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

Hi Niesha, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Deciding to become a full-time entrepreneur was not an easy decision for me. It took me reaching full burnout before I realized that the stress that I was feeling was optional and that I could take control of my life. I realized that I had the freedom to explore the things that make me genuinely excited. After writing out the pros and cons of taking a chance as an entrepreneur, I knew what I had to do. The writing was right in front of me. It was time for me to let go of my fear and allow myself to take a risk. So I took the leap!


Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Birmingham Black Techies is my baby! I started BBT out of necessity. There weren’t any local options for connecting with Black people in tech, and I desperately wanted to find my community. The community that I was seeking didn’t exist, so I created it. It was very hard for me because I’m an introvert, and so much of community building requires me to be a “fake extrovert”. It can be draining, but every time someone tells me that they enjoyed a virtual event or in-person meetup it makes all of the discomfort worthwhile. I want the world to know that you don’t have to move to a large city to have a great career in tech and that you are not alone. There are other Black techies hoping to find their community too. I’m so glad that Birmingham Black Techies can be a connector.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As a homebody this is tough! But if I was giving a tour of Birmingham to a friend, it would definitely revolve around food because the food here is amazing. We’d start at Metro Diner and have the San Francisco Benedict and also share Cinnamon Roll pancakes. We’d also go to Carrigans to sit on the rooftop and enjoy the Pub Loaded Fries. Another must-visit would be the Pizitz Food Hall because they have a great variety of restaurants and food. Last, we’d hit up Cayo Coco because I haven’t been there yet & I’m dying to try the Peruvian Bread Pudding. Other places that we’d visit would be the Birmingham Civil Rights Institution, Moss Rock Preserve, and Ruffner Mountain. We’d end the trip by exploring downtown on scooters and wandering into whatever places catch our attention.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have to shoutout my dear friend Kellie Clark! She was one of the first people that I told about Birmingham Black Techies, and she instantly became a source of support and wisdom. I don’t know where I would be without her. She’s encouraged me tremendously and has taught me so much about being a good communicator and speaking with good intent. She’s a true light, one of the smartest and sharpest people you’ll meet, super creative, and the best friend that I could ask for.

Website: www.niesha-white.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/nitheetechie

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/nieshawhite/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/nitheetechie

Other: www.birminghamblacktechies.com

Image Credits
Rahad Holmes

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