1 00:00:06,090 --> 00:00:09,600 Jennifer Plummer: Welcome to interface a podcast where we connect technology 2 00:00:09,605 --> 00:00:11,220 and culture through conversation. 3 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:15,840 Interface is brought to you by empower at pros, empower is dedicated 4 00:00:15,845 --> 00:00:18,840 to attracting, developing, and retaining black talent at pros. 5 00:00:19,230 --> 00:00:22,650 Pros helps people and companies outperform by enabling smarter 6 00:00:22,650 --> 00:00:24,030 selling in the digital economy. 7 00:00:24,570 --> 00:00:26,190 I'm your host, Jennifer Plumer. 8 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:28,710 I'm here today with Sierra Barnes. 9 00:00:29,070 --> 00:00:31,950 Hey and Matthew couldn't be with us today. 10 00:00:32,009 --> 00:00:35,220 Um, but the three of us are the interface podcast group. 11 00:00:35,550 --> 00:00:41,100 And today our guest is Marcus Manning, Chief Technology Officer 12 00:00:41,370 --> 00:00:43,260 at Smart Financial Credit Union. 13 00:00:43,380 --> 00:00:45,900 Thank you so much for being with us today. 14 00:00:46,230 --> 00:00:46,800 Marcus Manning: Thanks for having me. 15 00:00:48,660 --> 00:00:49,560 Jennifer Plummer: All right. 16 00:00:49,565 --> 00:00:54,090 So, uh, we like to start out with basically, you 17 00:00:54,095 --> 00:00:55,380 know, your, your life story. 18 00:00:55,410 --> 00:00:59,125 Could you share with us how you got into technology? 19 00:00:59,505 --> 00:01:02,565 Was it something you were into as a little kid or you kind 20 00:01:02,565 --> 00:01:04,425 of grew into it later in life? 21 00:01:04,455 --> 00:01:05,835 Uh, you know, please share your story. 22 00:01:06,135 --> 00:01:06,585 Marcus Manning: Sure. 23 00:01:06,585 --> 00:01:11,775 So it started out, my dad was a computer operator for NASA for 30 24 00:01:11,775 --> 00:01:17,835 years and he brought us to his job one day and we went to a vault. 25 00:01:17,865 --> 00:01:19,275 I'm like, well, what is this dad? 26 00:01:19,365 --> 00:01:23,865 He's like, well, I can't let you go in there because that's mission control. 27 00:01:24,285 --> 00:01:26,865 But I can tell you that this is where I work every day. 28 00:01:26,895 --> 00:01:28,605 I said, okay, well, what do you do? 29 00:01:29,175 --> 00:01:31,275 He said, well, I program the space shuttle. 30 00:01:31,275 --> 00:01:34,455 I'm like, wow my dad has a really, really, really cool job. 31 00:01:34,605 --> 00:01:39,705 So I decided, you know, since he won't let me in this ball and let me see me 32 00:01:39,710 --> 00:01:43,335 being the curious person that I am, I'll just learn how computers work. 33 00:01:43,335 --> 00:01:47,055 So started putting my first computer together in the garage. 34 00:01:47,175 --> 00:01:48,405 Jennifer Plummer: How old were you at that point? 35 00:01:48,525 --> 00:01:50,655 Marcus Manning: That was around, I'd say that was 16. 36 00:01:51,915 --> 00:01:52,335 Yeah. 37 00:01:52,335 --> 00:01:56,205 So, and I want, that was the old 2 86 models and I won't date myself, 38 00:01:56,205 --> 00:02:00,855 but yeah, so I made a buddy of my, in the garage kind of tinkering and, 39 00:02:00,885 --> 00:02:03,435 uh, we, we built our first computer. 40 00:02:03,435 --> 00:02:06,915 So that was something that was really interesting to me. 41 00:02:07,425 --> 00:02:11,714 So went to college, studied computer science, got a degree in computer science. 42 00:02:11,805 --> 00:02:14,714 Um, I can tell you that was probably one of the toughest things 43 00:02:14,714 --> 00:02:18,495 that I've accomplished, cuz I see, okay computer science that 44 00:02:18,495 --> 00:02:20,115 really doesn't go together to me. 45 00:02:20,115 --> 00:02:23,894 But once I got in and once I started, it was like, okay, this is 46 00:02:23,899 --> 00:02:25,305 something that's, it's difficult, 47 00:02:25,305 --> 00:02:26,175 it's a challenge. 48 00:02:26,175 --> 00:02:28,095 But it's something that I was really intrigued with. 49 00:02:28,095 --> 00:02:31,815 So got a bachelor's degree in computer science, uh, with a math minor. 50 00:02:32,355 --> 00:02:36,345 And then I started my career out doing contract work. 51 00:02:36,345 --> 00:02:38,295 So I did a little bit of coding. 52 00:02:38,745 --> 00:02:42,345 I won't tell you what version, but visual, basic and C and, 53 00:02:42,405 --> 00:02:44,945 uh, some C plus plus with AT&T. 54 00:02:45,862 --> 00:02:48,825 And then I quickly realized that, you know, Hey, I need 55 00:02:48,825 --> 00:02:50,565 some, some people interaction. 56 00:02:50,565 --> 00:02:52,125 I mean, it's good to write code. 57 00:02:52,155 --> 00:02:56,235 You know, it, it's good to, you know, produce these nice products, 58 00:02:56,235 --> 00:03:00,465 but the people interaction is really what I was looking for. 59 00:03:00,465 --> 00:03:04,845 You know, how do I marry the technology and the computer science 60 00:03:04,845 --> 00:03:08,954 background with the interaction and the people skills that I have. 61 00:03:08,954 --> 00:03:12,945 So I decided to go down the service delivery route. 62 00:03:13,005 --> 00:03:18,555 So I went into the network administration, Microsoft certified engineering role. 63 00:03:18,975 --> 00:03:21,795 So I was network engineer for about three years. 64 00:03:21,855 --> 00:03:25,095 And then one of my mentors said, you know, Hey, are you 65 00:03:25,100 --> 00:03:26,505 interested in leadership position? 66 00:03:26,505 --> 00:03:31,065 Now, mind you you know, not necessarily fresh outta college, but you know, 67 00:03:31,095 --> 00:03:32,775 three years or so outta college. 68 00:03:32,775 --> 00:03:37,445 And I was part of a fraternity in college, you know, shout out to the bros. 69 00:03:45,335 --> 00:03:49,215 So I was the president of the organization in college. 70 00:03:49,215 --> 00:03:51,825 So I was like, okay, well, yeah, I do have some leadership roles, 71 00:03:51,825 --> 00:03:55,065 you know, high school, student council, things of that sort. 72 00:03:55,070 --> 00:04:00,015 So, um, but managing a team of 35 with three years of experience, it 73 00:04:00,015 --> 00:04:03,045 was again a challenge, but it was one of those things that I was up for. 74 00:04:03,645 --> 00:04:06,315 So that's really how I got into a leadership role. 75 00:04:06,345 --> 00:04:10,375 Um, and it just so happened to be another African American. 76 00:04:10,575 --> 00:04:14,505 He gave me an opportunity and when he gave me that opportunity to lead the team, 77 00:04:15,045 --> 00:04:20,265 That's really where my journey started as far as a leader in the IT industry. 78 00:04:20,625 --> 00:04:21,375 Jennifer Plummer: Awesome. 79 00:04:21,375 --> 00:04:21,795 Awesome. 80 00:04:21,795 --> 00:04:28,245 So describe for our listeners, you know, what does a chief technology officer do? 81 00:04:28,245 --> 00:04:31,935 I know perfectly what it's, what the CTO does, but for our listener, 82 00:04:33,495 --> 00:04:37,935 please explain kind of like maybe not day to day or, you know, in general, 83 00:04:37,935 --> 00:04:39,405 what are your responsibilities? 84 00:04:39,705 --> 00:04:40,185 Marcus Manning: Sure. 85 00:04:40,215 --> 00:04:40,485 Yeah. 86 00:04:40,485 --> 00:04:44,445 And, and, and some days, I mean, depending on what fires I have to put out, I 87 00:04:44,445 --> 00:04:45,765 don't even know what that looks like. 88 00:04:46,125 --> 00:04:50,630 so, but as far as my responsibilities on paper, I'm responsible for 89 00:04:50,630 --> 00:04:54,475 the innovation roadmap for the smart financial credit union. 90 00:04:55,215 --> 00:04:59,475 I'm also responsible for the IT operations side of the house, 91 00:04:59,625 --> 00:05:01,575 uh, for smart financial as well. 92 00:05:01,575 --> 00:05:07,425 So keeping the lights on infrastructure, data centers, digital experience, 93 00:05:07,485 --> 00:05:12,195 mobile experience, as well as the day to day operations of keeping 94 00:05:12,195 --> 00:05:13,335 the lights on, as I mentioned. 95 00:05:13,905 --> 00:05:17,145 Also responsible for the digital roadmap. 96 00:05:17,205 --> 00:05:21,375 So as we all know, you know, you, you, you hear digital transformation, you 97 00:05:21,380 --> 00:05:25,965 hear crypto, you hear Bitcoin, you hear blockchain, all the nice, cool 98 00:05:25,965 --> 00:05:28,935 technologies that's out there where the organization is looking at me. 99 00:05:28,940 --> 00:05:30,705 It's like, okay, Marcus, what is that? 100 00:05:30,705 --> 00:05:31,425 Do we need it? 101 00:05:31,430 --> 00:05:32,255 Do we need to buy it? 102 00:05:32,475 --> 00:05:33,555 Is it gonna work for us? 103 00:05:34,095 --> 00:05:37,665 So that's, that's part of my responsibility as well. 104 00:05:37,875 --> 00:05:40,365 And then on a DevOps perspective. 105 00:05:40,365 --> 00:05:46,035 So we don't have a necessarily, um, a development shop, but I am responsible 106 00:05:46,035 --> 00:05:50,355 for the hiring of coders when needed, and then also finding partners 107 00:05:50,835 --> 00:05:52,515 that are needed in that space as. 108 00:05:53,580 --> 00:05:54,360 Jennifer Plummer: It's it's funny. 109 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:55,979 You talk about being in the technology industry, but like 110 00:05:55,985 --> 00:05:57,270 almost every business, right. 111 00:05:57,270 --> 00:06:00,780 Has their digital side and someone needs to be, you know, 112 00:06:00,840 --> 00:06:04,590 driving the goals of that as well. 113 00:06:04,590 --> 00:06:08,219 You know, like obviously like IBM or Facebook is like, oh, this is a 114 00:06:08,219 --> 00:06:12,559 technology come cause our product is technology for a bank, um, right. 115 00:06:12,929 --> 00:06:16,409 You know, I'm, I'm assuming that's a large part of your interaction 116 00:06:16,409 --> 00:06:20,985 with your customers at this point is through mobile or your website 117 00:06:20,985 --> 00:06:22,725 or, you know, whatever these days. 118 00:06:22,725 --> 00:06:23,294 Marcus Manning: Absolutely. 119 00:06:23,294 --> 00:06:23,804 Absolutely. 120 00:06:23,804 --> 00:06:27,554 And, and we're at a point now where we really want to, uh, not 121 00:06:27,554 --> 00:06:30,914 necessarily be on the bleeding edge, but at least cutting edge. 122 00:06:30,919 --> 00:06:31,245 Right. 123 00:06:31,245 --> 00:06:35,115 Because you know, it's all about the member and if the member is not 124 00:06:35,115 --> 00:06:38,444 happy, there are so many different other opportunities out there. 125 00:06:38,444 --> 00:06:41,355 You they'll go across the street, they'll go to wallet or they'll 126 00:06:41,355 --> 00:06:43,184 go to Z, they'll go to SoFi. 127 00:06:43,184 --> 00:06:45,914 Like why do we even need a financial institution anymore? 128 00:06:45,914 --> 00:06:48,044 There are other technologies that are out there for me. 129 00:06:48,044 --> 00:06:51,794 So we need to make sure that we're making that member base happy and be 130 00:06:51,794 --> 00:06:56,085 sure that we're providing the tools that they need in order for their member 131 00:06:56,085 --> 00:06:58,365 experience to be somewhat pleasant, 132 00:06:58,689 --> 00:07:00,250 and rapid as well. 133 00:07:00,250 --> 00:07:03,819 So, you know, you don't wanna spend two hours, you know, old school at a 134 00:07:03,819 --> 00:07:07,360 teller line when you can just really go online five minutes and off you go. 135 00:07:07,510 --> 00:07:08,270 So yeah. 136 00:07:09,010 --> 00:07:09,250 Yeah. 137 00:07:09,250 --> 00:07:12,159 That digital experience and that innovation piece is extremely 138 00:07:12,159 --> 00:07:12,580 important. 139 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:13,090 Jennifer Plummer: Yeah. 140 00:07:13,090 --> 00:07:16,120 These days I don't even wanna go to, to the drive through ATM. 141 00:07:16,125 --> 00:07:19,000 I'm like, this is takes too long. 142 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:19,809 Like why can't I just, 143 00:07:19,809 --> 00:07:19,870 Marcus Manning: yeah. 144 00:07:19,929 --> 00:07:23,679 Some people's like, don't, don't wanna to a teller just wanna go 145 00:07:23,679 --> 00:07:25,299 in and see how much money I have. 146 00:07:25,299 --> 00:07:30,579 See if I can go buy the nice bag that I saw. 147 00:07:31,220 --> 00:07:35,870 Jennifer Plummer: ..So you mention, I think this is a good point I wanna dive 148 00:07:35,890 --> 00:07:41,559 into is cuz I think the perception might be that people in technology don't really 149 00:07:41,559 --> 00:07:45,959 have people skills, but you actually, you took a pivot, you were like, I, I 150 00:07:45,959 --> 00:07:49,140 wanna take advantage of my people skills. 151 00:07:49,589 --> 00:07:54,209 Is there more you can share about how your previous experiences you're 152 00:07:54,209 --> 00:07:56,640 using today in the role you're in? 153 00:07:57,299 --> 00:07:57,900 Marcus Manning: Absolutely. 154 00:07:57,900 --> 00:08:02,100 And that was something that, again, I, I, I realize early on is that, 155 00:08:02,100 --> 00:08:07,470 you know, I do have strong people skills and in order for technology to 156 00:08:07,470 --> 00:08:12,600 be of value to any organization, it has to be appropriately articulated. 157 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:17,909 I mean, if I talk about the bits and the bites and infrastructure as a service and 158 00:08:17,909 --> 00:08:21,600 software, as a service, you know, to the average Joe, you know, to the marketing 159 00:08:21,605 --> 00:08:26,610 executive, even to the CEO like Marcus, I have no idea what you're talking about, 160 00:08:26,850 --> 00:08:31,650 but if you, if you have the ability to articulate that in business terms and 161 00:08:31,650 --> 00:08:33,419 help the business really connect the dots. 162 00:08:34,110 --> 00:08:36,870 Then that's when you have that aha moment. 163 00:08:36,870 --> 00:08:37,200 Right. 164 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:40,919 So I really figured out that, okay, if I can take, you know, 165 00:08:40,919 --> 00:08:45,450 the bits and bites that I know and translate it and articulate that 166 00:08:45,510 --> 00:08:50,370 to business outcomes, that's really adding value to any organization. 167 00:08:50,375 --> 00:08:52,980 I mean, it could be the grocery store in Kroger's. 168 00:08:52,980 --> 00:08:55,500 If you don't know how to work, the KIOSK, you can't buy your groceries. 169 00:08:55,500 --> 00:08:55,860 Right. 