Today we’d like to introduce you to Aries Webb-Williams.
Hi Aries, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m originally from Richmond, California, which is in the Bay Area. As a young girl I was always interested in how things worked. I would take things apart around the house and put them back together again, just to see what was inside making it function. Calculators, VCR’s (aging myself with that one), anything that was electronic. If I had known better, I would have pursued a career path in engineering, because that was the path my natural inclination was leading me to. But, I didn’t even know the word “engineer” at the time, I was just enjoying exploring. By being so curious, whenever something would stop working, I knew how to fix it. So, I became a little “troubleshooter” around the house. I loved the feeling that came with fixing problems.
When I was around 10, my mom was a secretary at a construction company that was going out of business. They told her she could take whatever she wanted from the office. She brought home a computer, and that changed my life from that point forward. I was determined to figure out how that computer worked, and I used those same troubleshooting skills to fix it when I messed something up. This was around the time that the internet was just really getting started, so I was exploring something new everyday.
If you do a quick Google search of Richmond, California, you will understand the type of environment that I grew up in. There are a lot of people living below the poverty line, and also a lot of crime. Even with that being true, I’m very proud of where I’m from. Unfortunately, there weren’t many role models, or people that were doing things that I could have seen myself doing as an adult. My parents didn’t have a lot of resources to put me through different programs, that would expand on what I was showing interest and ability in. So, I would sign myself up for different types of free programs, hop on the bus, and go on my own. Some were classes at the local community college, and I even remember attending a Science and Technology program at the University of California, Berkeley.
At the age of 14, I signed myself up for a program that allowed Richmond city youth to work for the summer in a city department, without needing a work permit. I worked in that program for 2 summers in a row, working 40hrs a week, for 3 months, from June to August. One job was in the maintenance department of the housing authority, answering phones, filing, doing inventory, as well as processing work orders. The other was in a legal services office, doing general office duties. I was making around $6/hr, and saving it all until the program was over, so I could buy myself clothes for the upcoming school year. I loved the independence in having my own money, and also taking that burden off of my family. I continued working and going to school from that point forward.
That love for problem solving, and independence, is what led me down the path that I’ve been on, and am still on today. College was the only path I saw to any opportunity at that time. So, for undergraduate education, I attended California State University, Hayward (now called East Bay), receiving a Bachlor of Arts degree in Political Science, and minored in Business Administration. Then, I moved to Texas in 2006 with my employer at the time, and attended the University of Texas, Dallas, to receive my Master’s degree in Business Administration. I’ve worked in a variety of roles from Technical Support (thanks to that experience at the housing authority), Business Analyst, Project/Program Management, IT Consulting, and currently Business Development/Software Sales.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One thing I know well is adversity and resilience. I know it through my socioeconomic background, but also as a Black woman, not just in technology, but corporate America in general. There were a lot of bumps in the road, personally and professionally as I pursued various goals. The ones that affected me the most, were the professional challenges. I honestly thought I was the problem most of my career. Which is crazy, because I knew I was smart, and felt like I could pretty much do anything all of my life. I told myself, “maybe you speak up too much”, “you should just be glad to have a job” (with where I come from and all), “you just need to just be quiet and do your job“, “and whatever you do don’t show emotion”. Those are the things I told myself based on negative experiences I was having in the workplace. I would blame myself for the mistreatment I received.
I was typically one of the only Black women in the office. I would endure hearing inappropriate jokes from senior leaders and peers, tons of microaggressions (I didn’t even know what a microaggression was), being told I was too much of this, and not enough of that, pretty regularly. But I was so determined to achieve my goals, and do what I needed to do for my family, that I pressed on no matter how much it hurt, and it hurt pretty bad. I’ve been called a “bulldog” to my face by a director. Complaints that I’d taken to my leaders about how I was being treated went unchecked, with answers like, “You’ll be fine”. The one that really got me at the core, was being lied on and ultimately laid off, based on the word of that same person I’d been complaining to leadership about for months.
These experiences, and speaking openly about them, ultimately led me to learn that I wasn’t the problem, and that other Black women from everywhere were experiencing the same exact type of treatment. Almost identical. Finding out that I wasn’t the only one was a relief, but also a very sad reality for me. This set me on a path to encourage and equip as many other Black women that I can to not just survive, but thrive in these environments.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My expertise lies at the intersection of program management, technology, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) advocacy. I specialize in unifying cross-functional teams around a common goal – leading both technology-related projects and core initiatives surrounding DEI. I am currently the Board Vice President for the DFW Alliance of Technology and Women, a premier non-profit organization committed to increasing the number of women and girls entering technology fields. Since joining this organization in 2017, I have forged partnerships with executive women leaders in the technology space to bring historically underrepresented voices in leadership to the forefront. In 2018, I launched The Service Boutique, an inclusion consulting firm dedicated to bridging the inclusion gap by partnering with corporate leaders to build community around their critical DEI goals. Since launching, I have leveraged my public speaking skills to facilitate keynotes, panel discussions, summits, and forums that have sparked important action in the work of DEI advocacy and allyship. As an extension of this work, I am the co-host of the BOLD Black Girls podcast, an 85+ episode podcast dedicated to amplifying Black women’s voices and empowering them to live a fulfilled life personally, professionally, and spiritually. I’m also a Voiceover Artist / Voice Actor (new website launch coming soon). If all of that isn’t enough, I’m a mom to two amazing boys, LJ (11) and Marvin (9). They are my why.
Any big plans?
My plans include growing the BOLD Black Girls podcast brand. My co-host Kimberly, Tims and I have solidified our relationship by expanding into BOLD Black Girls, LLC. We currently sell merchandise on our website but plan to branch out into much more (conferences, workshops, etc.). So, make sure you all subscribe to our podcast AND our YouTube channel. We record each episode in audio and video form, so whichever way you like your content, we’ve got you! I am also looking forward to growing my voice-over business. I use my voice to podcast, but this is a totally different way that I’m able to maximize what my voice can do. Once my website launches in May, my demos will be available for people to hear my various voice styles. My niche areas are commercial, narration, e-learning/instructional, and audiobooks. So, tell your friends, your company, and anyone else you think would benefit from a voice-over artist enhancing their videos or books.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.boldblackgirls.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/boldblackgirls/ & instagram.com/ariesww
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/boldblackgirls
Image Credits
Only for the main photo: Tavia, For Beauty Sake
