Take2’s Post

Today, I begin #FirstGenFridays. First Gen Fridays will serve as a way to share tips and tricks regarding personal development for first-generation students and recent grads. My first tip is to get mentors and get sponsors. Mentors are folks who guide you based on their own lived experiences. Sponsors will support you in getting tickets to an event or anything of that sort should you not have the ability to afford it. The reason I suggest you have both is because, as a recent grad, you may not get a job as quickly as you think, and it's crucial for you to still be in spaces that provide you with an abundance of opportunities. Mentors are also important because while they may not be able to support you financially, sometimes they can provide you with opportunities as well, whether it be to volunteer, shadow them, or get a job (my mentor got me my job last year). People to consider when finding a mentor or a sponsor are alums from your school, people you look up to, and people whose books/content inspire you. Find people you aspire to be like, people who have the life you desire. It’s important to have people in your corner supporting you and rooting for you during every point of your life. It's important to also have people you look up to. #firstgeneration #personaldevelopment

When this photo was taken (May 2010), I thought I'd get my LSW, work as a case manager, do grad school in the evenings, move up the ladder at a nonprofit and eventually be the Executive Director somewhere. What actually happened: --> I worked in a traditional social work setting for 2 1/2 years with my LSW --> Won a pitch contest & tried to get a startup tech company off the ground --> Failed beautifully, and found myself in the start up scene --> Left a full time job to produce and perform comedy with my friends --> Got real familiar with the gig economy life; driving for Lyft, helping a couple farmers at various weekly markets, dog sitting, baby sitting, signing up for research studies... basically: ANYTHING LEGAL FOR CASH. --> Never shut up about how meaningful improv was to me, until people started asking me to speak to their teams which ultimately started THIS company (by accident) 🙃 I would never have guessed this as my career when I graduated college. At so many points in my journey I felt like something was **wrong** with me, because I just couldn't be happy working a 9-5 desk job. I worried that I wasn't a committer or wasn't reliable because I kept shifting gears and changing things up. I panicked when people I graduated with started ticking off achievements that had been on my original to-do list. I let my own insecurity keep me from cheering for people with my whole heart. (Side note: it's WAY. MORE. FUN. to cheer with your whole heart than to torture yourself because you're worried you should have also achieved whatever the milestone is.) I love my work. I love watching it grow and unfold. I love watching things I dreamed about a few years ago starting to take shape. If you're currently in a place of transition or reinvention, I hope you'll be kind to yourself and give yourself every bit of permission to let life surprise you. This isn't a "don't worry, it all works out in the end!" post... because the truth is, it will be whatever you make it. If you build along the way with worry and resentment, it's going to turn out full of worry and resentment. This is a "build with joy and curiosity" post -- if there's a thing life has taught me over and over again, it's that the risky choice to move toward joy is how you ultimately build something you're proud of. 💛

We're thrilled to celebrate Pedro Otero, our Senior Manager of Technology Operations and Strategy, who has been with us for four years! During his time here, PJ has demonstrated his exceptional ability to tackle any problem that comes his way, his genuine curiosity, and his insightful inquiries that have always helped the team move forward. As we celebrate PJ we asked him to share a bit about his time at Framework. "Oh man, it has definitely been a rollercoaster this 4 years. Its funny because the other day I thought I was coming up on the 3 year work-iversary, not 4! Time has flown by. I've learned a lot and have enjoyed adapting to different initiatives and environments in these 4 years. I think I thrive in these kind of fast-paced environments, so it's truly been a pleasure to be a part of Framework's journey for as long as I've been here. I'm looking forward to the new year, specifically what kind of partnerships and ideas will come out of the new platform we are using. We have a lot of potential to build an incredible experience and products and want to shout out Cassandra Kushnir and Omar Esposito specifically for helping to foster that kind of innovation. I'm most proud of the relationships I've built here. With as much change as there has been, it means a lot to be empowered to do the work I do and have done. I'm grateful to work with such intelligent, driven people. Not only that but I honestly believe it isn't enough to be smart and motivated; everyone at Framework allows for open communication, feedback, and the opportunity to see new ideas through to implementation. I truly believe I've helped create a strong and healthy work environment, and I appreciate my coworkers for always doing the same." With PJ as a part of our team, the future looks bright! Join us in congratulating PJ on his four-year work anniversary at Framework! #WorkAnniversary #Careers #Growth #Homeownership #ProfessionalDevelopment #HomeownershipEducation