170 00:08:55,890 --> 00:08:58,950 Well, I can go behind there and say, you know, Hey, do 171 00:08:58,950 --> 00:09:00,810 control out, delete control C. 172 00:09:00,815 --> 00:09:03,390 And the cashier's gonna look at, like mark says, I have no idea what you're 173 00:09:03,395 --> 00:09:07,380 talking well, if you go in, if you do the barcode and you scan this 174 00:09:07,380 --> 00:09:10,470 and then your payment's gonna come up, that makes more sense to them. 175 00:09:10,500 --> 00:09:15,600 So once I got to that point, I found that there was a niche because I've talked to 176 00:09:16,035 --> 00:09:21,195 people that on somewhat the cusp of being very, very, very brilliant, but they 177 00:09:21,195 --> 00:09:23,025 can't hold the too many conversation. 178 00:09:23,355 --> 00:09:27,675 And then I've talked to some people that were used car salesman that know 179 00:09:27,675 --> 00:09:29,745 absolutely nothing about technology. 180 00:09:29,745 --> 00:09:32,055 So like, okay, there's, there's a niche. 181 00:09:32,565 --> 00:09:32,835 Yeah. 182 00:09:32,835 --> 00:09:34,335 That I think I could feel. 183 00:09:34,335 --> 00:09:37,395 And that's really where I kind of, uh, hit my stride. 184 00:09:37,395 --> 00:09:40,485 If you will, how do you play that middle man to where you can 185 00:09:40,485 --> 00:09:44,175 understand the technology and even deliver on the technology, but you 186 00:09:44,175 --> 00:09:47,355 have the ability to articulate and connect the dots and really add that 187 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:49,305 business value and articulate that. 188 00:09:49,515 --> 00:09:54,615 So that's, that's really where I got the joy out of working with technology. 189 00:09:55,185 --> 00:09:55,815 Jennifer Plummer: Awesome. 190 00:09:56,325 --> 00:09:57,495 Siara Barnes: I had a quick question. 191 00:09:57,495 --> 00:10:01,395 I, I wanna go back a little bit to your college experience and you 192 00:10:01,395 --> 00:10:05,175 said you majored in in computer science and minor than math. 193 00:10:05,685 --> 00:10:09,735 Did you find that there were other people of color, specifically black 194 00:10:09,740 --> 00:10:11,515 people that you went to school with? 195 00:10:12,390 --> 00:10:14,550 What, what was that experience like? 196 00:10:14,550 --> 00:10:17,460 Were you like the only one or the one of two or three? 197 00:10:18,150 --> 00:10:18,660 Marcus Manning: yes. 198 00:10:18,660 --> 00:10:23,520 So I would say initially I was the only one and, you know, I, I, I don't 199 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:29,430 wanna stereotype, but as you guys can imagine all colors and cultures outside 200 00:10:29,430 --> 00:10:33,810 of African Americans, I experienced, and I, I, I think there, well, I know 201 00:10:33,810 --> 00:10:37,230 there's a reason for that, but to answer your question, no, I was, I was 202 00:10:37,230 --> 00:10:39,990 the only one in a lot of my courses. 203 00:10:39,990 --> 00:10:44,430 And as a matter of fact, it's, it's interesting because the African 204 00:10:44,430 --> 00:10:48,930 American that I did see in my classes, it was probably my junior year. 205 00:10:48,930 --> 00:10:50,250 His name is James Rogers. 206 00:10:50,250 --> 00:10:51,810 And if he hears this, he's gonna laugh. 207 00:10:51,810 --> 00:10:53,040 He's like, mark, you still remember that? 208 00:10:53,040 --> 00:10:55,530 And that's been several many years ago. 209 00:10:55,530 --> 00:10:58,320 I was like, yes, I'm not the only one here. 210 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:01,080 There is somebody else that's going to this journey with me. 211 00:11:01,590 --> 00:11:04,350 So, no, I, I did not see very American. 212 00:11:04,355 --> 00:11:08,370 I don't even know a lot of African Americans that have a computer 213 00:11:08,370 --> 00:11:13,800 science degree with a math minor and has continued along that path. 214 00:11:13,830 --> 00:11:16,890 And I know some people that took computer science classes and like, okay, 215 00:11:16,890 --> 00:11:18,510 you know, Marcus, that's not for me. 216 00:11:18,810 --> 00:11:23,070 Or they did get a, you know, network administration certificate 217 00:11:23,100 --> 00:11:24,420 or things of that sort. 218 00:11:24,420 --> 00:11:28,020 So I am seeing that there has been progress made, but when I went 219 00:11:28,020 --> 00:11:32,610 through college, no, I, I was the only one in the majority of my classes 220 00:11:32,615 --> 00:11:34,890 throughout my, my entire stay there. 221 00:11:35,610 --> 00:11:39,810 Jennifer Plummer: Did you have a support system being that way that, that, you 222 00:11:39,810 --> 00:11:41,730 know, some group that you leaned on? 223 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:45,630 So when you were kind of feeling like the only, or that, that kind of 224 00:11:46,020 --> 00:11:47,040 every now and then you need a boost. 225 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:50,070 I mean, but you know, did you have someone you could reach out to for. 226 00:11:50,685 --> 00:11:53,625 Marcus Manning: And actually it was, it was, it was my dad at the time, you 227 00:11:53,625 --> 00:11:57,705 know, he, he was still alive and I, you know, I even went to talk to the 228 00:11:57,705 --> 00:12:03,285 professor, but the professor couldn't necessarily relate to where I was coming 229 00:12:03,285 --> 00:12:04,725 from and what I was going through. 230 00:12:05,055 --> 00:12:08,085 And I, I could give you and it's, it's like it was yesterday. 231 00:12:08,090 --> 00:12:12,885 So again, I'm, I'm dating myself, but I used to have to go to the 232 00:12:12,885 --> 00:12:16,545 computer lab because I, I didn't have a computer back in those days. 233 00:12:16,545 --> 00:12:20,625 You know, some, some of the other students did and a lot of the students 234 00:12:20,625 --> 00:12:24,255 that were in my classes, they were already working in the Austin area. 235 00:12:24,255 --> 00:12:26,715 Some worked for Motorola, others worked for Dell. 236 00:12:27,045 --> 00:12:30,345 So they would take classes because their company sent them back. 237 00:12:30,345 --> 00:12:34,425 Well, I'm the traditional 18 year old college student, you know, wonder 238 00:12:34,425 --> 00:12:35,985 where my next meal's gonna come from. 239 00:12:35,990 --> 00:12:37,455 No, I don't have a computer. 240 00:12:38,025 --> 00:12:41,025 So there, there were times when I actually had to go to the computer 241 00:12:41,030 --> 00:12:44,985 lab at two and three in the morning just to go and get my outputs. 242 00:12:45,585 --> 00:12:52,575 And a lot of my peers that I was socially active with didn't really 243 00:12:52,575 --> 00:12:55,035 understand that I was like, man, it's three o'clock in the morning and 244 00:12:55,035 --> 00:12:56,565 you have to go to the computer lab. 245 00:12:56,570 --> 00:13:00,015 I'm like, yeah, well, this output is due on Monday morning. 246 00:13:00,015 --> 00:13:01,605 I don't have a computer here in my room. 247 00:13:01,605 --> 00:13:03,345 So yes, I don't, I don't have a choice. 248 00:13:03,345 --> 00:13:05,565 So luckily those resources was there for me. 249 00:13:06,225 --> 00:13:10,515 And that's one of the pieces that was somewhat difficult for me because 250 00:13:10,515 --> 00:13:13,335 I didn't have that support system. 251 00:13:13,755 --> 00:13:18,945 And I didn't have others that could relate to what I was going through, but, 252 00:13:18,945 --> 00:13:20,115 you know, it was one of those things. 253 00:13:20,115 --> 00:13:21,135 It's, it's tough. 254 00:13:21,135 --> 00:13:23,445 And you know, when the, when the tough, when the things 255 00:13:23,450 --> 00:13:24,795 get tough to tough get going. 256 00:13:24,795 --> 00:13:27,795 So it's one of the things that I look back on and say, Hey, I'm glad that I 257 00:13:27,795 --> 00:13:32,115 was able to accomplish that based on the circumstances, didn't make excuses 258 00:13:32,115 --> 00:13:35,055 of course, but you know, fall through it and, and got to where I am today. 259 00:13:35,855 --> 00:13:36,145 Siara Barnes: Yeah. 260 00:13:36,185 --> 00:13:36,665 I love that. 261 00:13:37,905 --> 00:13:38,055 Yeah. 262 00:13:38,055 --> 00:13:42,180 That lends to the whole, you know, there's some journeys that you have to take by 263 00:13:42,180 --> 00:13:46,860 yourself, we do, there's nobody gonna be there to, you know, push you along 264 00:13:46,860 --> 00:13:49,110 or people won't understand or relate. 265 00:13:49,110 --> 00:13:51,750 And it's like, well, this is something that I want to do. 266 00:13:51,750 --> 00:13:54,240 So I gotta make sure that, you know, I take care of what 267 00:13:54,245 --> 00:13:55,170 needs to be taken care of. 268 00:13:56,190 --> 00:13:56,910 Marcus Manning: Absolutely. 269 00:13:56,910 --> 00:13:57,180 Absolutely. 270 00:13:57,900 --> 00:13:58,200 Jennifer Plummer: Yeah. 271 00:13:58,205 --> 00:14:02,550 And, and it sounds like, cuz you, you did mention, and we're not gonna be 272 00:14:02,910 --> 00:14:07,050 publishing the video part, but, uh, you did indicate that you were part 273 00:14:07,050 --> 00:14:08,970 of a historically black fraternity. 274 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:14,700 So I'm assuming, uh, maybe not within your major, somewhere on your university, 275 00:14:14,700 --> 00:14:18,330 you had, you know, a community to, to 276 00:14:21,855 --> 00:14:23,025 spending your extracurricular 277 00:14:28,845 --> 00:14:31,095 Siara Barnes: what did you, what did you really wanna say? 278 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:34,815 Marcus Manning: I did have a, a, a strong support system and 279 00:14:34,815 --> 00:14:36,225 you can take the word strong. 280 00:14:36,230 --> 00:14:37,785 How, how you wanna see you fit. 281 00:14:37,785 --> 00:14:40,095 Um, yes I did. 282 00:14:40,100 --> 00:14:41,565 From a social aspect. 283 00:14:42,285 --> 00:14:47,865 I did have a strong support community there, not only with my organization, 284 00:14:47,865 --> 00:14:52,605 but because of the demographics of the university that we attended, you know, 285 00:14:52,605 --> 00:14:56,565 of course it wasn't at H B C U, and the population was probably, if I had to 286 00:14:56,570 --> 00:14:58,545 guess, I'd probably say less than 10%. 287 00:14:59,145 --> 00:15:04,545 So one thing that I did, um, notice is that we did stick together because 288 00:15:04,545 --> 00:15:08,805 there were not a lot of us there, so we needed to stick together 289 00:15:08,805 --> 00:15:11,295 in order for us to be successful. 290 00:15:11,355 --> 00:15:12,625 And it's, it's interesting. 291 00:15:13,665 --> 00:15:16,095 Just the way of the world is today. 292 00:15:16,470 --> 00:15:20,699 I mean things with the social injustice and black lives matters, things of 293 00:15:20,699 --> 00:15:26,699 that sort, the crux of what we were going through at that time is probably 294 00:15:26,705 --> 00:15:32,370 magnified a thousand times more today, but same similar story, right? 295 00:15:32,430 --> 00:15:32,640 Yeah. 296 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:37,500 And if you look back even past my days, if we look back in history, it almost 297 00:15:37,500 --> 00:15:39,689 seems like it's, it's, it's cyclical. 298 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:40,110 Right. 299 00:15:40,110 --> 00:15:41,460 And it's, it's kind of sad. 300 00:15:41,490 --> 00:15:41,730 Yes. 301 00:15:41,730 --> 00:15:44,220 But you know, it's, it's, it's, it's where we are and we're, 302 00:15:44,220 --> 00:15:45,480 we're gonna keep on keeping on. 303 00:15:45,540 --> 00:15:46,890 So, but answer your question. 304 00:15:46,890 --> 00:15:47,220 Yes. 305 00:15:47,220 --> 00:15:51,960 I, I did have a very strong support system and it's funny because my dad 306 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:56,670 always had a saying, son, if you're gonna do something, give it 100%. 307 00:15:57,495 --> 00:15:57,735 Said. 308 00:15:57,735 --> 00:15:58,245 Okay. 309 00:15:58,245 --> 00:16:02,115 Well, some of the things I kind of, uh, I wouldn't say I went overboard, 310 00:16:02,115 --> 00:16:08,835 but when I studied, I studied 100% when I socialized, I socialized 100%. 311 00:16:09,405 --> 00:16:09,705 Yes. 312 00:16:10,755 --> 00:16:13,275 So whenever you commit to, go all out., 313 00:16:13,605 --> 00:16:16,635 Jennifer Plummer: well, I mean, and the lesson is there for listeners 314 00:16:16,635 --> 00:16:20,655 that, you know, maybe headed to school and they're very focused on this. 315 00:16:20,655 --> 00:16:23,505 And I kind of had the same convers with my daughter who's in grad school now 316 00:16:24,105 --> 00:16:28,425 is, you know, you need to make time for your studies and you absolutely 317 00:16:28,430 --> 00:16:31,035 need to stress out, but that is definitely gonna be a stress need to 318 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:33,225 have a social life or some outlet. 319 00:16:33,930 --> 00:16:38,130 To, um, you know, to stress relief or, you know, to relax on the weekend. 320 00:16:38,130 --> 00:16:40,980 I think at work we call it what recharging. 321 00:16:40,980 --> 00:16:41,790 Siara Barnes: Oh, okay. 322 00:16:42,090 --> 00:16:42,510 Yes. 323 00:16:42,510 --> 00:16:43,500 Recharge days, 324 00:16:43,500 --> 00:16:46,111 Jennifer Plummer: PROS calls it, recharge recharge days, you know, you 325 00:16:46,116 --> 00:16:47,910 know, find a way to reset yourself. 326 00:16:48,150 --> 00:16:51,600 So, you know, you were having a lot of fun, but it had a purpose 327 00:16:51,605 --> 00:16:54,450 you might not have made it through if you had not had this is true. 328 00:16:54,450 --> 00:16:55,650 Marcus Manning: Well, yeah, that's, that's a good point. 329 00:16:55,650 --> 00:16:55,950 Yep. 330 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:56,280 Yep. 331 00:16:56,340 --> 00:16:56,610 Yep. 332 00:16:56,610 --> 00:16:59,160 I like to call it boundaries, you know, just make sure we don't 333 00:16:59,160 --> 00:17:00,840 go out of bounds either way. 334 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:03,390 You don't have to study all the time, but you don't have to 335 00:17:03,390 --> 00:17:04,950 socialize all the time either. 336 00:17:04,950 --> 00:17:05,040 Right. 337 00:17:05,045 --> 00:17:06,960 So let's, let's find a happy boundaries there. 338 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:10,530 Siara Barnes: So I always think it's interesting as a black people, we 339 00:17:10,530 --> 00:17:15,270 always, whatever setting, whatever setting we're in, if we always tend to 340 00:17:15,270 --> 00:17:21,180 find our tribe, I know that at pros, we have a group of black ladies who 341 00:17:21,180 --> 00:17:25,080 we have our own little zoom chat and we kind of, you know, get together. 