Tech Event Recap | Black Tech NOLA: Creator Summit (11/4/2024)
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Greetings & Salutations, Artistikk R3b3lls!
Black Tech NOLA Creator Summit Introduction
NOLAvate Black
On Monday, 4th of November 2024, NOLAvate Black hosted its 7th Black Tech NOLA: Creator Summit in conjunction with New Orleans Tourism & Cultural Fund. NOLAvate Black is the largest Black Tech conference in the New Orleans region. I had the pleasure to attend my first Black Tech NOLA: Creator Summit at Loyola University New Orleans from 8am-4pm.
Founder
Sabrina N. Short, founder and CEO of NOLAvate Black, is a community organizer and tech advocate.
Vendors and Panels
Vendors
The event consisted of the following vendors:
- Idea Village
- The City of New Orleans
- CGI, Inc.
- Oschner
- Operation Spark
Before the event began, I visited Idea Village, The City of New Orleans, and Oschner.
Idea Village
I visited Idea Village because I wanted to ask about their entrepreneur programs and fellowships, including IdeaInstitute. Idea Village’s representative discussed some application questions and how I can attend Yu-Gi-Oh events and ask questions about customers’ needs. Furthermore, the vendors shared that I need to know what problem I am trying to solve. They advised I check their website periodically for the next cohort.
The City of New Orleans
I was interested in our great city’s career opportunities. It was my first time participating in a NOLAvate’s event, and I was unaware I should have brought my resume. I signed the registration form and collected their business card.
Oschner
I visited Oschner’s table to learn about their available employment prospects and acquire cool swag. After speaking with their representatives, I discovered they are Microsoft-based and use .NET for software development.
Panels
The event featured four panels and a keynote presentation. The topics of the panels included:
- Women in AI: Paving the Way for the Future of Work
- Making Waves: Entrepreneurs in Music
- Tech vs. Human: The Music Business and AI
- Shoot Your Shot: Advancing in Film and Media
Additionally, the keynote addressed the theme of AI, Creators, and the Digital Revolution. Except for the keynote, I attended each panel. I have provided details of the notes and takeaways I gathered from the panel speakers.
Panel – Women in AI: Paving the Way for the Future of Work
Takeaways
- Connection is the new currency.
- Build a network that works.
- Every opportunity is a step.
- The future of AI is bright.
Panel Speakers
- Diya Wynn
- Jornea Armant
- Myra Roldan
- Yolanda Williams
Diya Wynn
Background
- First desktop computer in 3rd grade as a prize for high academic achievement.
- Worked in multiple industries.
- Want to make an exacerbated impact.
- Want to make a better life for her sons and others.
Barriers in AI
- There is not enough diversity; we need to consider all stakeholders.
- It does not have the voices and experiences of all stakeholders.
- How to bring in the voices that may not sit at the table.
- Lack of understanding when using systems.
- Do not be afraid of AI. We always had a form of AI in our technology; some may not know they were using it.
What advice would you give on finding supportive networks?
- If connecting in LinkedIn, in note, ask for a 30-minute coffee or virtual convo to make a connection.
- Think about your network strategically.
- Who do I need to know?
- How do you make a connection with people to help you where you want to go?
Myra
Background
- She taught herself how to program in Basic.
- Her mother enrolled her in the Puerto Rico school.
- It took her 10 years to receive a bachelor’s degree. During that time, she had a child young and then a second child.
- She did not give up.
- She got a nursing degree to help pay for college, so then she could pivot to what she wants—tech.
- Good data management became a part of her focus in tech working in hospitals.
- 1% Latinas work in AI, and 0.98% of Black women in AI globally.
What does she envision AI changing the workforce over a decade?
- Help businesses integrate AI into their business workflow.
- Work to try to build a portfolio for yourself and how to integrate into enterprise systems.
- Try to build pipelines.
- She helps build use cases.
- Learning a programming language, right now Phyton.
- Learn how to use and understand algorithms.
- If you want hands-on experience, try getting into health or finance.
What advice would you give on finding supportive networks?
- Find a mentor in a role that is in the role you want.
- Find a sponsor. The sponsor owns the relationship. They will advocate for you when you are not in a room.
- This relationship is developed over time.
- Be consistent.
Yolanda
Background
- Developed a knack for SQL while working as a research assistant.
- She is skilled in Agile.
- Worked at Wal-Mart and volunteered for projects.
- Data Management Transformation in retail for Walmart.
- Created the first Center of Excellence.
- Skills keep you in demand, and they can take you where you want to go.
- Know how to manage teams in AI, strategy, and ROI. Create a case study.
- Managed multiple teams in AI.
- Learn how to navigate the situations you are in.
- Internal Expert on how to get innovation started.
- Data is applicable to every type of business.
What advice would you give on finding supportive networks?
- Do not leave the event without meeting someone new.
- Focus in and learn.
