57 | How To Bring Your Passions Into Your Work with Pariss Chandler

In this week’s episode, I talk with Pariss Chandler.  Pariss has had a couple of careers but then last summer she found how all her previous experiences naturally came together as the country found itself again discussing racial inequality.   After a career in acting, writing, video production, make-up and waxing she was trying to figure out what was next.  She looked to the corporate world, first in marketing and then in tech.  But as she worked at some amazing organizations, she realized she often did not see people that looked like her and she felt the impact of unconscious bias, microagressions and the sense of not belonging on a non-diverse team.  So she started to ask “what does black in tech look like” and that opened the waterfall of conversation that led her to start her own recruiting agency for black tech talent.  She doesn’t just help place amazing tech talent, but she works with organizations to make sure “inclusion” is part of their strategy (not just diversity) and that the new hires are set up for success.More about Pariss Chandler...Pariss Chandler is a former aesthetician turned front-end developer. She transitioned into tech in 2017 after participating in Resilient Coders, a coding bootcamp for people of color.  Pariss is the founder & CEO of Black Tech Pipeline, a platform bringing exposure, resources, and opportunities to Black Technologists.   She is also the creator of the movement and community #BlackTechTwitter, a global movement that brought exposure to the existing Black community in tech. “What ‘pipeline problem’?”How to connect with Pariss...Website - https://blacktechpipeline.comLinkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pariss-chandler/In this episode you’ll specifically learn...The importance of trying something new and figuring it out from there (but you have to try first!)How to talk to companies, as a candidate, about their diversity and inclusion strategies and how they support their team members in their careersHow to take a hobby, a mission you care about, anything from your personal life and turn it into a careerI’m Karen Weeks, the Founder & Principal Coach at KDW Coaching, the host of the Shine at Work podcast, a speaker, published author, Girls in Tech NYC board member and award winning culture leader (currently leading the People team at Ordergroove). My purpose is guiding individuals to get unstuck from a career that is draining them and transform their careers so they can feel the same renewed energy I did all those years ago when I transitioned from theatre to human resources to coaching. I live in NYC with my husband and furry babies!Connect with Me!WebsiteInstagramLinkedIn“Transform Your Career” Facebook GroupTwitterWelcome to the Shine at Work Podcast! On this show, your co-hosts Karen and Dan will shine a light on your job search so you can land a role that lets you flex your strengths and progress your career in an environment you actually look forward to working in each day. From creating a stand-out resume, to confidently negotiating your salary, to finding your footing as a new manager, you can expect to hear actionable advice to help you shine your brightest in your role.Karen D. Weeks is the CEO and Chief Career Coach of Shine at Work Coaching. She has over twenty years of HR experience, including as CPO at Ordergroove.Dan Carr is a Shine at Work Career Coach with over a decade of recruiting experience helping high-growth startups expand with top talent.Connect with Us!WebsiteInstagramKaren Weeks on LinkedInDan Carr on LinkedIn