Minda Harts is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Public Service of NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. She is the founder of The Memo LLC, an online technology career development company for women of color.

In 2016, nominated as a Change Maker at The White House State of Women Summit. She serves as a mentor at General Assembly in New York City and alumni of The Points of Light Civic Accelerator. In 2018, she was named one of 25 Emerging Innovators by American Express.

Minda’s debut book, The Memo, comes out August 20, 2019 with The Hachette Book Group. It’s a career book for Women of Color.

Minda conducts workshops and keynotes at corporations like Time Inc., BlackRock, SXSW, The Campaign For Black Male Achievement, and The New York Public Library. She’s been featured in Forbes, CNBC, The Guardian, Black Enterprise, Fast Company, and The Huffington Post. Minda is also the host of a weekly career podcast for professional women of color called Secure The Seat.

How did you first get started in your career in tech?

It was in 2013 and I was experiencing a lot of things that were new to me, like negotiating salaries, moving to a new city, and all those career-related things. I was doing a lot of Googling around that time. I remember thinking, these articles are helpful, but I need something a little more tangible. I would like to know what other women are experiencing; be it good or bad I could learn from them. And that’s what sparked, The Memo.

I wanted a platform where women could hear real experiences and get real advice from real women regarding their finances, career development, and work/life balance. I also wanted a community that fosters diversity, because all women have a story to tell. And like an old saying goes–” if you build it they will come”.

What are the most important skills in your current position? How did you develop these skills?

I took public speaking classes, beginner coding classes, and tapped into my resilience to transition into my new career. As the founder of my company, I knew I would be the face of my company and I wanted to make sure I could articulate our mission and vision. As well as, being able to hire new colleagues and understand their job functions.

What are some resources that helped you in your journey in tech?

I read a lot of business books like The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz and The Automatic Customer by John Warrilow. I also utilized courses on Udemy.

What difficulties did you face in your career? How did you overcome them?

Learn to be nimble. Things can change at the drop of a dime, be ready to react quickly and with ease. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You can’t run a successful business by yourself; you need a good support system.

Looking back on your career, what advice do you wish someone had given you that would have helped accelerate your career?

If one person says no, or they flat out don’t respond, don’t take it personally. Be aware of what your competitors are doing, but don’t drive yourself crazy—stay focused on your plan and your goals. Build your network of like-minded individuals, so you can keep each other accountable and have a sounding board. If you make a mistake, don’t beat yourself up find a way to fix it.

Thank you for sharing your story with us. How can we support you?

Please purchase my new book if you care about the future of work.

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