Rihana Mungin (she/her) is a Mechanical Engineering Graduate Research Assistant and the Board Treasurer for PDXWIT. She joins us on the podcast to share about her experience in academia as a Black woman and what it's like to learn through the eyes of astronauts. We discuss learning from failure, how arts and drama can build confidence in any career path, and how finding the right team bolsters a sense of belonging. Listen to find out what can happen when you find a welcoming, supportive community and some fun facts about sending weave to space and getting slimed by Nickelodeon.

Find Rihana on LinkedIn.

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Technical Storyteller and Digital Anthropologist, Grace Andrews, joins us on the podcast to impart wisdom from her education, cultural and family upbringing, and passion for storytelling. In the episode, Grace shares how she brings the power of storytelling to her work as a product marketer, content creator, and speaking coach. We discuss picking your own title, the evolution of a storyteller, and authenticity in storytelling.

Find Grace on instagram @grace_ewuraesi, her website asprinklingofgrace.com, or email her at grace@asprinklingofgrace.com.

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As a Chetco and Tututni member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz, Erin Grace brings her love of language to learning and documenting inclusive spaces for Native Americans in tech. We learn more about her expertise as a technical writer through read the friendly manual, the questions she has to face when considering a facial tattoo, challenges to BIPOC and blood quantum.

If you want to learn more about the Dee-ni project or learn more about the tech natives affinity group at PDXWIT, don’t hesitate to reach Erin at eringrace@pdxwit.org.

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Ellen Ochoa pushes the boundaries in her field as the first Hispanic female astronaut and director of NASA's Johnson Space Center. She shares her story through presentations and is a leader in STEM education and advocacy. In this episode, we discuss how Ellen’s story inspires us to reach for the stars and help the next generation grow to their fullest potential.

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Kimberly Embry, program manager and entrepreneur, inspires us to apply for jobs we can grow into, recognize that every skill you gain helps shape your story, and how to get unstuck when you’re not feeling fulfilled.

Learn more about her path from nursing to tech through coding bootcamp, how her Filipino culture influenced her, and how she’s successfully found ways to weave creativity throughout her life. Then check out her amazing jewelry at https://kasa-kasama.com/!

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