Episode 74 – The Oprah of Tech
Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome & Dr. Kyla McMullen
Guest: Linda Calvin
https://www.transcendent-talks.com/
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Episode Description:
In this episode, Linda Calvin, the Chief Impact Officer for Reboot Representation, shares her experiences growing up as the only Black woman in her family, church, and school. She discusses the challenges she faced and how she used her love for writing and creativity to navigate those situations. Linda also talks about her journey in the IT sector, her decision to go back to school as a non-traditional student, and her transition to law school. She emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and the value of understanding coding as a foundation for leadership in the tech industry.
Key Takeaways:
- Linda Calvin’s upbringing as the only Black woman in her family, church, and school shaped her perspective and resilience.
- She discovered her passion for writing and creativity at a young age, which led her to pursue a degree in journalism.
- Linda’s career in the IT sector started with a job in computer technology, where she learned various programming languages and gained experience in web development.
- She emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and taking advantage of opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Linda’s transition to law school and her role as a civil prosecutor allowed her to combine her tech background with legal expertise.
Linda’s Bio:-::
Linda Calvin is the Chief Impact Officer for Reboot Representation where she collaborates with Reboot Tech Coalition partners to create and support cultures that retain, attract and advance Black, Latina and Native American (BLNA) women in tech. Before joining Reboot Representation, Linda was the IT Sector Vice President for the School of IT at Ivy Tech Community College.
Linda is a 20+ year veteran of the private IT sector where she has led global teams to implement digital and mobile application strategy, data privacy and social media policy. In these roles, she has demonstrated her expertise in communication, law, and global tech leadership. Linda, a first-generation college graduate, graduated in 2001, cum laude from Butler University earning her bachelor’s in journalism. In 2008, she earned her Juris Doctor from Indiana University School of Law. In 2016, Linda earned a scrum master certification.
Linda has served on several Indiana nonprofit boards, including the Indiana Youth Group (IYG), an organization serving the needs of LGBTQ youth, and Child Advocates. She current serves as a Board Member and the Executive Women’s Forum Director for Women & Hi Tech, the largest female in STEM organization in Indiana. She is also serves as a member of the Digital Fluency Advisory Council for Franklin College, the Six Sigma Racial Equity Institute of Indianapolis, the United Way of Central Indiana Technology Committee, Rooted School Indianapolis, a public charter technology high school which seeks to lay the groundwork for closing the financial wealth gap for black students, with a focus on technology. Linda regularly speaks on panels about tech equity, the tech talent gap and mapping passion to tech.