I'm sad to say that my position was eliminated and I was laid off from Roll20 a couple weeks ago. I took a second to step back and process, but all is good and we move forward. I know it was a hard decision for those involved - I respect their decision. I put forth a vision and strategy for equity and inclusion that at the end of the day no longer aligned with the direction of the company. The business case for a DEI seat at the exec table wasn't viable. As bitter as this moment tastes, I do want to celebrate the impact we've made together: As we grew our team (more than doubling in size), we did so through acts of inclusion and with a focus on accessibility. I'm proud with the way we've refined our interviews and hiring practices, experimented with different ways to mitigate bias, and continuously worked to improve the experience for candidates - so often people who are so passionate about working in games. We didn't just look for "fits" to our culture; we looked for "adds to" our culture. Growing pains are no joke. But we listen to each other and find ways to share the gains of that growth. This industry and this company has meant the world to me. Roll20 and tabletop roleplaying games, games like Dungeons & Dragons - they saved me in 2020. I was a new parent raising multi-racial children in an unapologetically racist world, all while dealing with the deep lonely isolation of covid. Roll20 connected me with friends - old and new. TTRPGS showed me how we can imagine better stories and therefore better lives. They showed me how we can do it TOGETHER. They've shown me that careers full of purpose exist, how I can get one, and that I deserve one. Truly, I feel blessed simply to be a part of it all, and I am forever grateful to have had this opportunity. I like to think that during my tenure, I've repaid some of that debt. I hope the impact I've made in this role gets paid forward. If I've opened a door for you PLEASE, hold it open for the next. If I've spoken up for you, PLEASE, the mic is yours now. I am thankful that we could share this stretch of the journey together. Roll20 - its people and community - is an unstoppable force for good. As a user and customer, I will be unwavering in supporting Roll20 and the people there who are working passionately and tirelessly to make it successful. *looks up at bounty/job/quest board* Not sure what my next quest will be, but reflecting on my career so far, setting the table seems to be the theme. Sometimes with food. Sometimes with games. Always for people. Always to help others thrive. I am sure whatever I do next, I'm going to keep setting the table for others. 

My advice for the week, get that job you've been putting off done FIRST! Then you've got the rest of the day/week to do the jobs you enjoy and not overthink about anything. Whether that's a big task, a boring task, a challenging task, a conversation, an email - whatever it is GET IT DONE. It's the start of a new week, let's make it fantastic! #advice #week #bestday #restoftheday #dothejob #oftheday #start #enjoy #newweek

Celebrating the incredible milestones and successes on your career path brings immense joy! 🚀 At NewStart, we're committed to supporting you at every step of your journey. Your achievements are our motivation! 💼✨ #CareerSuccess #NewStartJourney #CareerSupport

Hey folks! 🎄✨ As we wrap up another incredible year in the world of IT, I wanted to take a moment to share some reflections and words of encouragement with my amazing LinkedIn family. Consider this a little "big brother" advice from the trenches of the tech world. 🚀 **𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲:** Remember, every bug you tackle and every problem you solve is a step forward. Cherish the journey of learning because it never really ends, and that's what makes our field so exciting! 💡 **𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧:** As you enjoy the festive season, let your mind wander into the realms of creativity. The IT world thrives on innovation, and your passion is the fuel that keeps the industry moving forward. Don't be afraid to dream big! 🤝 **𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬:** Networking is not just about adding connections on LinkedIn; it's about building relationships. Reach out to your peers, mentors, and those who inspire you. Share your experiences and learn from theirs—it's a two-way street. 🌐 **𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬, 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭:** Technology evolves at a breakneck pace. Stay curious, explore new tools, languages, and frameworks. Being adaptable and staying relevant is key to long-term success in this ever-changing landscape. 🌟 **𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐬, 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬:** In IT, victories and setbacks are part of the game. Celebrate your successes, no matter how small, and learn from your challenges. Each experience is a stepping stone toward becoming the best version of yourself. 🙌 **𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐄𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫:** We're all in this together. Support your colleagues, be a mentor, and seek guidance when needed. A collaborative spirit makes the IT community stronger and more resilient. 🎉 **𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡-𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫:** As we approach the end of the year, I want to express my gratitude for being part of this incredible community. Here's to a new year filled with exciting challenges, groundbreaking innovations, and personal growth. Cheers to you, the unsung heroes of the tech world! Keep coding, keep creating, and most importantly, keep enjoying the journey. Happy holidays! 🎁🌟 #TechFamily #HolidayReflections #ITJourney #TechTrailblazers #InnovationNation #CodeAndCheer #TechTalks #CuriousCoder #CareerGrowth #TechTribe #HolidayTechWisdom #NewYearNewCode #TechMagicMoments

2024 may not have started the way you envisioned. But- TODAY is a new week. It's a chance for a new start. #motivation #newgoals #newweeknewopportunities #recruiterlife #inspiration #newstart #careeradvancement #careerdevelopment #freshstart