Tech Hustle Has A Price

Finally, a guest! Dr. Jarik Conrad sits down with Kham Ward, founder and CEO of Black Men in Tech, former Ultimate Software/UKG colleague, and Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity brother, for a candid conversation about the real cost of the grind and of being "the only one" in the room. Kham shares why he started Black Men in Tech in 2020 and how it grew into a community that reaches more than 80,000 people and has helped over 500 people get hired, all built on three pillars: convene, connect, and care. He and Jarik talk about why Black professionals still make up only about 8% of the tech workforce despite years of STEM focus, and how AI is changing the game for those willing to learn it. Then it gets personal. Kham opens up about the health scare that put him in the hospital after months of ignoring the warning signs while running his company at full speed. He talks about what he learned lying in that hospital bed, why convenience is his biggest health challenge, and the routines he's built since then to keep from ending up back there. In this episode: -Why Black Men in Tech was created and how it works -Why representation in tech is still so low -How AI is reshaping opportunity -The hidden mental and physical stress of being "the only one" -Kham's wake-up call and the habits he's built since -Culture, cost, or convenience: which one drives your health choices? -Why you need a few like-minded people in your corner, and why they don't all have to look like you If you've been running on hustle and ignoring what your body is telling you, this one's for you. Connect with Black Men in Tech Website: www.blkmenintech.com Social: @blkmenintech on all platforms Thrive '26 Conference: October 11–13, 2026, Dallas, Texas Like, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. #HealthyAndBlack #BlackMenInTech #BlackHealth #MensHealth #TechCareers #HustleCulture #Entrepreneurship #StressAndHealth #KappaAlphaPsi #Thrive26