342 00:17:25,085 --> 00:17:29,130 And if we need to, you know, vent or we wanna celebrate somebody, it's like 343 00:17:29,130 --> 00:17:34,590 you all we always tend to find a group of people that we can all relate to 344 00:17:34,590 --> 00:17:39,390 each other, you know, in a way that no matter how many friends you make, how 345 00:17:39,390 --> 00:17:43,290 well, you know, the other, there's just a certain experience that we have that 346 00:17:43,380 --> 00:17:45,870 you can't always relate to other people. 347 00:17:45,870 --> 00:17:48,480 And we tend to find it could be two or three of us. 348 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:51,180 And that's your little, your little tribe of people. 349 00:17:51,180 --> 00:17:53,370 It's like, I, I get where you're coming from. 350 00:17:53,370 --> 00:17:56,280 I totally understand your experience lean on me if you need to. 351 00:17:56,580 --> 00:17:57,180 Marcus Manning: Absolutely. 352 00:17:57,180 --> 00:17:58,110 And it, and it's funny. 353 00:17:58,110 --> 00:18:01,830 I mean, sometimes it's intentional, but other times it's not right. 354 00:18:01,835 --> 00:18:07,140 So I was out at a golf tournament here recently, and it just so happened that uh, 355 00:18:07,170 --> 00:18:11,550 person I was playing with, he was part of, and I won't hold him to it, but he's part 356 00:18:11,550 --> 00:18:17,700 of a different fraternity and it ended up, we were riding in the cart together and, 357 00:18:17,700 --> 00:18:22,020 you know, we were talking and laughing and, you know, hopefully the others didn't 358 00:18:22,020 --> 00:18:26,760 get offended, but to your points here, it's just that, I don't know if it's just, 359 00:18:26,790 --> 00:18:28,830 we kind of gravitate towards each other. 360 00:18:28,830 --> 00:18:28,890 Yeah. 361 00:18:28,980 --> 00:18:33,315 Or it's like, okay, well, I have, you know, kind of a partner in crime, 362 00:18:33,315 --> 00:18:37,665 somebody I can stand shoulder to shoulder with now I'm not out here by myself. 363 00:18:37,755 --> 00:18:38,175 Correct. 364 00:18:38,325 --> 00:18:41,805 So, and again, it wasn't intentional, but I thought about it after the 365 00:18:41,805 --> 00:18:45,015 fact I'm like, wow, I spent most of my time with him and on a golf 366 00:18:45,015 --> 00:18:47,355 course, that's not very common, 367 00:18:47,445 --> 00:18:48,285 Siara Barnes: not very common. 368 00:18:48,285 --> 00:18:48,585 Yeah. 369 00:18:49,155 --> 00:18:51,795 Jennifer Plummer: Well, in our last episode, Siara's heat check 370 00:18:51,825 --> 00:18:56,475 had to do with codifying and, and, and, and kind of putting on 371 00:18:56,475 --> 00:18:57,615 that face that you have at work. 372 00:18:57,615 --> 00:19:02,445 And I think it's just having a safe space where you can kind of relax 373 00:19:02,445 --> 00:19:07,305 and be like, yeah, you know, I'm, I'm Tru I'm gonna be, you're gonna get a 374 00:19:07,305 --> 00:19:09,975 hundred percent who I am right now. 375 00:19:09,975 --> 00:19:10,035 Yeah. 376 00:19:10,035 --> 00:19:12,885 Cause I need to relax and, and give that to you instead. 377 00:19:12,890 --> 00:19:13,395 Marcus Manning: Absolutely. 378 00:19:13,425 --> 00:19:13,965 Absolutely. 379 00:19:13,965 --> 00:19:17,145 And, and I can tell you, um, another friend of mine and I have a lot 380 00:19:17,145 --> 00:19:18,825 of stories, which is a good thing. 381 00:19:19,245 --> 00:19:26,520 We were talking in my office and she happened to know that I'm in omega and 382 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:30,390 she was like, Marcus, um, they're not gonna see that gold boots party you are. 383 00:19:30,390 --> 00:19:32,100 I said, no, they're, they're not they're 384 00:19:35,580 --> 00:19:38,610 somebody could tell I was having one of those days. 385 00:19:38,790 --> 00:19:41,340 It's good to have somebody that we could laugh about it. 386 00:19:41,340 --> 00:19:42,630 Could joke about it. 387 00:19:42,750 --> 00:19:43,260 Correct. 388 00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:45,990 And I can decompress and then I can go back in the game. 389 00:19:45,990 --> 00:19:46,290 Right? 390 00:19:46,290 --> 00:19:46,560 Absolutely. 391 00:19:47,490 --> 00:19:49,110 Jennifer Plummer: You get me, you get you. 392 00:19:49,110 --> 00:19:49,550 Exactly. 393 00:19:49,770 --> 00:19:49,990 Marcus Manning: Yes. 394 00:19:50,070 --> 00:19:51,150 That's exactly right. 395 00:19:51,300 --> 00:19:51,540 Yeah. 396 00:19:51,630 --> 00:19:52,710 That's exactly right. 397 00:19:52,860 --> 00:19:53,850 That's exactly right. 398 00:19:54,960 --> 00:20:00,360 Jennifer Plummer: So I wanna ask you, uh, what is your definition of success? 399 00:20:00,360 --> 00:20:03,000 Do you think you've hit that yet? 400 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:08,070 Like when you graduated, you know, college and you were like, this is what 401 00:20:08,070 --> 00:20:11,550 I'm gonna do, you know, you kind of said you were inspired by NASA and you 402 00:20:11,555 --> 00:20:13,170 obviously didn't go that route, but. 403 00:20:13,710 --> 00:20:16,830 You are a CTO of a, of a, of a bank. 404 00:20:16,830 --> 00:20:18,660 Like, what is your definition? 405 00:20:18,660 --> 00:20:21,060 Success, have you hit that yet? 406 00:20:21,570 --> 00:20:23,100 Marcus Manning: That, that's a great question. 407 00:20:23,130 --> 00:20:29,610 Um, in my mind, I would say that I have not, but I I've always been an achiever. 408 00:20:29,670 --> 00:20:33,570 I mean, I always think that there's more, you know, not, not that I'm chasing 409 00:20:33,570 --> 00:20:37,340 the dollar, but that there's, there just always seems like that there is 410 00:20:37,345 --> 00:20:41,610 more so when you, you take one step, it's like, okay, well I've climbed 411 00:20:41,610 --> 00:20:44,940 this mountain, but there are higher mountains that are far ahead of me. 412 00:20:44,940 --> 00:20:48,120 So, you know, we'll celebrate this one, but we need to hit the trail because 413 00:20:48,125 --> 00:20:49,380 there's a bigger mountain to climb. 414 00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:50,760 So there's a bigger mountain to climb. 415 00:20:51,300 --> 00:20:55,800 So what that looks like, um, I don't know what that next bigger mountain is, but 416 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:57,270 I can tell you that I'm not satisfied. 417 00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:01,470 I've I've never been a person that has been satisfied, you know? 418 00:21:01,470 --> 00:21:01,770 Yes. 419 00:21:01,770 --> 00:21:05,790 I've had a lot of accomplishments and I've been very blessed to have those 420 00:21:05,790 --> 00:21:10,410 accomplishments, but I know that there's something else and sometimes it's revealed 421 00:21:10,410 --> 00:21:14,160 and sometimes it's not, sometimes you learn it as you walk that journey or as 422 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:16,140 you're climbing this mile, you learn it. 423 00:21:16,140 --> 00:21:16,650 Okay. 424 00:21:16,740 --> 00:21:19,800 There's another mile that's coming, but I need to get this one first. 425 00:21:20,460 --> 00:21:24,480 So, um, to answer your question, as far as success is concerned, I 426 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:26,250 think it's, it's, it's three things. 427 00:21:26,250 --> 00:21:29,700 I think financial success is extremely important. 428 00:21:29,910 --> 00:21:33,720 And I think it's one of those things that the African American community 429 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:39,570 has been reluctant to talk about that I have some ideas why, but I'm 430 00:21:39,570 --> 00:21:44,040 not really sure why it's, you know, a conversation of, you know, Hey, 431 00:21:44,100 --> 00:21:45,870 let's, let's stay away from that. 432 00:21:45,900 --> 00:21:51,060 Cause I can tell you a lot of the financial success I've had so far is 433 00:21:51,065 --> 00:21:55,050 because I've listened to other people and it hasn't been African American. 434 00:21:55,800 --> 00:22:00,090 And when I have these conversations now with folks in my immediate 435 00:22:00,090 --> 00:22:05,010 circle, I'm having that because I want them to know, Hey, this is how you 436 00:22:05,015 --> 00:22:07,110 get to being financial successful. 437 00:22:07,140 --> 00:22:07,260 Yes. 438 00:22:07,430 --> 00:22:10,320 This, this is you hone your skills. 439 00:22:10,620 --> 00:22:12,300 You make sure that you're marketable. 440 00:22:12,660 --> 00:22:14,280 You learn about the stock market. 441 00:22:14,310 --> 00:22:16,220 You learn about 401ks. 442 00:22:16,225 --> 00:22:17,620 You learn about RAs. 443 00:22:17,625 --> 00:22:18,810 You learn about money markets. 444 00:22:19,050 --> 00:22:21,480 I don't know about you guys, but growing up at the dinner table, 445 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:25,080 those were not the things that would, that we, that we talked about. 446 00:22:25,650 --> 00:22:30,030 So I'm trying to break that ceiling, if you will, to start having those 447 00:22:30,035 --> 00:22:33,380 conversations with my people, because if you don't know better, you don't do that. 448 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:34,260 You don't do better. 449 00:22:34,290 --> 00:22:38,880 So to me, that's, that's kind of one of the, the, the key pillars of success. 450 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:45,810 Um, the second part of that is I think your morals and your values 451 00:22:45,810 --> 00:22:48,390 need to marry your profession. 452 00:22:48,390 --> 00:22:50,850 And a lot of people wouldn't necessarily agree with that. 453 00:22:51,555 --> 00:22:55,965 But I think who you are at home is who you should be at work is who 454 00:22:55,965 --> 00:22:58,125 you should be in your community. 455 00:22:58,545 --> 00:23:03,045 I don't think that we should have to paint a picture, have to be careful with 456 00:23:03,045 --> 00:23:07,545 my words, but I don't think we should have to put a mask on when we go to work. 457 00:23:07,545 --> 00:23:09,855 I don't think we should hide the real us. 458 00:23:09,855 --> 00:23:17,025 Of course, you know, we don't want to be the person that's fitting the stereotype 459 00:23:17,025 --> 00:23:18,885 that people have of African Americans. 460 00:23:18,885 --> 00:23:19,365 Of course. 461 00:23:19,365 --> 00:23:23,265 I mean, we know that we can get a little loud and we can get a little, 462 00:23:23,325 --> 00:23:24,885 um, let see, what about daughter? 463 00:23:24,885 --> 00:23:25,215 Call it? 464 00:23:26,505 --> 00:23:26,506 passionate. 465 00:23:26,511 --> 00:23:27,265 That's another one. 466 00:23:27,585 --> 00:23:28,155 Passionate. 467 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:28,455 Yeah. 468 00:23:28,455 --> 00:23:32,295 When you get passionate, you get, yeah, I like, I know, I know. 469 00:23:32,295 --> 00:23:32,297 I know. 470 00:23:33,285 --> 00:23:36,615 So, you know, those stereotypes that are put on us, we wanna make sure 471 00:23:36,615 --> 00:23:41,865 that we, you know, try to steer away from those, but also bring your true, 472 00:23:41,865 --> 00:23:45,645 authentic self and bringing your true, authentic self with you everywhere that 473 00:23:45,645 --> 00:23:47,175 you go, including in the workplace. 474 00:23:47,895 --> 00:23:50,025 And then I think the third piece of that is. 475 00:23:50,730 --> 00:23:54,240 I am a big person of having a peace of mind. 476 00:23:54,360 --> 00:23:59,220 Cuz a lot of times, if you don't have a peace of mind, then you can't be the 477 00:23:59,220 --> 00:24:00,900 most productive person that you can be. 478 00:24:00,900 --> 00:24:04,080 Now, what that means for you may be something different from what it means 479 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:08,880 for me, sometimes a peace of mind to me is just kind of getting away, you know, 480 00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:10,350 Hey Marcus, we're going to lunch today. 481 00:24:10,350 --> 00:24:11,940 Well, no, you guys go ahead. 482 00:24:11,940 --> 00:24:13,530 I'm gonna go to lunch by myself today. 483 00:24:13,530 --> 00:24:15,480 Nothing, nothing, nothing against a group. 484 00:24:15,750 --> 00:24:20,610 Marcus just wants to be Marcus and just kind of, you know, regroup, 485 00:24:20,670 --> 00:24:23,550 decompress and have a peace of mind. 486 00:24:23,555 --> 00:24:26,370 So I, I think that's what success really looks like. 487 00:24:27,420 --> 00:24:29,530 Siara Barnes: I totally agree with all those Marcus. 488 00:24:29,550 --> 00:24:30,570 Are you an introvert? 489 00:24:30,570 --> 00:24:32,250 Would you consider yourself an introvert? 490 00:24:33,180 --> 00:24:34,680 Marcus Manning: That's a great question. 491 00:24:35,040 --> 00:24:38,550 And it's interesting because I I've taken, you know, the Myers Bri and 492 00:24:38,550 --> 00:24:43,830 the disc profile and every one of them, I fall either directly in the 493 00:24:43,830 --> 00:24:50,660 middle, or I'm short on the extrovert side and heavy on the introvert side. 494 00:24:50,720 --> 00:24:53,750 So I would say it depends. 495 00:24:56,420 --> 00:24:59,450 Siara Barnes: I think Jenny and I both identify as introverts and 496 00:24:59,450 --> 00:25:03,320 people around us don't believe us when we tell them that. 497 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:05,240 Marcus Manning: No, no way. 498 00:25:05,240 --> 00:25:07,490 I'm like, well, it just, it just depends. 499 00:25:08,060 --> 00:25:08,270 Siara Barnes: Yeah. 500 00:25:08,300 --> 00:25:14,540 I'm very much a, uh, I, I need my downtime to recharge. 501 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:17,770 There's a lot of noise, a lot going on if it's chaotic. 502 00:25:18,500 --> 00:25:21,500 I mean, even from my family and my husband understands, he's 503 00:25:21,500 --> 00:25:23,650 like, okay, my mama needs to 504 00:25:24,110 --> 00:25:25,490 She needs, he needs minute. 505 00:25:26,390 --> 00:25:29,600 I'm like, if I can, if I could just have 20 minutes, I just need 506 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:34,070 to bring it down and then I can, you know, rejoin the conversation. 507 00:25:34,100 --> 00:25:38,360 Um, I think that recognizing those things about yourself is definitely a 508 00:25:38,360 --> 00:25:43,085 part of being successful because you can be pulled in a million different, 509 00:25:43,085 --> 00:25:47,705 you know, directions and being able to say, you know what, I think I just need 510 00:25:47,705 --> 00:25:50,495 to take a minute for my own wellbeing. 511 00:25:50,495 --> 00:25:51,575 That's really important. 512 00:25:51,875 --> 00:25:52,565 Marcus Manning: Absolutely. 513 00:25:52,655 --> 00:25:53,345 Absolutely. 514 00:25:53,705 --> 00:25:55,085 Jennifer Plummer: That kind of goes into, you talked about, 515 00:25:55,090 --> 00:25:56,225 you mentioned Myers Brigg. 