via Twitter

She sparked a major debate over the issue of privacy and tweets. And now developer evangelist Adria Richards, who was fired from SendGrid after tweeting pics of of other techies she overheard making what she says were risque innuendos, has finally issued a statement.

As we reported, SendGrid said they fired Richards because, “Her decision to tweet the comments and photographs of the people who made the comments crossed the line. Publicly shaming the offenders – and bystanders – was not the appropriate way to handle the situation.”

Richards seemly shut down all communication about the incident. Now she finally has, as Black Enterprise reports. Although she says she can’t go into specifics, Richards’ statement, which was published by All Things D, says, in part:

Development is about innovation, creativity, and in a grand sense, the betterment of human society through technology. So, it stands to reason that everyone should have a seat at the table, and everyone involved in this vital community should feel welcome, safe and respected. 

…Debate and recrimination can and must give way to dialog that explores the root causes of these issues in the tech industry. As developers and members of the startup community, we can welcome newcomers, women and people of color who, as of now, are under-represented in our ranks…We can solidify the values of our workplaces (yes, conference spaces are workplaces!), and set new, positive and inclusive examples for other professional disciplines.

…I do not, at this time, wish to concentrate on the fallout of the last several days. Instead, I want to be an integral part of a diverse, core group of individuals that comes together in a spirit of healing and openness to devise answers to the many questions that have arisen in the last week. Together, we can work to make the tech world a better place to work for everyone, and in doing so, we make the wider world a better place for all.

What do you think about Richards’ statement?

In today’s fast-moving times, we’re all looking for a little support and validation. In that regard, Lauren deLisa Coleman just may be one of this new era’s powerati-to-watch. Coleman, who also writes for Madame Noire Business and profiles fellow tech professionals,  is well-positioned as a rising, formidable information source and media personality for the new digi-speak era. She runds a new social site venture  and leading podcast under the umbrella of SmartPower.

Prior to her current work, the Columbia University graduate founded Punch Media Group (PMG), a strategy and consulting company with offices in the U.S. and Europe specializing in digital space whose clients ranged from Microsoft to Snoop Dogg and was responsible for at least $1 billion worth of goods sold via clients. Prior to PMG, Coleman held several positions at MTV Networks in New York City.

With the release of her first eBook, The Rise of the SmartPower Class, we turned the tables on the media maven. Check out what she had to say,  her first eBook and was included in its first week on Amazon’s “Hot New Releases – Best: Media Studies” so we thought we’d check in with her to see what all the fuss is about….

What inspired you to write this book?

Well, it sprang from just watching what is going on in the world today coupled with my consulting work on a number of projects. I’ve always been very curious about people and their behavior. I think a lot of that started in my music industry days and dealing with hip hop. As I moved further into the tech space as a mobile strategist after that, however, and looked both the benefit and disruption that brought to people, I decided to analyze, write and speak further about it – particularly from the importance of adding a female perspective to the mix. I wanted to help people better navigate and make sense of turbulent times and somehow my book and other media assets have unfolded. What has been missing in helping people is a more hip, organic analysis of what’s going on today and a nurturing/respect of each individual. That’s what I’m bringing – something totally new and a result of my unique background and work experience.

How has your book been received so far?

It’s just getting started, but it’s been received very well so far. I was thrilled be listed the first week on Amazon’s Hot New Releases: Best – Media Studies” just under Andrew Breitbart’s book .

What’s the major take away?

That we need to be very much aware of a great shift that is happening in our society and not be left behind, particularly as Black women. We out index for example, in social media frequency from mobile phones but we can benefit from being more savvy about the power that this represents and how to best use it! This book will help people while also being pretty entertaining. I’ve included quotes from a variety of notables such as Chuck D and the HBO executive for “Real Time with Bill Maher.”

Sponsored By

Welcome back for another profile spotlight! This time I thought I would check in with a fellow tech pioneer and organic technology consultant Adria Richards. Not an executive, not a start-up chieftan; Adria provides a service which lights a torch for those trying to make their way in the new era of digital business by providing special insight. What type of insight you may ask, and how? Well, read on to find out!

LDC: So Adria let’s start off with where you went to school?
AR: I started with a major in psychology at the local college in Minneapolis. I knew I wanted to help people and make a difference in the world. My mother had her master’s in sociology so I thought I’d follow that path.

