We were lucky to catch up with Erin Reddick recently and have shared our conversation below.
Erin, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
Growing up adopted and raised by a white man, I am very familiar with being the “only” in the room. When you hear someone say “I am not racist, my cousin is black!” I am that cousin. This contrast is normalized for me, because growing up, family gatherings were frequently spent between two completely worlds that I loved equally. My super power is the ability to value and love different lifestyles and cultures simultaneously. This has helped me successfully navigate being the “only”, though it is still exhausting and difficult to deal with in particular settings.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
As a Seattle-based technology professional with a deep commitment to responsible and ethical AI, I have journeyed through the tech world as a woman and a member of the Black community. My experiences, both challenging and isolating, have not deterred my passion. Instead, they have fueled my resolve to make a meaningful impact in this industry. After a pivotal moment of being laid off from Meta, I dove into the AI world, only to be confronted with unsettling news about the lack of inclusivity and representation in technology. This realization was a turning point, leading me to specialize in GPTs and Prompt Engineering, to building a team and a stand alone app.
In my quest to address the systemic ‘otherness’ in tech, I was excited by OpenAI’s announcement of customizable GPTs. This led to the creation of ChatBlackGPTBeta. This is not just a preview tool; it’s a statement and a step towards a future where technology is developed with active anti-racism as its core principle.
Professionally, I’m focused on advocating for equity, awareness and literacy in AI, a mission that is urgent and critical. ChatBlackGPT is at the forefront of this effort, pushing for a paradigm shift in how AI is developed and utilized. It embodies a new standard, one where inclusivity and empowerment are not afterthoughts but foundational elements. I am continuously working on enhancing ChatBlackGPT, ensuring it remains a dynamic and evolving platform. I am keen on engaging with communities, tech forums, and educational institutions to spread awareness and foster conversations around ethical AI.
In terms of my professional trajectory, I am thrilled to share that I have begun AI keynote speaking and workshop hosting, focusing on the intersection of AI, ethics, and inclusivity. This year, I have already booked engagements with several clients, marking an exciting start to 2024. These opportunities allow me to directly address and educate a diverse array of audiences about the critical importance of equity in AI. Through these speaking engagements and workshops, I aim to spark meaningful conversations, share insights, and offer practical solutions for creating more inclusive and responsible AI technologies. I am incredibly excited to continue this work, contributing to a movement that is reshaping the AI landscape into one that truly represents and serves all communities.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
- Learning how to stop caring what other people say OTHER PEOPLE say (gossip).
One of the hardest things I’ve ever done years ago was to ignore a peer who told me our client said I was being “aggressive” and too pushy in a meeting. I had nothing but amazing interactions with this client onsite and that meeting was about giving an employee on my team an opportunity to “course correct” before firing them (which the client agreed). The client, peer and employee were all white for context. I went back and forth over this conversation in my mind to the point of a near break down.
I was extremely concerned my enthusiasm for trying to help my employee keep their job had somehow offended the client. As a black woman, the biggest red X on your back is the “aggressive” label. I felt that I would lose my job. I did not understand why the client had never shared any such feedback and it never came up in a conversation with management. I was equally perplexed why this information was delivered to me after work hours and why I and my work meeting would have been a subject of conversation between the client and my peer. It took me years to understand that all of it was extremely inappropriate on my former peers part.
I decided to adopt this saying “If I did not hear the person say it to me, it does not matter.” I ran into the client a comical number of times shortly after this information was given to me. Each time, my heart was pounding so hard my eye site blurred. Still, I had nothing but the best of interactions. I never confronted them about what I had heard they said about me. Even 3 years later, I met the client again and still chose not to bring it up and still had awesome conversations. To this day, if I don’t hear feedback from someone directly, and it’s not management giving me a heads up-I DO NOT CARE. It’s saved me SO much stress.
- Positive communication
If you are working with a person and they are just crushing it, you are both vibing and getting ish done, start a positive rumor about them. It does not matter who you say it to, but tell someone like it’s the biggest secret ever that you genuinely enjoyed partnering with that person. This is a skill that reaps countless benefits in the workplace. NEVER talk badly about a peer or manager to ANYONE, even if the other person does. Always be a listening ear, and neutral party. If you are emotional, stay away from the keyboard. Everything you type and send can and will be put on the front-page news and used against you. Keep it professional, stay you, but stay professional.
- If you think it’s too hard, do it.
You will thank me later. Just do it, whatever that hard thing is start doing it. Try over and over again. I have shown myself that I can do the undoable, just by staring fear and doubt right in the eyes. You can learn anything you want to. Go for it!
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed, I tend to find a quiet place like a bathroom or meeting room and de-stimulate. Breathing, smelling, seeing, counting or even just closing my eyes for a moment really helps. I like to ask myself “what is the 1st step?” and then “what is the next step?” and get through it one step at a time.
Contact Info:
- Booking: [email protected] / [email protected]
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinreddick/
Image Credits
me
