Education
- BS, Computer Engineering, Norfolk State University
- MS, Systems Engineering, George Washington University
Da'Shaun Joseph, M.S.
Technical Program Manager, Google
July 13, 2023
How did you choose this path?
I started my career as a programmer. Two years and three basements later, I quickly decided that I needed a position where I was able to interact with people and not sit in front of lines of code for the majority of the day. I always had a knack for organization and the ability to translate extremely technical jargon into more meaningful dialogue. That skill quickly became my value add as the buffer between engineers and business. My career as a program manager was birthed from that very specific skillset ( and a little bossiness) to become a driving force in project execution.
What are some challenges that you had to overcome?
I had to overcome the fear of rejection. Sometimes the idea of not being liked or respected can overshadow the true value that we can bring. I made a commitment to bring my full self to work, recognizing that I am multi-faceted and that my full self evolves daily. It is about accepting the evolution. My full self is exactly who I am at that particular time, in that particular place and in that particular moment. One day she is a 13 hour master of multi tasking and the other she is a No meeting, Coffee Only Dreamer. Both provide value and are enough.
Do you have any advice for other Black Women in STEM?
Find your WHY: Your WHY will determine the what, when and how. The what, when, and how will change depending on your season, circumstance or reality. But your WHY is the guiding light to everything else that is out of your control. When in doubt, your WHY will always tell you what to do next...
Being a Black woman in STEM...
is to be a solution seeking a question.