I took computer 101 but it was so basic at the time that I couldn’t understand how anyone would want to learn more about input devices, motherboards and memory. I had the opportunity to become a Windows 98 beta tester and my whole view on technology changed. My mother had signed me up for to be a beta tester because she loved coupons and deals and wasn’t going to pass up receiving a $200 software license. In order to participate in the program, the letter I received from Microsoft indicated I would need to increase the hard drive space and speed of the CD-rom in the old hand-me-down NCR computer I had. I immediately went to work figuring out how I would get this done and picked up my first computer book, “Upgrading and Repairing PC’s” the 8th Edition by Que. Not only did it help me make the necessary upgrades to my computer, it also helped me land my first real tech job at Geekquad! Back then, Geeksquad would give you a written test and one of the questions was, “What does ‘fdisk /mbr do?” and I was able to explain that it formatted the master boot record to wipe out viruses and other unwanted programs.

I realized the world was changing and this “Internet” thing was going to be big. I wanted to become a network administrator. As I looked around the post secondary landscape, I realized I could not get the training I needed to accomplish this goal. I dropped out of school and began working on getting IT certifications and real world job experience. By 2000, I’d passed the A+ certification test and set my next certification goals on becoming an MCSA (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator). I achieved this in 2005.

LDC: How did you get into training?

AR: When you solve technology problems, a large aspect of that is making sure the problem doesn’t happen again. When working with end users, this means explaining to them how their actions (or lack of action) contributed to the problem and educating them on what to do next time. From the very beginning in my technology career, I began to receive recognition for how I dealt with people. As time went on, the compliments, notes of appreciation and feedback continued. I enjoyed helping people have that, “Ah ha!” moment with technology and as I became more experienced in network administration, website development and IT projects, I realized how much I enjoyed that facetime with customers.

My first opportunity to do in-classroom training was 2007. A friend of mine was going on vacation and had been doing a series of classes at the local St. Paul Continuing Education program. He asked me to cover his classes which included, Intro to Windows XP, Microsoft Excel and Introduction to Online Research. I researched adult education, technical training strategies and went to work creating a curriculum. Since I’d worked for several years at a market research company, I folded in surveys as a part of the outline to ensure I gathered feedback from students. I had a blast and began looking for more technical training opportunities. It wasn’t long before I spotted a position at the Minneapolis Urban League. They were looking for an A+ certification instructor to teach a 12 week course. I applied, prepared a proposal and landed the position. Again I created the curriculum, delivered it, actively engaged the students and staff for feedback, built an intranet using WordPress to share coursework and class updates.

I then moved into making screencast tutorials for clients, again with very positive feedback. Eventually, I began uploading these videos to YouTube and again, received compliments, questions and consulting inquiries.

Sponsored By

Current Occupation: Vice President / General Manager of Field Sales & Operations – Michigan/Indiana Region, T-Mobile USA

Favorite website: Pulse, C-Net, Wall Street Journal

Favorite read: #1: Good to Great; #2: What Customers Really Want

Recent read: The Help

2012′s ultimate goal: Get oldest Son off to college in the fall & celebrate 19happy years of marriage!

Quote Governing Your Mission or a Quote that Inspires You: Essential Piece: Isn’t it a wonderful thing that we’re all different? Each of us has strengths and skills to share. And when we link our individual strengths together, we’re invincible. Can’t imagine us without you.

Twitter handle: @tmobile

Brigette Jackson, an executive at T-Mobile, is the subject of this next installment of Behind The Click.  More specifically, she’s the Vice President and General Manager for the Michigan and Indiana Region of T-Mobile. I had an opportunity to connect with  this fellow digital power player to learn more about her position.  What follows will both inspire and encourage you, no matter what industry you currently work.  Fasten your seatbelts!

LdC:  So it seems that a lot of  your foundation is due in large part to your education. What was it like attending Michigan State?

BJ: My college career was an enjoyable experience. I grew up, learned a lot and met many people with diverse backgrounds.  A lot of the people I met are still my friends today.

LdC:  Are you an active alum?

BJ: Yes, I stay informed and attend homecoming.  I also participate in activities through the MSU chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, which I was a member of at MSU.

