Al Carter, PMP

Well worth 3 minutes of your time to watch...

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My Interview with Ebony McMorris at the 2024 Essence Festival of Culture! 🌟 I had the incredible opportunity to sit down with the amazing Ebony McMorris at the Global Black Economic Forum during this year’s ESSENCE Festival, and it was an enlightening conversation about #technology and #transformation in the #workplace. We delved into the importance of feeling comfortable in your career while maintaining a healthy balance between loving what you do and opening yourself up to more spontaneity and enjoyment. It’s all about finding that sweet spot where you can thrive professionally and personally. Here are some key takeaways from our discussion: 1. Embrace Multitasking: In the rapidly evolving tech landscape, balancing multiple responsibilities is crucial. Effective multitasking can lead to increased productivity and a better work-life balance. 2. Be Nomadic in Your Career: Whether it’s leveraging remote work opportunities, integrating more travel into your routine, or exploring global work environments, a flexible approach can reignite your passion for your career. Technology makes it easier than ever to work from anywhere. 3. Inject Adventure: The tech industry thrives on innovation and daring ideas. Trying something different or bold in your field can spark creativity and lead to groundbreaking developments. 4. Tie Up Loose Ends: As we juggle various tasks and responsibilities, staying organized and ensuring everything is neatly tied up is essential, especially when preparing for new ventures or travel. This is particularly important in tech, where project timelines and deliverables are critical. 5. Reignite the Spark: Sometimes, it’s not about leaving your current job but about approaching your career differently. Embracing new technologies and methodologies can bring a renewed sense of excitement and fulfillment. In my role, I’ve been focusing on integrating cutting-edge technology to drive transformation in the workplace. From implementing #AI solutions to enhance productivity, to championing remote work policies that promote work-life balance, my goal is to create an environment where innovation and flexibility thrive. This approach not only boosts efficiency but also empowers employees to achieve their best work while enjoying their personal lives. It was a powerful conversation that left me inspired and motivated to continue pushing boundaries and seeking new opportunities. Thank you, Ebony and AURN - American Urban Radio Networks for such an engaging interview! What steps are you taking to balance your career and personal life while keeping the spark alive? Share your thoughts in the comments! #ESSENCEFest #GlobalBlackEconomicForum #CareerGrowth #WorkLifeBalance #ProfessionalDevelopment #TechnologyInWorkplace #InterviewHighlights #EbonyMcMorris #Innovation #RemoteWork #TechTransformation #Inspiration #CareerAdventure #SpontaneityInWork #midlifemagic #liveyourbestlife #positiveageing #over40 #over50 #genx

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If a picture is worth a thousand words, what is a video worth? I bring to you Cisco Radiate 2024, my first 8-city global hybrid conference. This is how we do it 😎 #CiscoRadiate #BlackProfessionals #Networking #ProfessionalDevelopment #Inclusion #Diversity #YouAreMeantToShine #CBP4U

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I think one of the best ways to begin to eliminate bias and discrimination in artificial intelligence is to ensure black and brown people are amongst the people testing and training AI. Let me know your thoughts.

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Celebrating #Juneteenth and the emancipation and contributions of African Americans to the building and fabric of the United States is so important at a time when other groups of Americans are actively seeking to remove specific parts of history, accomplishments and legacy from public education and other institutions (The Lost Cause 2.0)! America 🇺🇸would not be the country that is today without the contributions of African Americans and all other racial and ethnic groups to culture, religion, music, education, art, industry, science and technology, history, sports, healthcare, business, finance, government, and military service! #Juneteenth #AmericanHistory #BlackHistory #America

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Despite the DEI myths being circulated, investing in women of color is the best economic decision an organization can make. Your ROI is golden and the innovation, creativity and energy that comes with a significant increase in your bottom line is unmatched. Goldman Sachs is getting it right and other organizations in the corporate and nonprofit space should take note. #diversityequityandinclusion #leadership #nonprofits #economy #corporatesocialresponsibility

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Introducing 52 Shades of Excellence. The ITSMF - Information Technology Senior Management Forum’s Emerge Academy for Women 2024 graduating class. Their capstone project was a video and stage production of the history and value of ITSMF. #BlackExcellence #Blacktechexcs #Blackleadership

