We had the good fortune of connecting with Emanuel Burgess and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emanuel, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
When I got my first cloud consulting job, I was the only person of color in the organization with a senior technical role. Speaking from experience, it’s hard to fit in if your ideas and views aren’t taken into consideration or if you don’t feel included in the company’s culture especially in an industry primarily dominated by white males. Culture is everything! I wanted to assist people who looked like me to help create and foster cultural diversity in the cloud computing space. The cloud industry has some of the highest paying roles in tech. This initiative to bring diversity into the field also addresses issues like: wealth inequality and techno-racism.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Cloud After Dark is a different approach to learning cloud. I saw a void in how technical concepts were being presented to people trying to get started in the cloud computing field. Static video content is a catch-all approach that assumes everyone learns the same way, as if the student body is a monolith. I wanted to create a “dynamic” platform. We can assess the student and create a custom learning plan in order to deliver content based on how they learn. Getting started wasn’t easy. Feeling like the “new kid on the block” weighs on one’s confidence. It felt like everybody in this space was so far ahead of us. We started from the bottom. Student by student we built our business to where it is today. We’ve been able to be profitable because we have little to no overhead. Also we have a passion for people. It’s about more than the money to us. Cloud After Dark is about helping people reach their goals. Along the way we’ve run into some challenges. With little to no money we had to come up with a way to advertise. We put a lot of sweat equity into the company to get our message and business out there. We’ve also learned that each student learns differently. We’ve had to modify the way we work to accommodate our students. The majority of our students are working adults with full time jobs and family. We upscale them at night. We have to take this into consideration when creating dynamic learning plans for each student or group. Our message to the world is simple. ANYBODY can transition in the cloud industry as long as you are willing to put in the work.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Some good food spots:

My family and I live south of the city in McDonough, GA. We love traveling downtown. For a good meal I’d say Fogo de Chão is a great place for steaks. I also like Atlanta Fish Market on Pharr road. A good soul food spot is Mary Mac’s Tea Room on Ponce. Loving Hut on Spalding drive is a good vegan option. Pappasito’s Cantina on Windy Hill road is also a favorite spot of mine.

Some good places just to hang:

Top golf is definitely a favorite place of mine to chill. Lenox Square is where all the cool folks hang. When I want to feel cool I go there from time to time. The Sweet Auburn District is rich with history. For all the artsy folks Decatur is where it’s greater. Little 5 points is a cool spot to hang as well. The Fox Theater is Atlanta history and is a great place to go catch a live event.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost, I want to give honor and thanks to GOD #Godisthegreatest. Without him I am absolutely nothing. I’d also like to thank my Tia, my wife and our children for putting up with my long hours at work and giving me the motivation to keep going. I’d like to thank my business partner LaJarrid (Jerry) Baker. He is an amazing asset to our company. Next I want to thank my father Rev. Lee Ernest Burgess Sr. and my mother Joann Burgess. These two people helped me realize that anything is possible. My mother and my father fostered and nurtured my creative thinking and allowed me to be different.

Website: www.cloudafterdark.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cloudafterdark

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/69214089

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063838698243

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@cloudafterdark9490

Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emanuelburgess/

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