Meet Michael Ward Jr.

We recently connected with Michael Ward Jr. and have shared our conversation below.

Michael , so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
My purpose is driven by my Christian faith which calls us to spread God’s love. I grew up watching my grandma and mom spread God’s love by helping those in need; they were always giving away something (i.e. backpacks for kids, toiletries for the needy, or feeding the hungry). Growing up watching my family provide for those in need gradually developed the desire inside of me to help those in need, as well. Decades later through the nonprofit, tech startup I’ve built, Austin Urban Technology Movement, I help people every day by providing them with job training, job placement, and networking opportunities.

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?
I built a nonprofit, tech startup called Austin Urban Technology Movement (AUTMHQ). Its mission is to diversify tech and radically change lives. Currently I serve as the company’s president and CEO.

What most excites me about my job is the impact AUTMHQ has on people’s lives. We are a one-stop shop for people to build tech skills, get jobs, volunteer, share resources, and become engaged techies. As a result of people utilizing our services, I’ve seen Autmites (people who go through our program) go from making less than $13k to more than $100k. I have witnessed Autmites transition from living in their car to purchasing a home. These are just a few examples of how AUTMHQ is radically changing lives as we pursue our mission to diversify tech.

As AUTMHQ gears up for its fifth edition of ReThink Austin, a day-long event dedicated to rethinking the trajectory of the City of Austin, we have launched a campaign to encourage people to be engaged techies.

In order to diversify tech, we need Autmites and AUTMHQ supporters/partners to play their part in the Movement towards a more diverse, equitable and inclusive tech ecosystem. Once inside the tech space, it’s important for underserved communities and their allies to stay updated on tech trends, share their expertise with others, attend events, and be civically and digitally engaged, advocating for equity and inclusion within the tech space. The more people engage in these ways within the tech industry, the easier it is for AUTMHQ to achieve our mission.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Perseverance – Not everything is going to go your way. There have been unforeseen circumstances that I’ve had to adapt to during my entrepreneurial journey. My ability to adapt and persevere through challenges has led to much of my success. Develop think skin and don’t allow someone’s “no” or a barrier to be the reason why you don’t pursue your goals.

Problem solving – Expect problems to occur and commit yourself to finding solutions to move forward. Sometimes the answer to a problem does not yet exist. In situations like these, creative thinking is key.

Faith – Believing in a power higher than yourself is crucial if you are going to achieve beyond your own capabilities. My faith in God to provide for me and my family is what gave me the confidence to quit my job and start Austin Urban Technology Movement. It is that same faith I lean into each year to keep AUTMHQ funded and achieving our mission.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Austin Urban Technology Movement needs people in the tech industry to be more engaged. That looks like people volunteering to serve on boards, in the community and with AUTMHQ. It’s techies being aware of legislative policies and initiatives that support growth of the tech industry.

For Employers engagement looks like creating non-traditional programs and expanding current traditional programs to get more individuals in tech and to fill the projected hundreds of thousands of jobs that are currently unfilled in the tech space.

At AUTMHQ we are intentional about getting people engaged and plugged into our movement towards a more diverse, equitable and inclusive tech industry. We are doing this by leaning into existing partnerships, expanding our team so we can have a greater impact, and developing new/strengthening existing partnerships. With a stronger, bigger and more engaged tech ecosystem, we aim to increase the number of ppl served and the impact we have.

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