- Community service with high schoolers.
Panel – Making Waves: Entrepreneurs in Music
Takeaways
- Run your own race.
- Be authentic about your mission in life and what you are doing.
Panel Speakers
- Gina Swanson
- Tavia Osbey
Tavia Osbey
Background
- Work with Tank and the Bangas, an American musical group based in New Orleans.
- Help the vision of the artist come to life.
- Teach music management at Loyola.
- Older sister.
- Degree in Business.
- She managed Alfred Banks, an emerging New Orleans rapper, for 6 years.
- She believes in quality over quantity.
Introduction to Tank
- She wanted to meet Tank because Tank inspired her younger sister.
- Sent inspiration quotes to Tank.
- A faith quote sent to Tank influenced Tank to quit her job at IHOP.
- Tavia was persistent but not nagging about working with Tank.
- Tavia pushed Tank to create a spoken word for the first album.
Tavia’s Story
- She quit her government job to focus on Tank.
How Tavia became Tank’s Manager
- Tank would joke and state Tavia is her manager.
- Tank paid her with meals at first, then $40 or some amount in cash following a performance.
Business Aspect
- Be clear in your communication.
- Artists do not understand the process of what it takes to get the artist to the stage.
The Process of Getting Started
- Help good people around you.
- You get weary as an independent artist.
- She was getting weary and lost in the music industry.
- Feeling as if she exhausted all the resources she had.
Turning Point
- The NPR Tiny Desk performance was a breakthrough for the band.
- Tank and Tavia would feel successful if their careers could sustain their lifestyle.
Music Business Treachery
- The band did not want to make a certain decision, and business executives called her business partner behind her back.
Technology in Trajectory of Tank and the Bangas
- You do not need CDs.
- Maximize social media.
- Tank stayed true to herself. It might take longer.
Trends
- Negative being the new positive.
- Do not do what is trendy.
- You must get comfortable with who is in the room and not focus on who is not.
Advice
- Learn as much as you can.
- Get in the field; make mistakes.
- In the management position, what you do not know hurts the artist. Seek counsel.
- Make technology beneficial to you.
- She thinks there need to be laws to protect creatives and artists.
- Diversify yourself. Use music as a platform to do it.
Moving Forward with Tank and Technology Usage
- Currently, Tank is closed off to tech but now open to it.
- See Tank acting on Broadway, and currently she is working on a script.
Panel – Tech vs Human: Music Business and AI
Takeaways
- Listeners want more.
- Technology will push creatives to be more creative.
Panel Speakers
- Darrell Flowers
- Donovan Williams
- Lou Hill
Darrell Flowers
Background
- Network Engineer and Composer, Musician.
- Team MFN.
AI Impact
- The abundance of technology will be a market for human-made things: AI content vs. human-made content.
Positive
- There are good things, such as using it to connect with people to get songs cleared.
Donovan Williams
Background
- Founder and working on software for artists to have a manager on the phone.
- Co-founder of JammAround, working on Music Max AI.
AI Impact
- Technology will force artists to have a relationship with fans.
Positive
- Save your craftsman for people who care about it.
Lou Hill
Background
- Band: Water Seed.
- Right now, music is marginally authentic.
AI Impact
- AI forces you to have a brand. The ability to bring yourself to the forefront and a reason why someone should fall in love with you.
- Technology will push creatives to be more creative. To have their own identity.
- AI cannot create its own identity.
- AI has desensitized the audience, such as Auto-Tune.
- ChartMetrics App: Allows you to see your analytics as a musician.
Positive
- Can be able to work faster.
- A producer can take on my clients.
Hope for Future
- Hope the industry goes back to having A&R.
Panel – Shoot You Shot: Advancing in Film and Media
Takeaways
- Human touch is important.
- Artificial Intelligence will cause loss of jobs.
Panel Speakers
- Angelique Roche
- Demetrius Grosse
- Terence Rosemore
Angelique Roche
Background
- Journalist, Author, Producer and Lawyer.
AI in Work
- She talked about how a fair, brown hair white woman was the template to check lightning.
- Ask who is making money from the product.
Demetrius Grosse
Background
- Actor appearing in 70+ films and television.
- Directed a movie.
AI in Work
- He thinks the human touch will not leave.
- Make sure they are equity in the technology.
- AI will cause smaller writers’ room.
Terence Rosemore
Background
- Writer, Director, and a Storyteller.
- Finishing two television shows.
- Directed 1 feature film and its own Tubi.
- It is the Business of Show.
AI in Work
- Better adjust and adapt, instead of trying to erase it.
- As storytellers, you can be more productive.
- People are losing jobs, especially in visual effects.
- If you got something meaningful, it will take time for AI to replicate it.
- Learn how technology and business work.
R3b3l with me at GitHub, Medium, Dev Community, and LinkedIn
Signed
The LightBringer
I am the eagle that flies ABOVE.
