Youmanli Faboumy is a Senior Manager, Publisher Operations at Adobe, she talks about how she loves how Black History Month brings people together and how she is looking to personally pay tribute to Black History Month by supporting as many events as possible
What are some of the highlights of your career in the tech industry?
I first got into the tech industry as a shy young woman, I did a degree in engineering but had previously worked in a brand marketing role. I also started working with underrepresented backgrounds to help them get into the tech industry, this involved going to schools to talk, joining employee networks and attending events. The highlight for me is when I did the Adobe survey called Adobe for All, I was selected out of 500 candidates to tell my story on stage at a tech conference. I spoke in front of 2000 people about how to use your uniqueness to find your voice in the tech world. I was of course nervous, as I was this young woman but I was happy that the tech industry was starting to open more doors.
What does black history month mean to you?
I didn’t know about Black History Month till about 6 years ago, as I grew up in Africa where of course we already celebrate black culture. I noticed it is big in the western world, especially in English speaking countries. I love that it’s a month where people come together to create events to promote black culture, talent and networking opportunities. In the past, I’ve even collaborated with a black employee network at our main competitor to organise an event for black history month, which I think is great. I don’t think however we should wait for black history month to do this type of thing.
What are the lessons from black history that have shaped how you live your life / influence your choices?
It’s a pretty big one, I think about the people that have shaped black history and think the biggest lesson is resilience. I visited South Africa this year and went to Robben Island, where a number of political prisoners have been held, including Nelson Mandela. I noticed how these people have been through trauma and have just come out stronger. I have decided that if something is going to help me get through challenges it is resilience.
How will I personally pay tribute to Black History Month?
I want to attend and support as many events as possible and really show up for the black community. I’d like to meet new people, shaping the discussions taking place and networking with as much talent as possible.