516 00:25:56,225 --> 00:26:02,165 Have you done any formal, like executive coaching to this point, 517 00:26:02,165 --> 00:26:05,764 or would you recommend those sorts of things to help you with your 518 00:26:05,764 --> 00:26:10,264 interactions with, you know, the other leaders at your company or your peers? 519 00:26:10,415 --> 00:26:14,405 Marcus Manning: Yeah, here I haven't, but we did have, um, it was part of 520 00:26:14,524 --> 00:26:20,435 Gallup and we did have, uh, personalized executive coaches when I was with T DCU. 521 00:26:20,465 --> 00:26:25,355 So I spent about five years with an executive coach and, uh, I, I would 522 00:26:25,355 --> 00:26:30,425 say that that was a very beneficial five years for me, because there 523 00:26:30,430 --> 00:26:35,675 are some things that are identified that we aren't necessarily aware of. 524 00:26:35,680 --> 00:26:39,875 Sierra, you mentioned self-awareness, but I also think others 525 00:26:40,459 --> 00:26:43,850 perception of you is important. 526 00:26:44,120 --> 00:26:49,159 Not that, not that you're trying to change who you are, but you need to 527 00:26:49,159 --> 00:26:52,219 know, especially at the executive level, you need to know what message 528 00:26:52,219 --> 00:26:55,729 you're sending and you need to know how that message is being received. 529 00:26:55,789 --> 00:26:58,759 And the only way you can know that is, is, is through feedback. 530 00:26:59,360 --> 00:27:03,799 So that coaching and interaction with my peers was a good tool 531 00:27:03,799 --> 00:27:07,429 for me to use that feedback, to understand that, you know, Hey, this 532 00:27:07,429 --> 00:27:10,129 communication loop is not just one way. 533 00:27:10,134 --> 00:27:12,709 It, it needs to be a sender and a receiver. 534 00:27:13,129 --> 00:27:14,269 And then also too. 535 00:27:14,269 --> 00:27:17,419 I mean, I, I, I have a, a theory that we learned about 536 00:27:17,870 --> 00:27:19,610 balconies and basements as well. 537 00:27:19,639 --> 00:27:19,939 Right? 538 00:27:19,939 --> 00:27:24,139 So basically what that means is when you're at your absolute pinnacle, 539 00:27:24,139 --> 00:27:27,259 when you're, when you're hitting your groove, if you will, what are 540 00:27:27,259 --> 00:27:31,759 those balconies where, Hey, I'm in my zone and I'm, I'm just, I'm, 541 00:27:31,759 --> 00:27:33,199 I'm, I'm knocking it outta the park. 542 00:27:33,830 --> 00:27:35,809 Well, we also have some basements as well. 543 00:27:35,809 --> 00:27:36,169 Right. 544 00:27:36,174 --> 00:27:38,419 And a lot of times we tried or not 545 00:27:39,289 --> 00:27:43,610 try to ignore them, but those are things that we don't necessarily want 546 00:27:43,610 --> 00:27:47,929 to entertain, cuz no matter really wants to hear the bad side right. 547 00:27:47,929 --> 00:27:47,931 Of you. 548 00:27:47,931 --> 00:27:48,709 I mean, none of us are perfect. 549 00:27:48,709 --> 00:27:49,070 Right? 550 00:27:49,580 --> 00:27:52,039 So when those things are brought to your attention, you know, Hey Marcus, 551 00:27:52,039 --> 00:27:54,709 you could have done this a little better or Hey Marcus in the meeting 552 00:27:55,324 --> 00:27:59,165 you came across a little brass or, you know, Hey Marcus, in the meeting, you 553 00:27:59,165 --> 00:28:03,754 know, you mentioned this and you were very passionate about it, you know? 554 00:28:03,754 --> 00:28:06,995 So it, it's good to know that not that it would change in behavior, 555 00:28:06,995 --> 00:28:10,745 but it it's it's least good to know and have that awareness. 556 00:28:11,165 --> 00:28:15,395 Siara Barnes: How do you, um, I don't wanna say react because that's not, how 557 00:28:15,395 --> 00:28:17,465 do you manage through those basement? 558 00:28:17,645 --> 00:28:19,925 You know, I don't know what to call them. 559 00:28:19,925 --> 00:28:20,975 Marcus Manning: We'll call it situations. 560 00:28:21,205 --> 00:28:21,495 Yeah. 561 00:28:21,495 --> 00:28:21,495 Yeah. 562 00:28:21,501 --> 00:28:21,635 Yeah. 563 00:28:22,024 --> 00:28:26,824 And, and, and I can tell, and, um, I'll just be honest and transparent 564 00:28:26,824 --> 00:28:27,844 because that's just how I am. 565 00:28:27,850 --> 00:28:32,314 There are some people that you deal with, you know, that we're gonna go to 566 00:28:32,314 --> 00:28:34,925 that basement area, just because it's 567 00:28:40,775 --> 00:28:43,225 Siara Barnes: sounds like Jenni identifies with this. 568 00:28:43,385 --> 00:28:47,695 Jennifer Plummer: I love that you acknowledge that cause I think, 569 00:28:49,145 --> 00:28:50,750 everyone wants to be professional. 570 00:28:50,750 --> 00:28:51,080 Right. 571 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:55,250 And so you're like, well, professional means, you know, and maybe you're 572 00:28:55,250 --> 00:28:58,100 always thinking the balcony, I'm always striving you to be the balcony, 573 00:28:58,129 --> 00:29:01,520 but based on that statement and based on some of my experiences, 574 00:29:01,520 --> 00:29:03,980 sometimes, you know, absolutely right. 575 00:29:04,010 --> 00:29:07,909 We we've, we've gotta dip into this cuz you know, whatever my goal is 576 00:29:07,909 --> 00:29:11,780 and whatever their goal is for us to work together we've and to kind of 577 00:29:11,780 --> 00:29:14,730 compromise, gotta go to the basement. 578 00:29:15,094 --> 00:29:15,350 Siara Barnes: Yes. 579 00:29:16,790 --> 00:29:18,409 I identify with that. 580 00:29:18,415 --> 00:29:22,250 It's just, you know, certain people are certain situations, you know, 581 00:29:22,550 --> 00:29:26,300 and we're kind of dealing with this now, Jenny and I, um, on a 582 00:29:26,300 --> 00:29:33,409 particular project, but you know, you try really hard to be, um, cordial. 583 00:29:33,409 --> 00:29:37,070 You try really hard to, you know, be a team player and then sometimes 584 00:29:37,074 --> 00:29:38,540 it just gets to the point of 585 00:29:39,559 --> 00:29:41,179 okay here. 586 00:29:41,179 --> 00:29:45,110 This is kind of what it is and you're just gonna have to deal. 587 00:29:45,319 --> 00:29:50,029 We can deal with it after I say the thing and then we'll just take it from there. 588 00:29:51,350 --> 00:29:51,649 yeah, 589 00:29:51,649 --> 00:29:51,651 Jennifer Plummer: yeah, yeah. 590 00:29:51,679 --> 00:29:52,340 So, sorry. 591 00:29:52,459 --> 00:29:52,909 Sorry. 592 00:29:53,159 --> 00:29:53,929 I, I interrupted 593 00:29:57,259 --> 00:29:58,430 with all my laughing, but yeah, I was, 594 00:29:58,436 --> 00:30:01,850 Marcus Manning: I think we all go through it and sometimes people try 595 00:30:01,850 --> 00:30:05,539 to sweep it under the rug as if it doesn't exist or it's not there. 596 00:30:05,600 --> 00:30:11,989 And I'm a big fan of let's call it what it is and let's tackle it head on. 597 00:30:11,989 --> 00:30:15,629 So if there's a difficult person that I know back to your questions Sierra, 598 00:30:15,649 --> 00:30:19,819 that I know I'm gonna have to deal with today, I have to mentally prepare myself. 599 00:30:19,850 --> 00:30:19,939 Yes. 600 00:30:19,939 --> 00:30:20,360 Like, okay. 601 00:30:20,620 --> 00:30:23,989 I, I, before I even walk in the room, I know where this is going. 602 00:30:24,169 --> 00:30:31,219 So I have to be extra cautious on some of the things I say and how I say them. 603 00:30:31,489 --> 00:30:33,110 And it gets to a point where. 604 00:30:34,010 --> 00:30:35,240 I have a goal in mind. 605 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:37,700 What is our goal when we lead this room? 606 00:30:37,700 --> 00:30:37,940 Right? 607 00:30:37,940 --> 00:30:41,120 And if it's to, you know, achieve a project deadline, 608 00:30:41,120 --> 00:30:42,650 once that's done that, I'm done. 609 00:30:42,920 --> 00:30:44,390 There's no small talk. 610 00:30:44,390 --> 00:30:46,280 Hey, how the kid, none of that. 611 00:30:47,780 --> 00:30:48,990 , let's not sugar coat it. 612 00:30:49,010 --> 00:30:50,520 Let, let's take off that mask. 613 00:30:50,630 --> 00:30:51,710 It's not play games. 614 00:30:51,950 --> 00:30:55,280 We came here to make a decision decision was made, enjoy your day. 615 00:30:55,310 --> 00:30:55,460 Right. 616 00:30:55,460 --> 00:30:56,540 I'm gonna enjoy my day. 617 00:30:56,720 --> 00:31:03,320 So, so when I have those basement moments, I, I, I try to be as, as short as I can 618 00:31:03,380 --> 00:31:08,060 and to the point, and, you know, with all due respect and professionalism, of 619 00:31:08,060 --> 00:31:13,550 course, but the, uh, the small talk and the chitter chatter that's no, that's, 620 00:31:13,550 --> 00:31:14,870 that's not what we're here to do. 621 00:31:14,870 --> 00:31:16,340 And we're yeah. 622 00:31:17,390 --> 00:31:17,630 Jennifer Plummer: Yeah. 623 00:31:17,630 --> 00:31:19,460 And I'm, I'm like a first line manager. 624 00:31:19,460 --> 00:31:25,070 And one of the, one of the lessons that I knew, I was like, I have to work on this 625 00:31:25,370 --> 00:31:28,850 is I would wanna fill up that empty space. 626 00:31:28,850 --> 00:31:32,990 Like if you would say something kind of awkward or like you know, maybe 627 00:31:32,990 --> 00:31:36,260 you're, maybe you're giving someone some feedback about, you know, their 628 00:31:36,260 --> 00:31:41,150 performance or you're asking someone do something they clearly don't wanna do. 629 00:31:41,810 --> 00:31:42,470 At first 630 00:31:42,470 --> 00:31:46,160 like, I, I I'd kind of bring it in like, you know, as an example, your 631 00:31:46,165 --> 00:31:49,670 performance, you know, your performance was bad and then they just stare at 632 00:31:49,670 --> 00:31:52,850 you and, and I would be like, okay, well, you know, I try to fill it in. 633 00:31:52,850 --> 00:31:57,350 And I was like, no, no, no, you have to let, 'em sit with that empty space. 634 00:31:58,024 --> 00:32:01,085 To let, let them know, like I'm telling you this for a reason. 635 00:32:01,085 --> 00:32:03,845 And, and so, yeah, I guess that just never goes away. 636 00:32:03,845 --> 00:32:04,085 So 637 00:32:04,115 --> 00:32:07,264 Marcus Manning: yeah, it's, it's, it's, it's the awkward silence, right? 638 00:32:07,355 --> 00:32:07,685 Yeah. 639 00:32:07,689 --> 00:32:11,345 And, and, and it's funny, because again, I told you guys, I have a 640 00:32:11,345 --> 00:32:14,585 lot of stories, so, and if my mom hears it, she's gonna kill me. 641 00:32:14,590 --> 00:32:18,274 But my mom is like the worst when it comes to awkward silence, she 642 00:32:18,280 --> 00:32:20,524 will try to find conversations. 643 00:32:20,885 --> 00:32:22,075 So how's the weather. 644 00:32:22,475 --> 00:32:24,605 It's fine, mom, how was your day? 645 00:32:24,605 --> 00:32:25,355 It was good. 646 00:32:26,554 --> 00:32:27,485 So how was the weather? 647 00:32:27,514 --> 00:32:27,725 It's 648 00:32:31,445 --> 00:32:32,825 it's still fine 2 minutes later. 649 00:32:33,555 --> 00:32:35,585 But some people are uncomfortable with that. 650 00:32:36,225 --> 00:32:38,225 Jennifer Plummer: I was so uncomfortable and I would just be 651 00:32:38,225 --> 00:32:40,325 like, okay, well, yeah, I'll do the next thing, blah, blah, blah. 652 00:32:40,325 --> 00:32:44,794 But you did, you know, I, and I, you you'd undercut the message with, okay, well, 653 00:32:44,800 --> 00:32:48,335 that was bad, but I really like this thing you did, but that, that wasn't the point. 654 00:32:48,340 --> 00:32:50,975 The goal of the conversation was to be like, no, we, we 655 00:32:50,975 --> 00:32:51,814 need to talk about this issue. 656 00:32:51,820 --> 00:32:52,595 So yeah. 657 00:32:52,715 --> 00:32:53,195 Yeah. 658 00:32:53,195 --> 00:32:54,485 You gotta stay on task. 659 00:32:54,875 --> 00:32:55,175 Yep. 660 00:32:56,540 --> 00:33:03,830 So, what advice would you give to up and comers who, um, wanna get into technology? 661 00:33:03,860 --> 00:33:05,480 Maybe wanna be a future CTO? 662 00:33:06,500 --> 00:33:09,320 Marcus Manning: I would say number one, stick to the course, cuz 663 00:33:09,320 --> 00:33:14,540 you know, as I mentioned early on it's it's, it's not an easy path. 664 00:33:14,570 --> 00:33:15,560 Not, not at all. 665 00:33:15,560 --> 00:33:19,850 I mean, you guys are close to that circle and you guys, you 666 00:33:19,850 --> 00:33:21,860 know, are in the IT space as well. 667 00:33:22,250 --> 00:33:25,160 You have to consistently learn. 668 00:33:25,220 --> 00:33:29,060 So you, if, if, if you think that, you know, Hey, I'm an accountant, I 669 00:33:29,060 --> 00:33:31,460 learn accounting practices in 1985. 670 00:33:31,460 --> 00:33:34,070 I'll do this until the rest of my careers over that. 671 00:33:34,130 --> 00:33:35,420 That's not gonna happen. 672 00:33:35,510 --> 00:33:40,160 So you have to be a, a constant learner and you have to be able 673 00:33:40,160 --> 00:33:42,020 to adapt to change as well. 674 00:33:42,080 --> 00:33:46,490 I mean, we, we see change in our world every day and some people are comfortable 675 00:33:46,490 --> 00:33:47,960 with change and others are not. 676 00:33:47,960 --> 00:33:50,840 So I would say, you know, stay resilient, stay the chorus. 677 00:33:51,245 --> 00:33:52,715 The adaptable to change. 678 00:33:52,775 --> 00:33:56,435 And one other thing that I didn't get this piece of advice, but I 679 00:33:56,435 --> 00:34:01,595 learned it is try to understand your business as much as possible. 680 00:34:02,254 --> 00:34:05,375 When I was with the airline Gordon Baton was the CEO at the time. 681 00:34:05,375 --> 00:34:09,335 And he said that his, his brother wanted to run a watch company. 682 00:34:09,340 --> 00:34:12,275 And the first thing he asked him was, was, do you know how a watch works? 683 00:34:12,275 --> 00:34:13,475 He was like, well, no. 684 00:34:13,625 --> 00:34:15,514 It's like, well, how are you gonna run a watch company? 685 00:34:15,545 --> 00:34:16,985 If you don't know how a watch works? 686 00:34:17,525 --> 00:34:22,835 So, you know, how are you gonna provide solid technical solutions to a business 687 00:34:22,835 --> 00:34:24,905 that you don't know how it operates? 688 00:34:24,909 --> 00:34:24,995 Right. 689 00:34:25,000 --> 00:34:26,534 So I would say, try to learn the bus. 690 00:34:26,554 --> 00:34:29,315 Not that you have to be an expert, but try to learn the 691 00:34:29,315 --> 00:34:31,324 business as, as much as you can. 692 00:34:31,775 --> 00:34:34,594 And then another piece of advice is, uh, it's interesting. 693 00:34:34,594 --> 00:34:37,505 It's kind of our resounding theme is find that support system. 694 00:34:37,534 --> 00:34:41,525 You know, if, if, if there's a Marcus out there that you can call and say, you 695 00:34:41,530 --> 00:34:43,025 know, Hey Marcus, what was your journey? 