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Since its inception, Hip Hop has been characterized by moments. From ODB telling the world "Wu Tang is for the children", to the artist then know as Kanye West telling the US "George Bush doesn't care about black people", to many more. This artform has time and again driven where urban culture goes. Funny thing is though, hip hop within itself goes through "renaissance" moments. These are often depicted in the rap battles pitting 2 artists in a clash for supremacy, relevance and bragging rights. Fuelled by "beef", which is a term for a disagreement, misunderstanding or friction between 2 or more artists, battles resolved on "wax" (strictly through music) using "diss tracks" have helped move the culture forward creatively and commercially. if you want to find out more about that, simply search for "BEEF 1 - 3" on YouTube, and you'll get a rundown of all the legendary battles that have taken place over the years. What interests me in this discussion is the fact that often, the clash between 2 rappers falls along the lines of "Keeping real" vs "selling out". Basically "Passion" vs "Gain". ...Got a call and lost my train of thought... In life, just like in rap, we get to a point where we have to choose money or passion. We have day-jobs which involve tasks that we learn. There is a difference between being innately good at something and learning to be efficient at something. That difference is what separates the happy and motivated from the mundane and bored. Finding the love for everyday tasks involves finding out why you're doing those tasks, why beyond a paycheck. Have you found it? let's talk about it in the comments. Oh and Kendrick Lamar is the perfect representation of love and passion, and the pursuance of perfection. He loves hip hop so much he went to war with Drake for the sake of what he believes the culture to be. Public opinion says he won (within the rules of engagement of hip hop battles), and held a celebratory concert in LA yesterday, uniting opposing gangs (The Bloods and The Crips). A true example of using your innate talent to get paid, and to change lives. Peace!

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What if I showed you how Virtual Reality is revolutionizing career readiness and can prepare you with future-ready skills? I am honored to be leading an interactive session at the Howard University & PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship Black Commerce Conference Thursday, June 20th: 𝙄𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙧 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨: 𝙇𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙑𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙁𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚-𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙎𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙨 Come ready to jot down gems! I am sharing insights, strategies, as well as experiences on entrepreneurship in leading-edge technologies + lessons learned building a socially impactful business. I AM HYPE! #VirtualReality #CareerReadiness #FutureSkills #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #TechInnovation

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I've been involved with the African Diaspora Network for several years and I would like to make you aware of an opportunity for Black entrepreneurs in the US. Please share with interested parties: The African Diaspora Network in the process of recruiting entrepreneurs for the Accelerating Black Leadership and Entrepreneurship (ABLE). ABLE is an enterprise accelerator by the African Diaspora Network designed to strengthen, energize, and support startups and small businesses led by Black entrepreneurs in the United States. Applications are welcome from all industries, with a preference for those that are impact-oriented and in underrepresented sectors. Providing access to training, mentoring, and funding to Black entrepreneurs is critical in addressing historical and systemic inequities as well as promoting economic growth, innovation, and community development. It is a vital step towards creating a more inclusive and equitable society given that most black entrepreneurs often face greater difficulties in securing funding due to barriers and a lack of networks. However, we can only achieve this with your support, and I ask that you help us share the application with your network. The deadline is Friday, June 28, at 11:59 PM PDT – apply or nominate an entrepreneur today: https://lnkd.in/gFsnede9 Learn more about ABLE at: https://lnkd.in/gtPu35u

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🌟 Celebrating Juneteenth: Join My Doctoral Study on the Experiences of Black-Owned Businesses 🌟    As we honor Juneteenth, a day of freedom and reflection, I am reaching out to the community for a vital cause. I am conducting a doctoral study focused on understanding the unique challenges and successes of Black-owned businesses. Your participation can make a significant impact in shedding light on this crucial issue.    Study Overview:  This study aims to provide deeper insights into the challenges and strategies of Black entrepreneurs. In this phase of my research, I will employ a deductive pattern matching approach to explore how Black-owned businesses navigate various business environments.     Participation Criteria:    Must identify as Black or African-American  Must be a US citizen  Must own or have owned at least 51% of a business  Must manage or have managed day-to-day operations and make long-term decisions  Business must have been operational for a minimum of two years    What to Expect:    It is anonymous Participation involves an in-depth, semi-structured interview conducted virtually via Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams  Your insights and experiences will contribute to developing actionable strategies to support Black-owned businesses  The study aims to interview 30 participants, including those who participated in the first phase    Why Participate?    Contribute to meaningful research that addresses the unique experiences of Black-owned businesses  Help develop strategies that support the success and resilience of Black entrepreneurs�� Be part of a study that seeks to bridge the gap between business research and practical application    How to Participate:  If you meet the criteria and are interested in sharing your experiences, please contact me via LinkedIn message or email at seanwells@temple.edu. You can also register via the link below:    https://lnkd.in/e_6GQduq    Your participation and support can make a lasting difference.    Let’s honor the spirit of Juneteenth by working together to create a more equitable business landscape for all.    Thank you for your time and consideration. Please reshare this as well.    #Juneteenth #BlackOwnedBusinesses #DoctoralStudy #BusinessResearch #ParticipationCall

