Back in spring 2024, I recorded a handful of episodes with no idea they’d take the scenic route to your inbox. Life had other plans, but the conversations held up beautifully, maybe even better with a little time to breathe. This is the first in a short run of those spring episodes, and I think you’ll find it worth the wait.

In this episode of Technically Speaking, I'm joined by Jermaine Murray also known as The Jobfather. He's a career coach and founder of Jupiter HR, who's vision is to help 500 Black professionals land jobs in tech (he’s currently at 448).

We get into the state of today's job market from employer indifference toward DEI to the rise of AI, and what it actually takes to future-proof your career. Jermaine shares his approach to identifying green flags when evaluating companies, how to avoid burnout while doing meaningful work, and why now is the time to invest in yourself even when the odds feel stacked against many.

This one's part motivation, part strategy, and packed with sharp insights for anyone navigating change. We also had a few moments of laugh out loud laughter from his stories.

Key Takeaways

* Leverage Your Past Skills: Don't abandon previous experience when transitioning to tech - assess what you're good at, what you like, and what you've had success with to find the right tech role

* Job Market Reality Check: Current tech job searches take 9-18 months (vs. 2-3 months previously) due to increased competition and fewer opportunities - timing and referrals are crucial

* DEI Shift: Companies have moved from active diversity requirements to "indifference" - focus on finding places where you're appreciated, not just tolerated

* Embrace AI as a Tool: You won't be replaced by AI, but by someone leveraging AI better than you - adapt and use it as a productivity multiplier rather than fear it

* Ask the Hard Questions: Always interview to know your market value, and directly ask about things that make you anxious (company stability, layoff history, diversity support) - how they respond matters more than what they say

Notable Quotes

"Ask them the most awkward things. The things that make you feel anxious. Ask them... what happens with disruptions or new technologies."

"Taking an interview is not the same as job hopping... you should always be interviewing so that you know what your real time value is and whatever decision that you make is an informed decision."

"You can't be scared of AI... you will be replaced by somebody that is leveraging AI rather than AI itself."

"Why do you think that your employer owns the skills that you carry with you in your body? They own the time that you work for them, but all the skills you carry with you."

Resources

* Follow Jermaine on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok

* JupiterHR

* Harrison on LinkedIn, Instagram

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

00:30 Meet Jermaine Murray "The job father"

00:47 Jermaine's mission and success stories

02:05 Balancing work and health

03:01 Gaming talk: from Final Fantasy to Nvidia

04:30 Current obsessions: fitness journey

07:41 Unusual jobs and memorable stories

11:59 The origin of 'The job father'

17:54 Defining tech and career advice

24:29 Understanding career motivations

25:10 Leveraging past skills in new roles

27:35 Recruitment strategies and market trends

30:51 The impact of DEI in the workplace

35:02 Navigating AI and technological advancements

40:18 Identifying green flags in job opportunities

47:25 Final thoughts and contact information

This episode of AI Product Builders is a must-listen. I’m joined by Ovetta Sampson, founder of Right AI and one of the sharpest minds in the AI and design space. With a career that spans leadership roles at Google, Capital One, and IDEO, Ovetta brings a powerful, context-driven lens to the hype around generative AI.

We get into:

* Why she left Google to build Right AI

* The risks no one’s talking about in AI product development

* What MoviePass, the Black Death, and Silicon Valley have in common

* The real environmental and economic costs of running LLMs

* What design leaders need to unlearn now

* Her “Mindful AI” framework for building responsible, people-first experiences

* Why systems thinking beats wireframes, and what it really takes to design for the future

Ovetta breaks it all the way down, history, economics, tech, and the human cost of innovation. This one’s part philosophy lesson, part design critique, part wake-up call.

Timestamps

02:09 Origins of Ovetta's company Right AI

05:15 Moving fast and breaking things...again

10:20 The risks of funding with no business models

18:56 Enviornmental sustainability

30:18 Principles of building a responsible experience

34:01 What's top of mind for design leaders?

43:24 Closing

Mentions

* Right AI

* LinkedIn - Follow her on LinkedIn for hot takes and sharp truths

* The Philosopher’s Zone (Podcast) – She references a philosophy podcast about the Dark Ages

* Gutenberg & the Printing Press – Used as a metaphor for today’s AI hype

* MoviePass – Referenced extensively as an analogy for unsustainable business models

* Black Death / Plague – Referenced in historical parallel to today's societal reset

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Technically Speaking is where I share reflections, insights, and conversations to help you lead with confidence, clarity, and community. Are you looking to level up your design leadership and management craft? Spend an hour with me for personalized 1:1 coaching to help you thrive in your role.