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Amanda Spann wears many hats — the former Wells Fargo and IBM professional is a serial app entrepreneur, author, and educator helping non-technical professionals enter the tech industry. At the center of her work is The App Accelerator, a 15-week product-development program that teaches professionals how to build viable, tech-enabled businesses around their app idea — without learning to code. The program, which offers coaching, training, mentorship, and other resources, is now expanding to more than 100 universities nationwide, according to information shared with AFROTECH™. Spann also counts billionaire philanthropist Robert F. Smith as a supporter of her program. “I believe that God called me to help people actualize their dreams. And apps are just the medium that I’ve chosen to help people do that,” Spann told AFROTECH™ in an interview. With economic mobility a major driving force behind her work, Spann noted that one “big thing” she consistently observes while visiting...
Dr. Aaliyah Frederick is among the roughly 2% of physicians nationwide who are Black, according to CBS News 8. When she’s not treating patients, she’s winning pageants. As a pediatric neurologist at Rady Children’s Hospital- San Diego , Frederick has long been driven by a desire to help others, CBS News 8 reports. She is especially passionate about breaking barriers as a Black female physician and inspiring children who see themselves reflected in her white coat. “I often see little girls when they come into the clinic, their faces light up,” Frederick said, per CBS News 8. From Medicine To The Pageant Stage Frederick decided to enter pageants in her mid-30s at her college-aged daughter’s suggestion. Her first win came in 2019 at a competition in Los Angeles — while wearing a dress she ordered from Amazon, per the outlet. “My start to pageantry was later than most after already establishing a career and a family,” Frederick said in her Pageant Planet profile. “I was originally...
Now is a better time than ever to bet on yourself — at least according to Joel Roache. The former mechanical engineer and now full-time content creator did just that when he applied for — and went on to become the first-ever grand prize winner of — Stan’s “Dare To Dream” Challenge in 2025, taking home $120,000. Stan Store is an all-in-one, creator-focused e-commerce platform, according to its website. For his submission video sharing his dream, Roache spotlighted his company, Creative Minds, a Christian-led retreat that brings creators together for several weeks to focus on connection — an element that has been central to his journey into content creation from the very beginning. “Creation as a whole, being a creative person and trying to pursue that over standard living, is very uncommon. It’s very, very, very lonely,” Roache shared in an interview with AFROTECH™. “So I wanted to talk about the pursuit of finding people who are more similar. It’s the one thing that I think is kind...
Travis Scott is supporting students in STEM. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the rapper launched the Cactus Jack Foundation in November 2020, and its pillars center on education and creativity. One of its earliest initiatives included a scholarship for HBCU students to pay their tuition fees, and it was named in honor of Scott’s grandfather, the late Dr. Waymon Webster, a Prairie View A&M University (Texas) graduate and dean, according to Variety. “Waymon Webster was a dean of the Prairie View A&M graduate school,” Scott said at the time, per Variety. “My grandfather wanted me to take it all the way through college. I feel there is a power in education so to be able to give someone the opportunity to fulfill that dream as my papa thought for me is amazing.” Partnership With Space Center Houston One year after the foundation’s inception, it launched the 60,000-square-foot Cact.us Design Center at TXRX Labs, which caters to at-risk middle and high school students. The center will...
Derrick Hayes, the founder and CEO of Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks, has spent the last decade building a multimillion-dollar restaurant chain. Along the way, some advice he received from Tyler Perry stayed with him, he told Fortune. Hayes, a Philadelphia native, opened his first Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks in a Shell gas station in Georgia in 2014, the outlet reports. Since then, the chain has grown to 12 locations across the U.S., including two Atlanta locations that brought in between $1.1 million and $1.8 million in net sales in 2024, per Fortune. Every 58 seconds, a cheesesteak is sold at one of Hayes’ restaurants, with prices ranging from $11.99 for a classic sandwich to $46.99 for specialty options, the outlet notes. On Hayes’ 38th birthday, he joined a roundtable discussion with Perry, gospel musician Kirk Franklin, and rapper Jay “Jeezy” Jenkins. During the conversation, Perry shared advice that resonated deeply with Hayes, Fortune reports. “Tyler Perry said something to me I’ll...