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In a recent interview, I had the opportunity to delve deeper into the findings and insights presented in Andrew W. Kahrl’s eye-opening book, “The Black Tax: 150 Years of Theft, Exploitation, and Dispossession in America.” Kahrl uncovers the deeply rooted inequities in the American tax system and their devastating impact on African American communities. Through meticulous research and compelling narratives, Kahrl reveals a history of systemic overtaxation and discriminatory practices that have stripped Black Americans of their wealth and property, perpetuating the racial wealth gap that persists today. The financial toll of overtaxation on Black Americans has been staggering. Kahrl conservatively estimates that it has cost the community over $275 billion, based on current data showing that Black and brown neighborhoods are over-assessed by 10-12% compared to white neighborhoods of similar property value. This translates to an additional $100 in annual property taxes for every Black American homeowner today, a burden that has persisted since the end of Reconstruction and has consistently disadvantaged African Americans, regardless of whether they own or rent their homes.

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Congratulations to Stormi on her beauty brand's historic sales success of $1M on Tik Tok Live! Black women founders continue to reach higher and higher levels of success and should be celebrated, although venture capital has yet to recognize their investment potential. What an amazing accomplishment for any product brand, and the best is yet to come. Is there still bipartisan talk of banning Tik Tok? Tik Tok is obviously a platform for small business owners and diverse founders to conduct big business, so any ban will result in adverse political consequences for whoever leads that fight. "Steele found great success since the launch of her business in 2018. In its first year, Canvas Beauty sold more than 1 million units, according to information provided to AFROTECH™. In 2019, going viral led the business to earn 30,000 monthly orders compared to 6,000 before the exposure, per Forbes. However, the influx of orders prompted Steele and her husband and business partner, Courtney Beasley, to learn a quick lesson about running an online business. They worked to create a fulfillment center and hire a customer service team. By 2020, the company was in better standing around Black Friday and had earned $20 million in sales, Business Insider mentioned at the time. Despite Steele’s victories, she still experienced the growing pains of launching a business. In 2022, she neared the brink of losing her business altogether. Yet, today, the business remains strong — further proven on Saturday, June 8, 2024, when she became the first creator to reach $1 million in sales from a live session on TikTok. The TikTok global team shared the news with her after the live session." #stormisteele #blackwomenfounders #tiktok #business #entrepreneur #blackenterprise #canvasbeauty

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Last week, I had the privilege of collaborating with 12:24limited to facilitate a 3-day Professional Etiquette training for 200 public servants in Edo State. We covered diverse topics, from self-management and team accountability to dining etiquette, meeting protocols, and standard dress codes. The sessions were highly interactive, with my favourite moments being: 1. Facilitating the discussion about culturally-specific non-verbal cues and the importance of body language in communication. Did you know that the hand-in-pocket gesture is perceived as disrespectful in Edo culture? We had insightful discussions on cultural sensitivity. 2. Group activities where teams proposed efficient ways to optimize services at a motor licensing office. It was inspiring to see individuals bond quickly and competitively champion their team's ideas. The John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy team members are excellent, providing a hospitable ambience. The Edo State Governor's commitment to human capital development through JOOPSA is commendable. The visionary Director General, Precious Imuwahen Ajoonu is on a mission to transform learning and development in Edo. I was there last May to facilitate a 3-day customer service training, 365 days later, I am inspired by JOOPSA's continued impact. We concluded the 3-day event with a Professional Etiquette Pledge, and the feedback has been truly inspiring ( I will share this in another post) Think Training Think JOOPSA! #corporatetrainer #L&D #ProfessionalEtiquette #joopsa #edostategovernment Music: Celebration Musician: Alexander Nakarada URL: https://lnkd.in/dPySPryc License: https://lnkd.in/d5CiFET6

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Good 2 min read

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