LdC:  Did you express an early interest in the convergence of tech and customer growth or did you “fall into” it?

BJ: I graduated with a Bachelor of Science with an emphasis in Management. I have always been in sales jobs throughout my career.  Working in sales management, I was introduced to technology and saw the rapid growth and innovation first hand.  That’s what led me to my current position at T-Mobile.

LdC: What is a typical day like for you?

BJ: I conduct sales meetings with my team, attend strategy meetings where we plan business strategies and tactics to retain customers and grow the business, review sales reports, visit stores and our business sales clients and meet customers.

LdC:  What is the biggest challenge of your day?

BJ: Continuing to grow sales and market share within the Region.

LdC:  What advice can you give to women looking to get into telecommunications at an executive level?

B: Be ready for this fast-paced, innovative business.  You need to make sure you are knowledgeable about all of the ever-changing technologies, stay ahead of the competitors and be able to make quick decisions.

LdC: What advice can you give to women with projects who are looking to create strategic alliances with T-Mobile?

BJ: Pull customer demographics, make sure the demographics mirror the area of the product you are targeting and do a business case to ensure the return on investment is healthy.  Take as many business partners that relate to or support the project as you can throughout the process.

LdC:  How do you balance work and family life?

BJ: Careful long & short-term planning to make sure I don’t miss any important engagements.  I absolutely live by my Outlook Calendar to stay organized and I plan far ahead.

LdC: What’s your biggest dream for your position/department at T-Mobile this year?

BJ: At the end of the year, I would like to have a profitable business that has achieved all targets and have grown our customer base and increased our market share.

Thanks for reading!  Keep up with tech events and more at my site www.ldcoleman.com while we prepare the next profile.  Get the latest in digital news and more by following me on Twitter @mediaempress

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Welcome back to my LDC Black Women In Tech profile series.  I’m happy to bring you an interview with a hot entrepreneur named Kimberly Dillon, founder of House of Mikko, a “personalized recommendation engine that helps customers discover the best haircare, skincare, and color beauty products for them, based on their unique features and beauty goals.”  She is quite a trailblazer and certainly one to watch as 2012 kicks off. Here’s a peak inside my  recent conversation with a fellow player in the digital space:

LDC:   I see you’ve been covered by certain mainstream tech/media outlets.  We rarely see the brown face of a tech entrepreneur profiled in these types of outlets.  Why do you think that is, and how did you overcome that hurdle?

New site, same great material! Hi everyone and welcome to the LDC Women in Tech series. We are now available on the Madame Noire platform and happy to be part of the site fam.

It’s all about bringing you info on some of the most powerful execs in the tech arena, start-up moguls-in-the-making and major players in the digital arena. Why? Because African-American women actually out-index in so many instances regarding digital. For example, more than any other demo in this country, we lead the pack in frequency of accessing Twitter via a mobile phone (source: Pew Research). So since we are lovers of such platforms, we should begin to get to know who is behind them. And as a thought-leader in the tech space, it’s my pleasure to spotlight these women in order to provide you with insight, encouragement and knowledge. I’m also glad to bring this series to light in order to provide greater recognition to them which other media outlets seem to miss offering to them. Here we go with the first:

Marilyn Crouther, Vice President of Finance, U.S. Public Sector, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Services

LDC: I love to usually start off with a little background, so first, where did you attend college?

MC: I attended Mississippi State University in Starkville, MS.

LDC: What was it like for you?

MC: I had a truly awesome college experience. Mississippi State University (MSU) provided a strong sense of community within the relatively small town of Starkville, MS. My college years were very busy, I participated in campus organizations such as Student Affairs and Residence Life. I joined Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., served as the Chairperson for MSU’s Black Awareness Committee that helped bring the author of Roots, Alex Haley, to the campus and I worked in retail. MSU was a good fit for me and my family academically and geographically. The University was just two hours from my family home, which was far enough to enable me to grow into an independent young woman, but close enough to allow me to go home when needed. Additionally, MSU offered a strong engineering, mathematics and accounting curriculum. I was able to thrive in my math and computer courses while developing interpersonal leadership skills from my involvement in various organizations. I look back on my college experience fondly due to the rich education gained and life-long friendships that were fostered.