produce, analyze, and deliver results will set you apart. 💻 Keep leveling up your skills. Learn Python, data analytics, and cybersecurity. Not just to list them on your résumé, but to understand how data drives decision-making. 🚀 Think long-term. The best in tech aren’t just keeping up; they’re building systems that move industries forward. This panel reminded me that confidence, consistency, and curiosity are the real keys to thriving in the next era of tech. #ClarkAtlantaUniversity #AtlantaBlackTechNetwork #AI #TechCareers #BlackInTech #WomenInTech #FutureOfWork #CareerDevelopment #GenZinTech

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