696 00:34:43,030 --> 00:34:45,485 Or these are some of the things that I'm going up against. 697 00:34:46,025 --> 00:34:47,375 What advice do you have. 698 00:34:47,795 --> 00:34:51,455 I would say, try to find some type of peer group and they're, they're 699 00:34:51,455 --> 00:34:54,635 much more prevalent today than they were when I came outta school. 700 00:34:54,635 --> 00:34:57,755 So there there's more opportunities that are there, which is great, 701 00:34:58,145 --> 00:35:01,325 but I'd definitely say, find, find that support system as well. 702 00:35:02,465 --> 00:35:03,335 Jennifer Plummer: Yeah, totally agree. 703 00:35:03,335 --> 00:35:06,515 It definitely makes things makes these easier or like, like we said 704 00:35:06,515 --> 00:35:09,245 before, ha ha have your village that you can go kind of yeah. 705 00:35:09,665 --> 00:35:13,055 Um, reach out to for advice or just even vent about, Hey, I 706 00:35:13,055 --> 00:35:14,585 was frustrated about this thing. 707 00:35:15,815 --> 00:35:16,265 Okay. 708 00:35:16,265 --> 00:35:21,755 So there's been a lot of talk in the industry today about diversity 709 00:35:21,755 --> 00:35:26,015 and inclusion and the amount of, uh, representation in companies. 710 00:35:26,015 --> 00:35:29,585 And I think everyone pretty much agrees that there should be more 711 00:35:29,585 --> 00:35:34,325 rep representation, but my question is, what action, what should people 712 00:35:34,325 --> 00:35:36,485 actually be doing to get us there? 713 00:35:36,515 --> 00:35:38,315 Do you have any opinions on that? 714 00:35:38,465 --> 00:35:38,945 Marcus Manning: I do. 715 00:35:39,035 --> 00:35:39,455 I do. 716 00:35:39,455 --> 00:35:44,045 So prior to leaving, uh, TD E C U, I was part of the DEI council. 717 00:35:44,045 --> 00:35:47,045 I was actually an officer on the DEI council. 718 00:35:47,165 --> 00:35:53,285 And, um, we, we had these type of conversations and it's interesting 719 00:35:53,285 --> 00:35:57,635 now because the CEO of T D E C U is an African American. 720 00:35:57,695 --> 00:36:00,785 Um, he just got appointed maybe six or seven months ago and he 721 00:36:00,785 --> 00:36:02,105 and I would have conversations. 722 00:36:02,105 --> 00:36:06,065 And one of our board members, it's interesting out of 12, 15 723 00:36:06,065 --> 00:36:08,895 board members, you only have one African American speaking of DEI. 724 00:36:09,305 --> 00:36:15,245 So anyway, we, we would have those type of conversations and the advice, 725 00:36:15,245 --> 00:36:19,715 or not necessarily the advice, but I, I think action is the key word. 726 00:36:19,715 --> 00:36:20,645 And you mentioned it, Jennifer. 727 00:36:20,645 --> 00:36:21,995 I think action is the key word. 728 00:36:23,015 --> 00:36:25,444 We can give you, I can give you numbers. 729 00:36:25,444 --> 00:36:27,754 I can give you statistics until the colleges come home. 730 00:36:27,754 --> 00:36:28,084 Right? 731 00:36:28,084 --> 00:36:30,515 I mean, we can put analytics around it. 732 00:36:30,515 --> 00:36:32,285 We can put machine learning around it. 733 00:36:32,285 --> 00:36:35,734 Hey, we predict in, you know, year 2025, there'll be 5%. 734 00:36:36,305 --> 00:36:37,504 I get all of that. 735 00:36:37,955 --> 00:36:40,174 But what are we doing today? 736 00:36:40,535 --> 00:36:43,564 And you know, some of the conversations that we've had, I haven't had a lot 737 00:36:43,564 --> 00:36:49,115 here, but in my previous roles, Marcus walks in the boardroom and I look 738 00:36:49,115 --> 00:36:50,914 around and Marcus is the only one there. 739 00:36:50,944 --> 00:36:52,595 And it's been like that for years. 740 00:36:52,624 --> 00:36:57,814 Not just something that happened yesterday or Marcus walks in the boardroom and 741 00:36:57,874 --> 00:37:00,334 there is another person across the table. 742 00:37:01,294 --> 00:37:03,874 Then we don't see him anymore for six months. 743 00:37:04,414 --> 00:37:07,924 But another person of African American doesn't show up across the table. 744 00:37:07,924 --> 00:37:12,245 It's someone else that has filled that role or, or taken in that seat. 745 00:37:12,725 --> 00:37:18,845 So when you talk about equity, If we lose one, then I would 746 00:37:18,845 --> 00:37:20,044 think we should add one, right? 747 00:37:20,044 --> 00:37:25,444 I mean, that's, that's my opinion, but you know, maybe somebody has some fuzzy 748 00:37:25,444 --> 00:37:29,884 math and they add things differently than what I do, maybe they do. 749 00:37:30,544 --> 00:37:37,055 But I think, um, taking action and really putting metrics around what you're 750 00:37:37,055 --> 00:37:38,705 gonna, what you say you're gonna do 751 00:37:38,705 --> 00:37:39,904 and what did you actually do? 752 00:37:39,904 --> 00:37:42,995 Just like, you know, we have our year end goals, let's make 753 00:37:42,995 --> 00:37:44,884 DEI a year end goal, you know? 754 00:37:44,890 --> 00:37:45,245 Yes. 755 00:37:45,245 --> 00:37:49,415 You know, we have projections, we have forecasts, you know, we're trying 756 00:37:49,419 --> 00:37:51,634 to meet certain amount of numbers. 757 00:37:52,055 --> 00:37:54,995 We're trying to make sure that, you know, our retention rate 758 00:37:54,995 --> 00:37:56,825 is at this particular amount. 759 00:37:56,825 --> 00:37:59,705 We're trying to make sure our assets are growing at this particular amount. 760 00:37:59,705 --> 00:38:02,194 Well, what about our DEI committee? 761 00:38:02,314 --> 00:38:07,115 What about how, how many African Americans do we have in this particular role? 762 00:38:07,234 --> 00:38:08,375 Or how many do we want? 763 00:38:08,404 --> 00:38:10,564 You know, and a lot of times it's just conversation. 764 00:38:10,564 --> 00:38:14,374 Well, You put metrics and goals around everything else you wanna accomplish. 765 00:38:14,495 --> 00:38:14,705 Right? 766 00:38:14,825 --> 00:38:17,355 Why can't we put metrics and goals around DEI? 767 00:38:18,185 --> 00:38:21,365 So that was, that was one of the things that we really talked about. 768 00:38:21,365 --> 00:38:24,575 And I think we're making progress not as quickly as I'd like to 769 00:38:24,575 --> 00:38:28,564 see it, but I do think that we are making progress in pocket. 770 00:38:28,564 --> 00:38:32,225 So to answer your question, I think putting metrics around that and 771 00:38:32,225 --> 00:38:36,185 measuring it, just like you do the rest of your KPIs for the organization. 772 00:38:36,185 --> 00:38:38,464 I think that needs to be part of that as well. 773 00:38:38,674 --> 00:38:38,734 Yeah. 774 00:38:39,725 --> 00:38:46,115 A second to that is I think there needs to be mentor mentee programs formal. 775 00:38:46,234 --> 00:38:51,245 I mean, I, I know that, you know, in some of my social circles, I may have a mentee 776 00:38:51,274 --> 00:38:56,524 or I may have someone that, you know, Hey Marcus, my son is going through school. 777 00:38:56,524 --> 00:38:58,714 He's having a tough time, true story. 778 00:38:59,075 --> 00:39:01,624 And you know, computer science may not be for him. 779 00:39:01,624 --> 00:39:05,734 And see, we know, tell me, give me a call because I, I I've been in his shoes. 780 00:39:05,734 --> 00:39:10,174 I've been down that past and it's gonna pay off, but you need to persevere. 781 00:39:10,174 --> 00:39:13,595 So in my outer circles, I think that that exists. 782 00:39:13,624 --> 00:39:17,075 But in the workplace, you know, if somebody, you guys probably 783 00:39:17,075 --> 00:39:18,694 experience more than I do, you. 784 00:39:19,279 --> 00:39:20,450 We don't have a program. 785 00:39:20,450 --> 00:39:24,890 If I have somebody that comes in fresh outta college to where, okay, Hey Marcus, 786 00:39:24,890 --> 00:39:29,149 you're gonna be assigned his mentor or, Hey, you know, your first 90 days, 787 00:39:29,749 --> 00:39:33,890 you need to identify somebody in the organization that's gonna mentor you. 788 00:39:33,919 --> 00:39:38,839 And I I'd like to see that more of a, a formal structured program, as opposed to, 789 00:39:38,839 --> 00:39:43,459 you know, oh, Hey, by the way, you know, we have a junior programmer coming in, he 790 00:39:43,459 --> 00:39:46,759 came from an H B, C U Marcus, can you go? 791 00:39:47,149 --> 00:39:52,669 So it's like, okay, here we go with this inclusion and thing again. 792 00:39:52,669 --> 00:39:52,939 Right. 793 00:39:52,944 --> 00:39:54,950 You know, Marcus, you're one, he's one can know each other. 794 00:39:56,509 --> 00:39:57,649 Jennifer Plummer: You should know each other. 795 00:39:57,649 --> 00:40:01,240 Siara Barnes: No, you know this? 796 00:40:01,245 --> 00:40:01,490 No. 797 00:40:02,419 --> 00:40:02,689 Marcus Manning: Yeah. 798 00:40:02,689 --> 00:40:03,709 That's exactly right. 799 00:40:03,709 --> 00:40:07,939 So, you know, regardless of whether it's African American or not, I, I think that 800 00:40:07,939 --> 00:40:12,410 there needs to be some type of mentor, preferably, but if not, at least some 801 00:40:12,410 --> 00:40:14,660 type of structured program in place. 802 00:40:16,460 --> 00:40:16,760 Jennifer Plummer: Yeah, 803 00:40:16,820 --> 00:40:18,950 Siara Barnes: I think this all goes back to the conversation 804 00:40:18,950 --> 00:40:21,200 of just be intentional. 805 00:40:21,440 --> 00:40:25,430 I, I understand it's such a hot topic and like, I get it. 806 00:40:25,430 --> 00:40:32,210 But I think for us who are the black employees and who have seen, you know, 807 00:40:32,210 --> 00:40:37,430 this mass Exodus, you know, of, of black people, or just not being able 808 00:40:37,430 --> 00:40:42,580 to see enough of us that look like us around, it's like, yeah, this was a hot 809 00:40:42,685 --> 00:40:45,020 topic, but what are you actually doing? 810 00:40:45,020 --> 00:40:48,980 Even if I come and bring you a suggestion, you decide whether or 811 00:40:48,985 --> 00:40:54,950 not you want to take that, you know, that advice and do anything about it. 812 00:40:54,950 --> 00:40:56,570 So then now I feel deflated. 813 00:40:56,570 --> 00:41:00,930 I feel like, you know, my voice, you know, isn't heard my, my opinion isn't valued 814 00:41:01,440 --> 00:41:04,465 and then it just repeats this cycle. 815 00:41:04,465 --> 00:41:09,945 And I just want leaders to take ownership of this and be intentional. 816 00:41:09,995 --> 00:41:11,255 Just be intentional about what you're doing. 817 00:41:11,435 --> 00:41:12,005 Marcus Manning: Absolutely. 818 00:41:12,155 --> 00:41:16,475 And I, I, I think it takes courage too, especially being, uh, an 819 00:41:16,475 --> 00:41:18,065 African American executive. 820 00:41:18,125 --> 00:41:22,325 Um, if you're not comfortable in your own skin and I've seen it happen 821 00:41:22,325 --> 00:41:27,845 before, you're so accustomed to getting in line and so accustomed 822 00:41:27,845 --> 00:41:30,275 to doing what's expected of me. 823 00:41:30,305 --> 00:41:33,605 Well, you should have expectations of yourself as well. 824 00:41:33,635 --> 00:41:35,945 And this, again, this is Marcus's personal opinion. 825 00:41:35,945 --> 00:41:36,725 Siara Barnes: That's a great point. 826 00:41:37,025 --> 00:41:39,635 Marcus Manning: I've always been the one that, you know, God has 827 00:41:39,635 --> 00:41:41,105 blessed me to be a blessing. 828 00:41:41,525 --> 00:41:44,705 And, you know, even though I'm a trailblazer, I need to look back 829 00:41:44,765 --> 00:41:50,165 and it's, it's, it's a quote that we had in my social organization, 830 00:41:50,225 --> 00:41:51,815 um, lifting as we climb. 831 00:41:51,815 --> 00:41:52,145 Right. 832 00:41:52,145 --> 00:41:57,155 So as, as, as I climb, I'm looking back and seeing who else I can, I 833 00:41:57,155 --> 00:42:00,845 can pull up with me because we're all walking down this, this, this 834 00:42:00,845 --> 00:42:02,345 same journey or this same road. 835 00:42:02,675 --> 00:42:03,275 Siara Barnes: I love that. 836 00:42:03,695 --> 00:42:05,105 That's very, very true. 837 00:42:05,405 --> 00:42:07,265 Jennifer Plummer: Yeah, totally agree. 838 00:42:07,565 --> 00:42:11,345 And things like, um, I mean, Sierra, you mentioned that the great 839 00:42:11,345 --> 00:42:14,585 resignation, and we also talked about I introverts vs extroverts 840 00:42:14,885 --> 00:42:17,735 and I think a, a mentorship program. 841 00:42:18,125 --> 00:42:18,335 Right. 842 00:42:18,335 --> 00:42:21,995 I think that would, you know, obviously benefit everybody. 843 00:42:22,085 --> 00:42:23,405 Like I think everyone. 844 00:42:23,855 --> 00:42:27,605 And I think extra, you know, I'm not an extrovert, but I'm assuming 845 00:42:27,605 --> 00:42:30,245 extrovert just going up to people and just ask 'em advice all the time. 846 00:42:30,335 --> 00:42:33,935 You know, and it's a little harder for, for us people that don't like to reach 847 00:42:33,935 --> 00:42:37,715 out so much to find someone to connect with and having that structure so that 848 00:42:37,715 --> 00:42:41,795 everyone gets a chance and builds up that confidence and the re the reason 849 00:42:41,795 --> 00:42:46,895 why people don't think Sierra and I are introverts is because we've kind of 850 00:42:46,895 --> 00:42:48,575 just keep putting our through experience 851 00:42:48,575 --> 00:42:51,065 the other ways we're like, okay, well, this is how we circumvent that. 852 00:42:51,065 --> 00:42:53,675 And now we kind of feel comfortable in those situations, but it 853 00:42:53,675 --> 00:42:54,905 took a while to get there. 854 00:42:55,115 --> 00:42:55,565 Yeah. 855 00:42:55,565 --> 00:42:58,205 And, and, uh, a mentorship program would help that. 856 00:42:58,205 --> 00:43:02,705 And just really help, you know, as a, as a, as a development manager, I can 857 00:43:02,705 --> 00:43:06,875 see something that tends to happen is the person that's really good at 858 00:43:06,875 --> 00:43:08,915 solving a particular set of problems 859 00:43:09,155 --> 00:43:12,275 just kinda, they keep giving the ball to that person. 860 00:43:12,455 --> 00:43:12,545 Right. 861 00:43:12,695 --> 00:43:13,835 Keep fixing this, keep fixing. 862 00:43:14,615 --> 00:43:17,375 and it could be cuz of time or whatever, but there's other people out 863 00:43:17,375 --> 00:43:18,545 there that are capable of doing it. 864 00:43:18,545 --> 00:43:21,905 It's just that they don't feel as comfortable kind of, you know, putting 865 00:43:21,905 --> 00:43:23,075 their hand up or getting there. 866 00:43:23,075 --> 00:43:28,085 And so through mentorship or, or someone recognizing, or having that conversation 867 00:43:28,085 --> 00:43:31,955 with them, like, Hey, this is how, you know, I know you're interested, you 868 00:43:31,955 --> 00:43:34,145 know, they can talk about their goals or where they wanna see themselves in 869 00:43:34,150 --> 00:43:37,625 five years based on that, you know, you need to get more involved in things. 