At 9 years old, Aiden Wilkins is already making history as the youngest student to enroll at Ursinus College. The Collegeville, PA, prodigy is technically still a high school sophomore at his local charter school. Still, a few days a week, he steps into college lecture halls for neuroscience classes, as PEOPLE reports. While most kids his age are navigating elementary school, Aiden is learning about brain function and neuroplasticity. His mother, Veronica Wilkins, first noticed his special abilities when he surprised her by reading traffic signs at just 2 years old. “I could just read them when most kids at my age, at like 2, could barely even speak,” Aiden told ABC Channel 6, adding, “I just grasped it so fast.” That early spark soon revealed itself in full. After taking a gifted test a few years later, Aiden was officially recognized for his advanced abilities. Since then, he’s been chasing knowledge in every direction, with his main fascination locked on the human brain. “Ever...
Joey Taylor, a 2024 graduate of Oakwood University, an HBCU in Huntsville, Alabama, recently won first place and a $15,000 prize at the HBCU Founders Initiative’s (HBCUFI) 2025 Better Futures Competition for his groundbreaking brain-computer interface, Mycelium. Launched in 2021 by Nex Cubed, HBCUFI is dedicated to closing the wealth gap by helping HBCU students and alumni launch tech-driven ventures. Since starting the Better Futures Competition in 2023, HBCUFI has awarded more than $75,000 to 11 founders, according to data the organization shared with AFROTECH™. Taylor’s win was the culmination of a journey that began with limited access to technology in Costa Rica, where he built his first computer from recycled parts. Today, his work bridges neuroscience, AI and innovation. Building Confidence Through Opportunity Before launching Mycelium, Taylor built an impressive resume as a freelance data engineer and worked in research labs. But it was his time at NASA, where he began...
In an industry where leadership roles for Black professionals remain limited, these two Amazon leaders are redefining the future and what’s possible. Jonah Ukwu and Ricky Madison Jr. hold senior positions in Amazon’s Last Mile Delivery network (AMZL, or Amazon Logistics), which is part of the company’s transportation system. According to Amazon Freight, the “last mile” stage involves sorting goods at a fulfillment facility, loading them onto delivery vehicles, and following planned routes to reach customers quickly and efficiently. Unlike earlier stages, which move freight in bulk, last mile delivery breaks shipments into individual orders. Ukwu and Madison are leaders working internationally with Amazon Logistics and both say their international assignments have expanded their leadership skills and deepened their understanding of different cultures. Connecting Culturally Through Leadership Ukwu recently stepped into a senior regional leadership role at Amazon Japan, where he now...
Taylor Rooks is launching a foundation that will assist Black and brown families. Taylor Rooks Foundation According to a press release shared with AFROTECH™, the two-time Emmy Award-nominated journalist and producer was inspired by the stories she has told and people she has encountered throughout the course of her life to launch the Taylor Rooks Foundation. This has led to what will be a long-term effort to support storytellers and uplift Black and Brown individuals and families through education, health, and opportunity regardless of their “zip code, background, or bank account.” The nonprofit is guided by the following pillars: REACH (educational resources, community wellness initiatives, small business support, and direct giving) RELIEVE (support for health and recovery, crisis assistance, and essential living needs) REPRESENT (mentorship for journalists, storytelling workshops, and launch of Rising Rooks Award) “I believe that equity starts with access — access to care, to...
Recently, more than 125 students graduated from Detroit’s Apple Developer Academy, a one-of-a-kind, free 10-month program launched in 2021 through a partnership between Apple and Michigan State University (MSU), according to a news release shared with AFROTECH™. But the Apple Developer Academy is about more than just coding. It equips Detroiters with real-world skills and the confidence to thrive in app development, business, and today’s ever-evolving tech landscape, per the release. A Pipeline For Real-World Innovation What makes Detroit’s Apple Developer Academy truly unique is its approach. Beyond mastering Swift coding, students dive into AI, UX design, marketing, and project management. The program is also backed by the Gilbert Family Foundation, which helps connect graduates with internships, mentors, and career opportunities across Detroit. “As Detroit continues to emerge as a national hub for technology, the Apple Developer Academy is creating pathways for Detroiters of all...
Award-winning cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson is inspiring the next generation. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, Robinson is making an imprint within his industry through his career trajectory, which includes contributions to skin care at Rhode, a lifestyle beauty brand founded by Hailey Bieber that was recently acquired by e.l.f. Beauty for $1 billion. “Proud day for science. Hailey, Michael @ratty Lauren @laurenratner and the entire @rhode team – Thank you for bringing us on as partners from the very beginning,” he expressed on Instagram. “While some may have experts just for marketing, you truly leaned into the science and allowed us to be part of the team. Because of you, brands have taken notice and now value the need for science-led formulations. This has been the journey of a lifetime and we are proud to be a part of it.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ron Robinson (@ronrobinsoncosmeticchemist) Partnership With Girls In STEM Beyond his work at Rhode, Robinson is...
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky sought out Barack Obama’s mentorship. During an interview with former First Lady Michelle Obama, Chesky revealed that he sought advice from Barack after the conclusion of his presidency in 2017. He believed that Barack was well-positioned to offer guidance that could inform his leadership at Airbnb, a vacation rental company that now boasts more than 5 million hosts and over 2 billion guest arrivals, its website mentions. “Airbnb is a community. Who’s the most famous community organizer in the world,” Chesky said, alluding to Barack while speaking to Michelle. Chesky’s time learning under Barack Obama as a mentee involved completing various homework assignments that he said changed his life. By 2018, he says his daily routine included attending night school with Barack’s lessons and participating in weekly one-hour phone calls. While practical, he points out one piece of advice that has stood the test of time: to become more intentional. “He literally said,...
Representation matters now more than ever — a key theme highlighted during the AFROTECH™ 2024 Conference panel discussion, “Fueling Ambition For Women On The Rise.” The Summit Stage came alive with an inspiring conversation between two powerhouse leaders: Gabrielle Wesley , chief marketing officer of Mars Wrigley North America, and Jennifer Lynne Williams, chief development officer at the USA Basketball Foundation. Moderated by Zuhairah Scott Washington, founder and CEO of Unlimited Ventures, the session explored bold leadership, inclusive innovation, and the fearless pursuit of impact. Through personal stories and hard-earned insights, the panelists offered attendees tangible strategies to fuel their own ambition and rise in their careers. Both Wesley and Williams reflected on the impact of seeing Black women who looked like them in leadership roles and how mentorship shaped their own journeys, expressing a deep commitment to doing the same for the next generation — serving as...
UX designer Roderick Wilkins strives to make the tech industry more inclusive. Tech Journey The Quincy, FL, native has always had a deep interest in technology and began fixing computers at a young age, which guided his educational pursuits at Florida A&M University (FAMU). He earned a bachelor’s degree in information technology in 2019 and went on to Louisiana State University, where he earned a master’s in digital media art and engineering with a focus on UX in 2021. “When you open that app and you see the first screen, you’re scrolling and you’re interacting with it, I always say someone had to design that,” Wilkins told AFROTECH™. “So I would say, within UX, there are designers, which is what I am, and someone designed that whole page that you’re seeing and you’re interacting with.” While UX includes various verticals one can explore — such as research and accessibility — Wilkins’ interest in graphic design aligned with his goal of becoming a UX designer, which was affirmed...
Jackson Aimiuwu was 19 years old when he first got his hands on a computer, and now he is paving the way at a major technology company. Aimiuwu attended the University of Calgary and earned a Bachelor of Science in computer science. His first year was the most challenging due to not having a computer, but it solidified his interest in the field. He also credits his cousin, who studied computer science and was able to bridge tech and business in his career. Aimiuwu is now doing the same through his role at Amazon Web Services (AWS). Prior to this, his career trajectory included a role at EMC’s (now part of Dell) headquarters in Toronto, Canada, as a senior solutions architect and team lead (pre-sales), which gave him the opportunity to manage a team at Canadian Tire — the second-largest retailer in the country — from 2016 to 2019. He provided support to the company’s chief technology officer and helped build its first private cloud. “They were trying to really change how they went to...