870 00:43:37,625 --> 00:43:41,315 So, you know, how do you kind of slowly even conversations, like talk to 871 00:43:41,315 --> 00:43:42,725 your manager about what you wanna do. 872 00:43:42,725 --> 00:43:45,695 Some people, you know, sometimes the one on ones, people are mentioning things 873 00:43:45,695 --> 00:43:48,245 to me and they're like, yeah, I don't even under, how did this person do that? 874 00:43:48,250 --> 00:43:50,825 Well, I was like, well, first thing they did was they talked to their manager 875 00:43:50,855 --> 00:43:52,565 and then, then the manager helped them. 876 00:43:52,565 --> 00:43:57,845 So, you know, people take that for granted, especially when you you've been 877 00:43:57,845 --> 00:44:01,115 in, you know, you've got several years of experience, like yeah, of course everybody 878 00:44:01,265 --> 00:44:07,190 knows that, but no, if you're fr you know, if you're someone who's family isn't in 879 00:44:07,190 --> 00:44:10,520 this industry or you're, you know, they don't, they, you know, they're not in 880 00:44:10,520 --> 00:44:17,330 technology or they're not in careers that have this kind of ladder or you're you're, 881 00:44:17,330 --> 00:44:18,200 you know, you're fresh outta school. 882 00:44:18,205 --> 00:44:19,940 You, these are things you don't know. 883 00:44:19,940 --> 00:44:20,660 Like, yeah. 884 00:44:20,690 --> 00:44:21,260 I can't imagine. 885 00:44:21,380 --> 00:44:23,510 I can't, I was pretty dumb when I came outta school. 886 00:44:25,480 --> 00:44:27,470 it took me a while to figure out a lot of stuff. 887 00:44:27,470 --> 00:44:28,280 So, yeah. 888 00:44:28,340 --> 00:44:28,580 Marcus Manning: Yeah. 889 00:44:28,580 --> 00:44:31,610 And I, I think, I, I think that's a very important point. 890 00:44:31,730 --> 00:44:35,780 One other thing that I would recommend is, is, is volunteer for 891 00:44:35,780 --> 00:44:40,220 projects and volunteer for things outside of your normal scope. 892 00:44:40,670 --> 00:44:42,950 And a lot of times people don't know that, right? 893 00:44:42,950 --> 00:44:47,060 Because we come in and I can speak my myself, okay. 894 00:44:47,090 --> 00:44:48,620 This is my job description. 895 00:44:48,680 --> 00:44:50,600 This is what's expected of me. 896 00:44:50,660 --> 00:44:52,010 I'm gonna knock it outta the park. 897 00:44:52,010 --> 00:44:55,580 And I'm gonna just stay in my box and do this all day, every day. 898 00:44:56,180 --> 00:44:59,360 I'm gonna do great at it, but that's what I'm gonna do because 899 00:44:59,360 --> 00:45:00,770 that's, what's expected of me. 900 00:45:01,220 --> 00:45:03,740 And I'd say probably midway through my career. 901 00:45:04,445 --> 00:45:09,335 I didn't really realize that, Hey, it's okay to start asking questions. 902 00:45:09,395 --> 00:45:14,075 It's okay to start looking around and seeing what's going on around 903 00:45:14,075 --> 00:45:17,225 you, as opposed to coming in, put your head down, you know, with your 904 00:45:17,225 --> 00:45:20,585 blinders on doing the job to the best of your ability then going home. 905 00:45:20,645 --> 00:45:26,795 So I think if you have kind of that horizontal view of what's going on 906 00:45:26,795 --> 00:45:29,225 around you, I think that helps as well. 907 00:45:29,435 --> 00:45:29,765 Jennifer Plummer: Yeah. 908 00:45:30,005 --> 00:45:30,425 Yeah. 909 00:45:30,785 --> 00:45:33,275 People think, um, yeah, cause I was kinda like heads down. 910 00:45:33,275 --> 00:45:34,325 I'm just gonna do what I'm doing. 911 00:45:34,325 --> 00:45:37,145 But when I got the confidence to start being like, why are we doing this? 912 00:45:37,145 --> 00:45:37,745 Like this? 913 00:45:37,750 --> 00:45:40,395 Or shouldn't we do that's really when people were like, oh, 914 00:45:40,955 --> 00:45:42,785 well yeah, you got opinions. 915 00:45:42,845 --> 00:45:43,385 Okay. 916 00:45:43,565 --> 00:45:44,525 Let's yes. 917 00:45:44,555 --> 00:45:45,245 Why don't you do this? 918 00:45:45,245 --> 00:45:45,935 And why don't you do that? 919 00:45:45,935 --> 00:45:48,395 And then I saw, you know, my career start to kind grow. 920 00:45:48,515 --> 00:45:48,935 Marcus Manning: Yeah. 921 00:45:48,935 --> 00:45:52,175 And I think that's, that's really where you start showing the value that you have. 922 00:45:52,175 --> 00:45:52,265 Right. 923 00:45:52,265 --> 00:45:54,215 And I think that that's where the leadership skills 924 00:45:54,220 --> 00:45:55,505 come in at as well, because. 925 00:45:56,015 --> 00:45:59,945 You're not afraid to, you know, somewhat disturb the apple card, if 926 00:45:59,945 --> 00:46:01,235 there's a better way of doing it. 927 00:46:01,325 --> 00:46:04,085 Hey, Jim, by all means, tell us, you know, let's do it. 928 00:46:04,085 --> 00:46:05,495 That's, that's what we're looking for. 929 00:46:05,495 --> 00:46:07,205 That's how we got to where we are today. 930 00:46:07,385 --> 00:46:08,035 Jennifer Plummer: So, yeah. 931 00:46:08,195 --> 00:46:08,525 Yeah. 932 00:46:08,825 --> 00:46:11,525 You know, and I think about people on my team where people I've worked 933 00:46:11,525 --> 00:46:14,165 with in the past, you know, it's like, oh, why is this person, all this 934 00:46:14,165 --> 00:46:15,275 complaining be like, you know what? 935 00:46:15,275 --> 00:46:16,715 They do know what they're talking about. 936 00:46:16,745 --> 00:46:20,435 So let me listen to them or let's try things their way. 937 00:46:20,435 --> 00:46:21,095 And then yeah. 938 00:46:21,095 --> 00:46:24,545 Obviously the team, you know, grows and gets better because of those things. 939 00:46:24,695 --> 00:46:24,995 Marcus Manning: Yeah. 940 00:46:24,995 --> 00:46:29,135 And I can tell you too, back to the, kind of the, the D E and I conversation. 941 00:46:29,135 --> 00:46:36,515 I, I think that it's very challenging for us to educate anyone that's not 942 00:46:36,575 --> 00:46:42,575 African American, especially in the workplace, because there are some things 943 00:46:42,575 --> 00:46:47,735 that we have gone through that I can explain it to we're blue in the face. 944 00:46:47,735 --> 00:46:52,685 And some people either they won't get it or they will pretend like 945 00:46:52,805 --> 00:46:58,355 they don't get it or they'll just fed out, say, okay, that can't be true. 946 00:46:58,355 --> 00:47:00,965 Well, I, I'm not making this up. 947 00:47:00,965 --> 00:47:04,835 I mean, if, if, if you're willing to listen and truly listen 948 00:47:05,075 --> 00:47:09,695 with the filters that you have on, if you could lower those. 949 00:47:09,755 --> 00:47:13,295 And I think it's, it's, it's deep rooted, right? 950 00:47:13,295 --> 00:47:16,025 Because a lot of times you're a product of your environment. 951 00:47:16,025 --> 00:47:22,865 And if people who aren't African American don't interact with African Americans, all 952 00:47:22,865 --> 00:47:29,255 they do is see stereotypes and they watch YouTube videos and make TikTok videos. 953 00:47:29,255 --> 00:47:32,945 And, oh, this is what they must be like. 954 00:47:33,095 --> 00:47:33,575 Siara Barnes: Correct. 955 00:47:33,845 --> 00:47:36,245 Marcus Manning: That's, that's a challenge for me. 956 00:47:36,365 --> 00:47:39,785 Uh, especially having those type of conversations in the workplace 957 00:47:39,785 --> 00:47:43,325 because people already come to the table with a preconceived notion 958 00:47:43,330 --> 00:47:44,555 of how you're supposed to be. 959 00:47:45,455 --> 00:47:48,785 And when you show them something differently, then you're the 960 00:47:48,785 --> 00:47:50,615 exception as opposed to the norm. 961 00:47:51,305 --> 00:47:52,115 I'm like, well, no. 962 00:47:52,385 --> 00:47:53,465 Yeah, yeah. 963 00:47:53,470 --> 00:47:54,845 This is how we are. 964 00:47:54,845 --> 00:47:56,755 There are plenty of us, us. 965 00:47:57,365 --> 00:47:57,785 Yeah. 966 00:47:57,905 --> 00:48:00,005 It's, it's not just me, right? 967 00:48:00,010 --> 00:48:00,965 It's not just the error. 968 00:48:00,965 --> 00:48:02,555 It's not just, there are plenty of us. 969 00:48:02,585 --> 00:48:05,705 You just don't give us the opportunity. 970 00:48:06,585 --> 00:48:08,865 And you're not willing to have those conversations. 971 00:48:08,865 --> 00:48:13,634 So that's, that's one of the things we talked about, you know, satisfaction. 972 00:48:13,665 --> 00:48:17,775 That's one of the things that I'm trying to break that ceiling now, 973 00:48:18,045 --> 00:48:21,194 and it's not just a numbers thing and it's not just an equity thing. 974 00:48:21,200 --> 00:48:25,634 I think there's some things that's so systemic and so deep rooted. 975 00:48:25,995 --> 00:48:30,255 It's gonna have to take those tough conversation. 976 00:48:30,255 --> 00:48:32,325 Now, if I get fired, I'm gonna call you guys and see if you need get. 977 00:48:32,375 --> 00:48:32,675 Yeah. 978 00:48:34,105 --> 00:48:38,225 .In the meantime, I'm gonna keep trying, trying to break that barrier. 979 00:48:38,705 --> 00:48:39,725 Jennifer Plummer: And that was really, yeah. 980 00:48:39,725 --> 00:48:43,835 That's that was kind of where the idea for the podcast came as well. 981 00:48:43,865 --> 00:48:49,295 I was like, there's a lot of black people in technology, but no, one's really 982 00:48:49,295 --> 00:48:52,565 think, you know, cuz the answer always is, well, we can't find the people in 983 00:48:52,565 --> 00:48:54,785 technology it's too hard to find them. 984 00:48:54,785 --> 00:48:55,355 So I was like, 985 00:48:55,565 --> 00:48:57,515 Marcus Manning: I'm not, I'm not buying that one have 986 00:49:03,185 --> 00:49:03,575 Jennifer Plummer: yeah. 987 00:49:03,575 --> 00:49:05,945 So just and, and normalize. 988 00:49:06,005 --> 00:49:06,485 Right. 989 00:49:06,725 --> 00:49:07,715 We know, right? 990 00:49:07,715 --> 00:49:08,195 Yes. 991 00:49:08,195 --> 00:49:12,275 But, um, normalizing to, to America. 992 00:49:13,265 --> 00:49:13,655 Yeah. 993 00:49:17,465 --> 00:49:18,515 Of that. 994 00:49:18,605 --> 00:49:20,075 This is no different than anything else. 995 00:49:20,075 --> 00:49:24,275 Like you're always gonna think of athletes and musicians, 996 00:49:24,275 --> 00:49:27,395 but no, this, we do check too. 997 00:49:27,425 --> 00:49:28,205 We do accounting. 998 00:49:28,235 --> 00:49:29,345 Siara Barnes: We do everything 999 00:49:29,825 --> 00:49:31,625 Marcus Manning: I told to have another story for you. 1000 00:49:31,625 --> 00:49:33,065 So we're in a meeting, true story. 1001 00:49:33,065 --> 00:49:33,665 Here it is. 1002 00:49:33,670 --> 00:49:34,535 I'll show it to you. 1003 00:49:34,835 --> 00:49:38,195 A guy comes with me, he's like, Hey Marcus, is that a super bowl ring? 1004 00:49:38,795 --> 00:49:41,405 I said, no, it's not a super bowl ring. 1005 00:49:41,915 --> 00:49:43,895 It's a computer science degree ring. 1006 00:49:43,895 --> 00:49:45,545 Oh, wow. 1007 00:49:45,545 --> 00:49:49,145 I mean, it, I don't, I don't think again, back to that, you know, 1008 00:49:49,575 --> 00:49:53,525 systemic, I don't want to call it racism, but systemic way of 1009 00:49:53,555 --> 00:49:54,275 thinking. 1010 00:49:54,365 --> 00:49:54,875 Siara Barnes: Yes. 1011 00:49:55,595 --> 00:49:58,985 Jennifer Plummer: So UN it's kind of like an unconscious bias that comes out, right? 1012 00:49:59,045 --> 00:49:59,465 Correct. 1013 00:49:59,675 --> 00:50:03,635 Marcus Manning: So he, he saw nothing wrong with asking me that question. 1014 00:50:03,635 --> 00:50:03,695 Yeah. 1015 00:50:03,755 --> 00:50:06,725 And several people would probably see nothing wrong with, 1016 00:50:06,755 --> 00:50:07,985 with asking me that question. 1017 00:50:07,985 --> 00:50:09,695 Another guy told me, you know, Hey Marcus, you kind of 1018 00:50:09,695 --> 00:50:11,015 dressed like tiger woods today. 1019 00:50:11,090 --> 00:50:11,150 Yeah. 1020 00:50:11,510 --> 00:50:11,660 Jennifer Plummer: Oh really? 1021 00:50:14,270 --> 00:50:14,490 Marcus Manning: No. 1022 00:50:14,490 --> 00:50:14,491 Yeah. 1023 00:50:15,290 --> 00:50:19,400 So some of these board room conversations that I've had, and it's one of those 1024 00:50:19,405 --> 00:50:24,740 where, okay, I hear you , I'm not gonna address it right now, but we 1025 00:50:24,740 --> 00:50:26,060 talking about those balconies earlier. 1026 00:50:26,065 --> 00:50:29,180 I'm not gonna address it right now, but yeah. 1027 00:50:29,660 --> 00:50:31,880 We'll have a conversation after this one, John, 1028 00:50:31,880 --> 00:50:35,720 Siara Barnes: you know, it's such a hard burden to bear also because I 1029 00:50:35,720 --> 00:50:40,580 remember when, you know, the UN the unfortunate death of George Floyd, and 1030 00:50:40,580 --> 00:50:44,720 there was all of these conversations that companies were having with their 1031 00:50:45,000 --> 00:50:46,910 employees about how they're feeling and 1032 00:50:47,465 --> 00:50:51,695 and I felt, and I know a couple of friends of mine who one, they were 1033 00:50:51,700 --> 00:50:56,255 even in a workplace where their leaders were letting them openly talk about it. 1034 00:50:56,255 --> 00:50:56,675 Right. 1035 00:50:57,425 --> 00:51:02,585 The burden of having to either recount your experience or trying 1036 00:51:02,585 --> 00:51:08,105 to educate someone or having to tell people, like, when you say 1037 00:51:08,105 --> 00:51:09,815 this, this is how it makes me feel. 1038 00:51:09,815 --> 00:51:12,845 It's like that constant thing. 1039 00:51:12,875 --> 00:51:14,615 And I'm just like, I am exhausted. 1040 00:51:14,615 --> 00:51:14,675 Yeah. 1041 00:51:14,705 --> 00:51:18,365 I want you to go and find an article to go read about this 1042 00:51:18,365 --> 00:51:19,955 or go find a book or something. 1043 00:51:19,985 --> 00:51:24,965 I cannot also live the experience and then also have to carry the burden of 1044 00:51:24,965 --> 00:51:28,475 educating you about my experience also. 1045 00:51:28,835 --> 00:51:29,105 Absolutely. 1046 00:51:29,105 --> 00:51:32,975 That is it's such a, and I don't think I'm ready for that level. 1047 00:51:33,815 --> 00:51:34,235 yeah. 1048 00:51:34,240 --> 00:51:38,135 Marcus, I will get there one day, but right now I'm just like, no, 1049 00:51:38,945 --> 00:51:39,605 Jennifer Plummer: yeah. 1050 00:51:40,045 --> 00:51:40,335 It's. 1051 00:51:40,925 --> 00:51:41,435 It's tough. 1052 00:51:41,435 --> 00:51:44,655 I mean, those sort of things always take me by surprise. 1053 00:51:45,215 --> 00:51:50,075 Um, and I actually did a, a presentation for Grace Hopper or a workshop where it 1054 00:51:50,075 --> 00:51:54,815 was like, you just need to be prepared at some point in your professional career 1055 00:51:54,815 --> 00:51:57,815 someone's gonna say something really inappropriate to you and you 1056 00:51:57,815 --> 00:52:01,115 just need to practice beforehand what you say so that, yeah. 1057 00:52:01,565 --> 00:52:02,765 Cause it could just throw you off. 1058 00:52:02,765 --> 00:52:03,035 Right. 1059 00:52:03,035 --> 00:52:05,795 Cause you're like I'm in this meeting and it just says something 1060 00:52:06,005 --> 00:52:07,025 completely outta left field. 1061 00:52:07,055 --> 00:52:09,395 Now I can't even, I'm thinking about that instead of thinking 1062 00:52:09,395 --> 00:52:10,235 about what's in the meeting. 1063 00:52:10,235 --> 00:52:12,695 So just preparing yourself for that. 1064 00:52:12,865 --> 00:52:13,155 Marcus Manning: Yeah. 1065 00:52:13,205 --> 00:52:13,565 Yeah. 1066 00:52:13,565 --> 00:52:16,325 And I, and again, I don't want to, you know, inundate you guys 1067 00:52:16,330 --> 00:52:18,945 with stories, but these are the things that stick in my mind. 1068 00:52:19,115 --> 00:52:22,235 And some of these stories happened, you know, 10, 15 years ago. 1069 00:52:22,295 --> 00:52:22,505 Yeah. 1070 00:52:22,745 --> 00:52:26,135 I remember when Obama was elected, we were in a meeting. 1071 00:52:26,375 --> 00:52:31,415 I, it seemed like it was yesterday and this guy was pretty 1072 00:52:31,415 --> 00:52:32,915 high up in the organization. 1073 00:52:32,915 --> 00:52:37,025 He said, well, Marcus, we don't have any chocolate donuts today for Mr. 1074 00:52:37,025 --> 00:52:37,445 Obama. 1075 00:52:37,475 --> 00:52:38,585 He said this in a meeting. 1076 00:52:39,680 --> 00:52:40,310 And 1077 00:52:40,315 --> 00:52:41,190 Jennifer Plummer: oh my God. 1078 00:52:41,530 --> 00:52:47,930 Marcus Manning: And, and I, yeah, and I, I do commend my, my supervisor at the time. 1079 00:52:47,930 --> 00:52:50,900 And if he's listening to this, he knows exactly what I'm talking about. 1080 00:52:51,470 --> 00:52:54,980 He came to my office after that meeting, he said, are you okay? 1081 00:52:55,340 --> 00:53:00,440 I said, I'm okay, but I wanna know what are you gonna do about it? 1082 00:53:00,440 --> 00:53:01,880 Because I'm gonna do something about it. 1083 00:53:01,880 --> 00:53:02,540 If you got right. 1084 00:53:03,380 --> 00:53:04,100 And no, no, no. 1085 00:53:04,100 --> 00:53:05,870 Let me, let me take care of, let me take care of it. 1086 00:53:06,830 --> 00:53:11,720 so, um, I don't know what they did to take care of, but the guy came back to my 1087 00:53:11,720 --> 00:53:13,640 office and, you know, he apologized it. 1088 00:53:13,645 --> 00:53:14,330 Wasn't sincere. 1089 00:53:14,335 --> 00:53:17,300 I can see in the, I wanted to tell him, get out of my office, but, you know, I 1090 00:53:17,300 --> 00:53:18,860 just told him, thank you for coming by. 1091 00:53:19,490 --> 00:53:23,310 And the CIO at the time came by my office, you know, Hey Marcus cause 1092 00:53:23,310 --> 00:53:26,210 I heard about what happened, you know, that's, that's unacceptable. 1093 00:53:26,215 --> 00:53:30,950 And you know, if there's anything you want to do legally, I said, 1094 00:53:30,955 --> 00:53:34,190 well, no, I, I don't, I don't think that's necessary at this point. 1095 00:53:34,835 --> 00:53:39,065 But, you know, it, it did make me feel good that at least my supervisor 1096 00:53:39,185 --> 00:53:43,595 had my back and then my supervisor, supervisor, which was the CIO. 1097 00:53:44,285 --> 00:53:44,435 Yeah. 1098 00:53:44,435 --> 00:53:47,615 He, you know, and, and maybe they didn't have my back, but 1099 00:53:47,615 --> 00:53:48,575 at least they addressed it. 1100 00:53:48,575 --> 00:53:52,565 It wasn't one of those to where we're just gonna ignore that, come and act like it 1101 00:53:52,565 --> 00:53:54,575 didn't happen and, you know, off we go. 1102 00:53:54,605 --> 00:53:54,935 Right. 1103 00:53:54,935 --> 00:53:55,265 So, 1104 00:53:56,195 --> 00:53:56,645 Jennifer Plummer: yeah. 1105 00:53:56,645 --> 00:54:01,715 And that, that's a good to, to mention allyship too, cuz since we, since we, I 1106 00:54:01,715 --> 00:54:07,355 think before George Floyd, people weren't talking about this as openly, right. 1107 00:54:07,355 --> 00:54:07,356 Yeah. 1108 00:54:07,361 --> 00:54:07,415 Right. 1109 00:54:07,565 --> 00:54:07,715 Yeah. 1110 00:54:07,925 --> 00:54:11,825 And so if something like that ha had happened at work, I might 1111 00:54:11,825 --> 00:54:16,385 not necessarily go to my manager and say, Hey, you know, right. 1112 00:54:16,835 --> 00:54:18,665 This happened to me and I don't think it's right. 1113 00:54:18,665 --> 00:54:19,775 I don't think I would've done that. 1114 00:54:19,775 --> 00:54:23,105 So the fact that this is kind of more of an open conversation now. 1115 00:54:23,195 --> 00:54:23,285 Yes. 1116 00:54:23,855 --> 00:54:27,755 And you know, based on what I'm hearing, you know, you know, this is not accepted. 1117 00:54:27,760 --> 00:54:29,645 And I feel like there would be some sort, I don't know 1118 00:54:29,645 --> 00:54:30,875 what the process would be, but 1119 00:54:31,370 --> 00:54:34,670 like I said, someone's gonna go talk to someone about it and do 1120 00:54:34,670 --> 00:54:36,950 something that, that is the benefit. 1121 00:54:36,950 --> 00:54:40,130 And just knowing, you know, you know, where people stand on that. 1122 00:54:40,130 --> 00:54:44,990 And, and I don't think I would've ever gone to a manager about 1123 00:54:44,990 --> 00:54:48,560 something like that before, you know, less two summers ago. 1124 00:54:48,560 --> 00:54:50,270 Marcus Manning: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, 1125 00:54:50,275 --> 00:54:50,740 Siara Barnes: absolutely. 1126 00:54:51,290 --> 00:54:56,810 Just another, another thing that we carry on our back, we just move 1127 00:54:56,810 --> 00:55:01,190 on, you know, with your day and try to act like it didn't bother you. 1128 00:55:01,430 --> 00:55:01,880 Marcus Manning: Yeah. 1129 00:55:01,970 --> 00:55:02,310 You know? 1130 00:55:02,315 --> 00:55:02,360 Yeah. 1131 00:55:02,480 --> 00:55:02,840 Yeah. 1132 00:55:02,840 --> 00:55:06,110 And, and, you know, again, I think that support system is very 1133 00:55:06,110 --> 00:55:11,660 important and me not having a lot of African Americans, you know, around 1134 00:55:11,660 --> 00:55:13,610 me to have those conversations. 1135 00:55:13,610 --> 00:55:17,060 Cause I couldn't have that conversation with anybody else at the time because 1136 00:55:17,065 --> 00:55:18,350 they, they wouldn't have understood. 1137 00:55:18,355 --> 00:55:22,550 Even if my supervisor didn't understand, I wouldn't have had 1138 00:55:22,550 --> 00:55:25,370 the ability to make him understand. 1139 00:55:25,370 --> 00:55:28,340 Yes, I could articulate what just happened here. 1140 00:55:28,805 --> 00:55:31,055 But what I'm feeling right now. 1141 00:55:31,115 --> 00:55:32,765 There's no way I can explain yeah. 1142 00:55:33,125 --> 00:55:35,225 That to you because you, you, you won't get it. 1143 00:55:35,945 --> 00:55:36,365 Jennifer Plummer: Yeah. 1144 00:55:36,845 --> 00:55:42,805 Any requests here or should we move on to the heat check? 1145 00:55:43,615 --> 00:55:43,725 Okay. 1146 00:55:44,885 --> 00:55:54,695 So heat check is where we share something in the news or something that we were 1147 00:55:54,695 --> 00:55:59,195 involved in or experienced that is exciting us in technology or culture. 1148 00:55:59,225 --> 00:56:02,645 So, Marcus, do you have anything you'd like to share with us? 1149 00:56:03,575 --> 00:56:05,885 Marcus Manning: I have some projects that we're working on, but no, 1150 00:56:05,885 --> 00:56:07,235 we, we're not gonna go there. 1151 00:56:07,475 --> 00:56:14,885 um, one thing that I am proud of is that I do commend you 1152 00:56:14,885 --> 00:56:17,585 guys for having these type of 1153 00:56:18,335 --> 00:56:20,435 activities, forums, podcasts. 1154 00:56:20,435 --> 00:56:22,235 Cause I, I, I think it helps. 1155 00:56:22,295 --> 00:56:26,015 It helps me and I think it's gonna help others as well. 1156 00:56:26,015 --> 00:56:27,515 Especially the people who are listening. 1157 00:56:27,635 --> 00:56:31,595 They're gonna know that, Hey, I'm not the only one that's going 1158 00:56:31,595 --> 00:56:33,605 through this type of ordeal. 1159 00:56:33,755 --> 00:56:35,855 So commend you guys for that. 1160 00:56:36,575 --> 00:56:37,175 Jennifer Plummer: Thank you. 1161 00:56:37,395 --> 00:56:38,335 Siara Barnes: Thank you so much. 1162 00:56:39,045 --> 00:56:39,335 Marcus Manning: Yeah. 1163 00:56:39,455 --> 00:56:44,165 And as far as any publications are concerned, uh, let's just say not yet. 1164 00:56:44,375 --> 00:56:47,525 I, I have a couple of things that, that, that are in the woodworks 1165 00:56:47,555 --> 00:56:52,700 and, uh, you guys will probably hear something soon, but nothing here 1166 00:56:52,700 --> 00:56:53,600 as far as publication. 1167 00:56:53,630 --> 00:56:53,930 Siara Barnes: Oh, come on. 1168 00:56:53,930 --> 00:56:56,060 We can't get like a first come on. 1169 00:56:56,420 --> 00:56:58,010 Could we get a sneak peek? 1170 00:56:58,010 --> 00:57:00,710 Heard it here first on the interface podcast. 1171 00:57:01,220 --> 00:57:02,049 Jennifer Plummer: If you wanna 1172 00:57:02,569 --> 00:57:05,570 Marcus Manning: y'all gonna get me in trouble, you know that 1173 00:57:06,620 --> 00:57:09,950 Jennifer Plummer: you can let us know and we will definitely we'll put 1174 00:57:09,950 --> 00:57:14,060 that in our heat check for the, the following episode as soon as we find out. 1175 00:57:14,270 --> 00:57:14,810 Marcus Manning: Okay. 1176 00:57:14,990 --> 00:57:15,710 Absolutely. 1177 00:57:16,130 --> 00:57:16,790 We can do that. 1178 00:57:17,090 --> 00:57:19,640 We'll keep, we'll keep you out of trouble for 1179 00:57:19,640 --> 00:57:19,940 now. 1180 00:57:22,490 --> 00:57:24,440 Do a good of getting myself in trouble. 1181 00:57:24,620 --> 00:57:31,070 Jennifer Plummer: Sierra, do you have one for today. 1182 00:57:31,070 --> 00:57:31,820 You want me to go next? 1183 00:57:32,150 --> 00:57:33,800 Siara Barnes: I I'm happy to share. 1184 00:57:33,860 --> 00:57:38,270 Um, so mine is very culture and it's not even technically black 1185 00:57:38,275 --> 00:57:40,680 culture, but I'm very excited. 1186 00:57:41,150 --> 00:57:42,170 Don't shoot me. 1187 00:57:42,170 --> 00:57:43,490 But Adele is back. 1188 00:57:43,550 --> 00:57:44,000 Okay. 1189 00:57:44,000 --> 00:57:49,040 I, as black people, we can appreciate good music and my girl is bad. 1190 00:57:49,040 --> 00:57:52,490 Jennifer Plummer: I'm still appreciate appreciating Bruno Mars and Anderson Paaks 1191 00:57:52,910 --> 00:57:56,180 Siara Barnes: that too oh my God. 1192 00:57:56,180 --> 00:57:59,600 Her, her, she had like a one night only thing on CBS. 1193 00:57:59,990 --> 00:58:05,000 I went out and bought an antenna for my TV so that I could 1194 00:58:05,000 --> 00:58:07,010 tune in to CBS to watch her. 1195 00:58:07,010 --> 00:58:08,510 And I told my family. 1196 00:58:08,975 --> 00:58:13,295 I am nonexistent for the next two hours because Adele did it already come on. 1197 00:58:13,475 --> 00:58:14,405 It came on last night. 1198 00:58:14,405 --> 00:58:14,645 It was 1199 00:58:14,645 --> 00:58:17,135 Marcus Manning: last night I forth of the interview. 1200 00:58:17,155 --> 00:58:18,155 It was, it was good. 1201 00:58:18,215 --> 00:58:21,725 I'm not a big fan, like Sierra, but I, it was good. 1202 00:58:21,725 --> 00:58:23,465 The pieces that I saw, it was pretty good. 1203 00:58:23,525 --> 00:58:27,095 Siara Barnes: I mean the voice and just her story from her divorce 1204 00:58:27,095 --> 00:58:30,095 and how she's, you know, managing the co-parenting and all of that. 1205 00:58:30,095 --> 00:58:31,625 I was just like, thank you, girl. 1206 00:58:32,705 --> 00:58:32,945 Thank you. 1207 00:58:33,005 --> 00:58:34,175 I'm so glad you're back. 1208 00:58:34,865 --> 00:58:38,735 So that is my that's my little random heat check for today. 1209 00:58:38,735 --> 00:58:39,335 I'm excited. 1210 00:58:39,340 --> 00:58:40,595 I'm waiting for the album to drop 1211 00:58:41,645 --> 00:58:45,365 Marcus Manning: and I, and I know it was about her, but I mean, do you guys 1212 00:58:45,515 --> 00:58:48,395 understand how just magnificent Oprah is? 1213 00:58:48,485 --> 00:58:49,235 I mean, did, did you 1214 00:58:52,235 --> 00:58:56,465 it was probably interesting coming from me, but just her personality, her 1215 00:58:56,525 --> 00:58:58,715 interviewing skills, just her empathy. 1216 00:58:58,720 --> 00:58:59,315 She's just. 1217 00:58:59,675 --> 00:59:00,635 Yeah, she's outta sight. 1218 00:59:00,725 --> 00:59:05,225 Siara Barnes: Oprah is one of those people that just, just looking at the span of her 1219 00:59:05,225 --> 00:59:11,715 career and how she has taken every lesson that she's learned and just capitalized 1220 00:59:12,335 --> 00:59:16,445 on the, and, and not just even from the financial perspective, but how she's 1221 00:59:16,450 --> 00:59:21,985 been able to help people have certain conversations, her interview style. 1222 00:59:22,175 --> 00:59:24,995 It seems like every interview now that she's, everybody says, 1223 00:59:24,995 --> 00:59:26,255 you're trying to make me cry. 1224 00:59:26,525 --> 00:59:31,955 That's like her that's like her key thing, but yeah, she's, she is sure. 1225 00:59:31,960 --> 00:59:33,005 Jennifer Plummer: Show on a regular basis. 1226 00:59:33,485 --> 00:59:37,985 I just rather, I just rather watch ID, just rather watch YouTube 1227 00:59:37,985 --> 00:59:39,905 content on the Marvel universe. 1228 00:59:41,140 --> 00:59:42,005 that's that's just me. 1229 00:59:42,195 --> 00:59:43,495 That's the kind of nerd I am. 1230 00:59:43,495 --> 00:59:43,805 Siara Barnes: We get you. 1231 00:59:43,875 --> 00:59:44,097 We get you 1232 00:59:45,185 --> 00:59:47,225 Jennifer Plummer: hundred percent respect to Oprah. 1233 00:59:47,585 --> 00:59:48,875 I would definitely faint. 1234 00:59:48,880 --> 00:59:50,045 If I ever met, met her in person. 1235 00:59:50,045 --> 00:59:51,005 Siara Barnes: She's a legend for sure. 1236 00:59:53,885 --> 00:59:54,815 Jennifer Plummer: We should end it on yours. 1237 00:59:56,255 --> 01:00:03,305 mine is um, so we talked about a, a few weeks ago about the cost of computing 1238 01:00:03,305 --> 01:00:07,145 and, and, you know, it's actually, you know, the energy hog it is. 1239 01:00:07,145 --> 01:00:11,255 Well, I found an article on the news stack written by David 1240 01:00:11,255 --> 01:00:16,485 Castle, which is which programming languages use the least electricity. 1241 01:00:16,595 --> 01:00:21,995 And they have like statistics where they, um, they just, they ran the 1242 01:00:21,995 --> 01:00:26,495 same benchmarks against multiple languages to see which ones consume 1243 01:00:26,500 --> 01:00:29,675 the most energy, which ones finished in the least amount of time. 1244 01:00:29,675 --> 01:00:31,115 And which used the most data. 1245 01:00:31,115 --> 01:00:42,095 So C and C plus plus, and ADA pretty much rust are all pretty good. 1246 01:00:42,650 --> 01:00:44,720 Javas doing pretty good. 1247 01:00:45,290 --> 01:00:47,510 And, uh, I, I wrote notes on this. 1248 01:00:47,510 --> 01:00:48,260 I did it again. 1249 01:00:50,180 --> 01:00:55,430 it just made some pretty, uh, good points about, um, procedural languages 1250 01:00:55,430 --> 01:00:58,880 versus interpreted languages and how, how they perform on this. 1251 01:00:58,880 --> 01:01:00,410 Siara Barnes: So who's the energy hog? 1252 01:01:01,060 --> 01:01:04,590 Jennifer Plummer: Pearl, Pearl is last on the list. 1253 01:01:05,450 --> 01:01:09,800 Pythons not doing very well either is, is looking bad. 1254 01:01:10,780 --> 01:01:12,860 So, um, pretty interesting. 1255 01:01:12,865 --> 01:01:17,060 And so, and you might need to write if depending on the architecture of 1256 01:01:17,060 --> 01:01:20,000 whatever you're writing and where it's gonna be, that might be a consideration 1257 01:01:20,000 --> 01:01:23,975 about, you know, you how much money I'm gonna spend on electricity or yeah. 1258 01:01:24,575 --> 01:01:26,885 You know, performance is the obvious one. 1259 01:01:26,885 --> 01:01:26,945 Yeah. 1260 01:01:27,125 --> 01:01:27,455 Right. 1261 01:01:27,815 --> 01:01:29,195 We're always concerned about that. 1262 01:01:29,195 --> 01:01:33,935 So that one, I was kind of research cause you, you kind of already know, but, um, I 1263 01:01:33,940 --> 01:01:38,585 never had seen a list of this is consuming this many joules I haven't even heard 1264 01:01:38,585 --> 01:01:40,745 anyone mention a joule in a whole oh yeah. 1265 01:01:40,885 --> 01:01:41,955 Siara Barnes: I haven't heard that in a while. 1266 01:01:41,955 --> 01:01:41,956 Marcus Manning: Yeah. 1267 01:01:41,956 --> 01:01:41,975 That's been a long time. 1268 01:01:41,975 --> 01:01:42,185 Wow. 1269 01:01:45,615 --> 01:01:46,655 Jennifer Plummer: so I was like, wow. 1270 01:01:46,655 --> 01:01:51,735 I don't even know really what one jewel means, but C consumed one joule 1271 01:01:51,755 --> 01:01:56,175 while Pearl consumed 79.58 joules. 1272 01:01:56,390 --> 01:01:59,030 On this set of benchmarks that they're in. 1273 01:01:59,030 --> 01:02:00,170 So it's pretty cool. 1274 01:02:00,170 --> 01:02:00,230 Wow. 1275 01:02:00,770 --> 01:02:01,010 Marcus Manning: Okay. 1276 01:02:01,010 --> 01:02:03,710 So I, I, I do have one now that you guys have shared yours. 1277 01:02:03,710 --> 01:02:07,970 So, um, do you guys have any Bitcoin as part of your portfolio? 1278 01:02:09,000 --> 01:02:09,460 Jennifer Plummer: Not yet. 1279 01:02:10,010 --> 01:02:11,780 Marcus Manning: Not yet, yet. 1280 01:02:11,900 --> 01:02:12,620 Not yet. 1281 01:02:13,340 --> 01:02:16,250 Siara Barnes: We just, actually, a few episodes back. 1282 01:02:16,250 --> 01:02:20,030 We had a guest on who were telling us about cryptocurrency and 1283 01:02:20,090 --> 01:02:21,620 Jennifer Plummer: yeah, we thought we were gonna talk about cloud 1284 01:02:21,620 --> 01:02:23,270 computing and he was like, no, correct. 1285 01:02:23,930 --> 01:02:24,950 I wanna talk about bitcoin. 1286 01:02:25,250 --> 01:02:27,560 Siara Barnes: And we were, and we were all like leaned in, like, yes. 1287 01:02:27,565 --> 01:02:28,850 Tell us more, tell us more. 1288 01:02:30,860 --> 01:02:33,920 Marcus Manning: so we, we were in our board meeting and one of our board 1289 01:02:33,920 --> 01:02:38,540 members seems like, okay, Marcus so we want you to give a presentation on 1290 01:02:38,600 --> 01:02:40,040 blockchain in our next board meeting. 1291 01:02:40,190 --> 01:02:43,060 It's like, oh, okay, sure. 1292 01:02:43,399 --> 01:02:45,770 not a problem, 1293 01:02:46,189 --> 01:02:47,960 Jennifer Plummer: how much time to the next board meeting. 1294 01:02:48,845 --> 01:02:50,185 Marcus Manning: It's in December. 1295 01:02:50,435 --> 01:02:52,215 So I, I still have some time, yeah. 1296 01:02:52,215 --> 01:02:56,465 IBM has a, a pretty good, uh, blockchain solution that they're using. 1297 01:02:56,470 --> 01:03:00,065 So mm-hmm , but that's, it's, it's just interesting at this point in time. 1298 01:03:00,125 --> 01:03:06,095 So, and like I said, I mean, blockchain didn't exist five years ago, so we 1299 01:03:06,095 --> 01:03:11,075 gotta be on the con continuous learning curve iPhones didn't exist 20 years ago. 1300 01:03:11,075 --> 01:03:11,375 Right. 1301 01:03:11,375 --> 01:03:12,195 Siara Barnes: It's crazy. 1302 01:03:13,055 --> 01:03:13,505 Jennifer Plummer: Yeah. 1303 01:03:13,505 --> 01:03:17,675 And, and then you talk about, so, and what policies need to be updated 1304 01:03:17,680 --> 01:03:22,055 based on that's my, my thing is like, when, when you start being a, 1305 01:03:22,475 --> 01:03:24,305 you know, on the, the verge right 1306 01:03:24,305 --> 01:03:29,135 of new technology, but all of our processes and legislators 1307 01:03:29,135 --> 01:03:32,345 kind of based on things that we, we were doing 50 years ago. 1308 01:03:32,435 --> 01:03:32,765 Marcus Manning: Yeah. 1309 01:03:33,905 --> 01:03:34,445 Where we're now. 1310 01:03:34,445 --> 01:03:37,265 So, I mean, because as you guys can imagine financial institutions 1311 01:03:37,265 --> 01:03:38,555 are highly, highly regulated. 1312 01:03:38,555 --> 01:03:39,255 There's mm-hmm. 1313 01:03:39,634 --> 01:03:43,115 There's really not a whole lot of regulation around 1314 01:03:43,115 --> 01:03:44,465 cryptocurrency right now. 1315 01:03:44,465 --> 01:03:47,285 So, I mean, it's like everybody's doing what they want to 1316 01:03:47,285 --> 01:03:48,515 do, how they want to do it. 1317 01:03:49,265 --> 01:03:51,455 And people are making a lot of money off of it. 1318 01:03:51,515 --> 01:03:55,895 Siara Barnes: So is that sort of a, um, is there a trepidation with going 1319 01:03:55,895 --> 01:04:00,395 into these new technologies for someone like a financial institution, where 1320 01:04:00,485 --> 01:04:02,165 again, everything is very regulated. 1321 01:04:02,165 --> 01:04:04,205 We've had the same regulations for a while. 1322 01:04:04,205 --> 01:04:05,285 Very few updates. 1323 01:04:05,675 --> 01:04:09,575 Is that sort of like tread lightly, even though they're interested 1324 01:04:09,965 --> 01:04:12,725 Marcus Manning: and it is, I think that's a great way of putting it. 1325 01:04:13,055 --> 01:04:15,575 As I mentioned earlier, we're not bleeding edge. 1326 01:04:16,025 --> 01:04:21,155 I would say we're somewhat cutting edge, but those are some of the hurdles that 1327 01:04:21,155 --> 01:04:25,925 we have because we have what's called examiners and they actually come in, 1328 01:04:26,015 --> 01:04:30,965 um, from the state as well as from the, uh, national credit union association. 1329 01:04:30,965 --> 01:04:36,665 So there, there are compliance rules that we have to abide by in order to operate. 1330 01:04:36,665 --> 01:04:36,995 Right. 1331 01:04:36,995 --> 01:04:39,395 And if we're not, then they can come in and shut us down. 1332 01:04:39,395 --> 01:04:42,895 So if we come to them and say, you know, Hey yeah, we have Bitcoin ATMs 1333 01:04:42,900 --> 01:04:46,415 and our branches and they're probably gonna what you talking about? 1334 01:04:46,835 --> 01:04:48,635 Siara Barnes: again, getting yourself in trouble. 1335 01:04:48,785 --> 01:04:49,415 Marcus Manning: Exactly. 1336 01:04:49,625 --> 01:04:49,985 Yeah. 1337 01:04:50,075 --> 01:04:50,285 Yeah. 1338 01:04:50,435 --> 01:04:51,575 I told you I'd do a good job. 1339 01:04:51,580 --> 01:04:51,605 I 1340 01:04:51,605 --> 01:04:51,665 Jennifer Plummer: see. 1341 01:04:52,535 --> 01:04:57,305 Really, I've seen those Bitcoin ATMs, like in the local gas station. 1342 01:04:57,305 --> 01:04:58,235 I'm like, who is going? 1343 01:04:58,235 --> 01:05:01,005 Are people really going to ATM for Bitcoin? 1344 01:05:01,785 --> 01:05:02,005 Marcus Manning: Yes. 1345 01:05:02,495 --> 01:05:07,655 People are paying for supplies and goods and services with Bitcoins. 1346 01:05:07,655 --> 01:05:14,045 There was a Congressman I think in New York said that he wants his paycheck 1347 01:05:14,650 --> 01:05:15,230 in Bitcoin. 1348 01:05:15,230 --> 01:05:15,231 Yeah. 1349 01:05:15,231 --> 01:05:15,233 In Bitcoin. 1350 01:05:16,070 --> 01:05:19,130 I don't know if it's true or not, but I read that article. 1351 01:05:19,280 --> 01:05:19,470 Wow. 1352 01:05:19,500 --> 01:05:20,040 Yeah it's weird. 1353 01:05:20,070 --> 01:05:20,820 Jennifer Plummer: Absolutely. 1354 01:05:20,820 --> 01:05:24,750 Mm-hmm I have a funny story about Donnie Simpson. 1355 01:05:24,750 --> 01:05:25,700 Do you remember Donnie Simpson? 1356 01:05:26,040 --> 01:05:26,790 The radio host? 1357 01:05:26,940 --> 01:05:27,420 Siara Barnes: Yes. 1358 01:05:27,690 --> 01:05:29,100 Marcus Manning: B E T Donny Simpson. 1359 01:05:29,970 --> 01:05:30,420 Siara Barnes: Hello. 1360 01:05:32,610 --> 01:05:32,671 Marcus Manning: So, okay. 1361 01:05:32,676 --> 01:05:32,891 We're all. 1362 01:05:33,570 --> 01:05:34,650 I'm not showing my age. 1363 01:05:35,100 --> 01:05:38,160 Jennifer Plummer: this is how old was I? 1364 01:05:38,490 --> 01:05:39,450 Maybe I was 25. 1365 01:05:40,799 --> 01:05:46,680 Anyway, he had a contest on the radio where he was given away 1366 01:05:47,100 --> 01:05:48,450 maybe a computer or something. 1367 01:05:48,480 --> 01:05:50,549 So he was like, oh, since this is based on a computer. 1368 01:05:51,270 --> 01:05:52,770 I'm not gonna do the 10th caller. 1369 01:05:52,770 --> 01:05:57,900 I'm just gonna, you know, whoever calls in and tells me the first five prime 1370 01:05:57,900 --> 01:06:00,420 numbers, I'm gonna give it away too. 1371 01:06:01,020 --> 01:06:05,640 Well, first I called in and I think that one of the first five prime, 1372 01:06:05,790 --> 01:06:08,910 like, I don't even know anymore, but I think, I think they said one, 1373 01:06:08,910 --> 01:06:10,440 which one is not a prime number. 1374 01:06:11,280 --> 01:06:14,070 And, and Donny said, so was like, yeah, you get the computer. 1375 01:06:18,660 --> 01:06:20,130 Siara Barnes: Why is your answer key Donny. 1376 01:06:20,760 --> 01:06:21,510 That was not, it, 1377 01:06:21,920 --> 01:06:22,800 Jennifer Plummer: it was a morning show. 1378 01:06:22,800 --> 01:06:24,510 So I was on my way to work. 1379 01:06:25,050 --> 01:06:31,590 And I was like, I was like, he this computer to someone that doesn't 1380 01:06:31,590 --> 01:06:32,970 even know the prime numbers. 1381 01:06:33,360 --> 01:06:41,500 So, and this is like, oh God, this is probably like, Year 2000, maybe 2001. 1382 01:06:41,520 --> 01:06:41,670 Oh wow. 1383 01:06:42,480 --> 01:06:47,730 Somehow I found his email address, which everyone didn't have email address. 1384 01:06:47,735 --> 01:06:50,340 You couldn't just go to their social media, just put, yeah. 1385 01:06:50,430 --> 01:06:55,920 I found an email address or the email address of the show and I type, I'll tell 1386 01:06:55,920 --> 01:07:01,740 you sometimes I get these move and I'm like, I'm gonna tell this person . And 1387 01:07:01,740 --> 01:07:06,720 I was like, I really appreciate that you're supporting students, you know, 1388 01:07:06,750 --> 01:07:10,770 and I, and I'm not by any means saying you need to take this man's prize away, 1389 01:07:10,775 --> 01:07:15,900 but we value basketball players and, and actors and artists, and we don't treat 1390 01:07:16,290 --> 01:07:19,230 people in technology the same or, you know, scholars the 1391 01:07:19,230 --> 01:07:20,880 same way that answer was wrong. 1392 01:07:23,220 --> 01:07:24,180 Siara Barnes: classic. 1393 01:07:24,180 --> 01:07:24,930 Jenni Plummer. 1394 01:07:25,260 --> 01:07:26,250 I love it. 1395 01:07:26,250 --> 01:07:28,710 I love to know this who you've always been. 1396 01:07:30,660 --> 01:07:32,970 Jennifer Plummer: I didn't hear the next morning's morning show, but 1397 01:07:32,970 --> 01:07:34,830 apparently he did read the letter. 1398 01:07:34,830 --> 01:07:34,920 Oh, 1399 01:07:39,660 --> 01:07:39,721 no worry. 1400 01:07:39,721 --> 01:07:39,723 Oh, wow. 1401 01:07:39,724 --> 01:07:40,950 so it was like, did you send, cause I think he just used my first name. 1402 01:07:40,950 --> 01:07:42,930 He's like, did you send Donny Simpson an email? 1403 01:07:42,930 --> 01:07:43,350 I was like, yes. 1404 01:07:43,440 --> 01:07:45,690 Marcus Manning: that is hilarious. 1405 01:07:46,290 --> 01:07:47,550 Siara Barnes: Oh my goodness. 1406 01:07:48,490 --> 01:07:48,710 Yes. 1407 01:07:49,590 --> 01:07:51,130 Jennifer Plummer: I love it. 1408 01:07:51,130 --> 01:07:52,270 I'm that kind of nerd? 1409 01:07:52,590 --> 01:07:54,510 Did you have any more stories, Marcus? 1410 01:07:54,840 --> 01:07:57,340 Marcus Manning: No, I think that's, that's it for today. 1411 01:07:58,019 --> 01:07:58,559 Jennifer Plummer: All right. 1412 01:07:58,559 --> 01:08:00,899 Well, thank you so much for joining us. 1413 01:08:01,350 --> 01:08:03,649 How could people reach you if they wanna get in contact? 1414 01:08:04,290 --> 01:08:08,279 Marcus Manning: So my LinkedIn, um, Marcus Mann, you can search me there. 1415 01:08:08,309 --> 01:08:16,109 Um, not a big social media person for, I mean, I wouldn't say obvious 1416 01:08:16,115 --> 01:08:20,220 reasons, but me being on the technology side and on the security side, I 1417 01:08:20,220 --> 01:08:21,689 just kind of have to be careful. 1418 01:08:21,870 --> 01:08:24,240 So LinkedIn would probably probably be the best way. 1419 01:08:24,809 --> 01:08:25,319 Jennifer Plummer: Awesome. 1420 01:08:25,620 --> 01:08:27,359 Thank you so much for being with us. 1421 01:08:27,600 --> 01:08:29,970 Thank you to our listeners for listening. 1422 01:08:30,330 --> 01:08:34,700 If you wanna reach out to us, you can reach us interfacepodcast@pros.com. 1423 01:08:35,130 --> 01:08:40,109 If I got anything wrong or you wanna, you know, same way I send her Donnie Simpson. 1424 01:08:40,109 --> 01:08:40,290 You do her. 1425 01:08:40,290 --> 01:08:40,590 If you don't like 1426 01:08:40,920 --> 01:08:41,130 Marcus Manning: something, 1427 01:08:42,590 --> 01:08:45,950 Jennifer Plummer: I said, you can email interfacepodcast@pros.com. 1428 01:08:46,170 --> 01:08:49,979 You enjoyed this conversation we encourage you to go out and find someone to talk 1429 01:08:49,979 --> 01:08:51,960 to and have your own conversation. 1430 01:08:52,569 --> 01:08:52,719 Bye.