Driving Social Justice Through Tech: Resilient Coders
Welcome to this episode of Rise Urban Nation with host Taryell Simmons! In this inspiring conversation, Taryell sits down with Ayanna Lott-Pollard, the Executive Director of Resilient Coders, to discuss empowering BIPOC youth through technology, navigating career transitions, and the evolution of empathetic leadership. Together, they explore how rooted identity, continuous learning, and community support drive meaningful social justice through economic equity.
Ayanna recounting how her father hung a map of Africa on their wall in West Philadelphia, instilling early pride in her heritage and ancestors like Imhotep, Nefertiti, and Mansa Musa.
The candid reflection on her early reputation as "The Terminator" and her journey toward becoming a compassionate, people-first executive.
Ayanna's perspective on career stagnation: "You are not stuck; you are in a space and place where you have an opportunity to add additional skills to your resume."
The breakdown of DISC personality assessments and the critical importance of flexing communication styles to lead diverse teams effectively.
The call to action regarding artificial intelligence and automation, urging BIPOC communities to become software creators, engineers, and investors.
Economic Justice Through Tech: Resilient Coders provides tuition-free software engineering training and direct job placement for BIPOC young adults aged 18 to 30.
Cultural Identity and Community: Strong familial roots and a supportive village serve as a vital competitive advantage when navigating challenging executive environments.
Adaptive Leadership Frameworks: Utilizing personality tools like the DISC assessment allows leaders to balance results-driven execution with deep interpersonal empathy.
Navigating Non-Linear Careers: Transitioning across journalism, government, advertising, and nonprofits demonstrates the power of leveraging transferable skills.
Combating Algorithmic Bias: Increasing diversity among software engineers and tech leaders ensures emerging technologies and AI serve all populations equitably.
Prioritize People First: Caring deeply for team members empowers them to carry out the organization's overarching mission, vision, and values.
Commit to Lifelong Learning: Continuously enhance your skill set through courses, coaching, therapy, and surrounding yourself with wise mentors.
Harness Transferable Capabilities: Identify and articulate how skills developed in past positions apply seamlessly to new industries and career pivots.
Build a Village of Truth-Tellers: Surround yourself with trusted colleagues and mentors who provide honest feedback, grounding, and encouragement.
Ayanna Lott-Pollard is the Executive Director of Resilient Coders, a nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the generational wealth gap by training BIPOC young adults for high-growth software engineering careers. With an extensive leadership background spanning advertising, government, and major nonprofits, she holds a Master's in Business and specializes in operations, strategy, and executive coaching. Connect with Ayanna on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayanna-lott-pollard-1, on Instagram @ayannalottpollard, or visit https://resilientcodes.org.
Taryell Simmons: Welcome to another episode of Rise Urban Nation! Your host Taryell Simmons is in the building today, and I have got the one, the only Ayanna Lott-Pollard, Executive Director of Resilient Coders, a nonprofit organization that empowers BIPOC youth from low-income communities. I cannot wait to have this conversation with you because we are going to dive into all things tech and how it empowers our communities. Good morning, how are you today?
Ayanna Lott-Pollard: Good morning! I am doing great. I am so glad to be here, and it is wonderful to meet you.
Taryell Simmons: Thank you, and likewise! I feel like I am meeting my sister. Where are you joining us from?
Ayanna Lott-Pollard: I am in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Taryell Simmons: Philadelphia! Before we get into everything, I noticed the lovely painting behind you. What is that piece?
Ayanna Lott-Pollard: It is a picture I bought that immediately resonated with me. It reminds me of the ancestors standing behind me. I loved the imagery and colors, and the moment I saw it in the store, I knew I had to have it.
Taryell Simmons: For those listening on audio, I encourage you to check out the video experience so you can see that beautiful artwork. For the people who do not know, who is Ayanna Lott-Pollard?
Ayanna Lott-Pollard: I am the daughter of Jack and Gladys, born and raised in West Philly. I am a big sister to three siblings, an aunt, and family comes first for me. I am a child of God, a believer, an executive, a leader, a coach, and a community caretaker. I am also a wife to my wonderful husband, Gregory.
Taryell Simmons: That is beautiful. Most people immediately jump to their job title, but I love that you encompass all those meaningful aspects of identity first.
Taryell Simmons: Tell us about Resilient Coders, the history behind the organization, and the meaning of the name.
Ayanna Lott-Pollard: I am the second Executive Director; our founder is David Delmar Senties. As a Latinx professional working at PayPal, he looked around and realized nobody in the room looked like him or came from communities of color. He founded Resilient Coders to teach coding skills, proving that Black and brown folks can learn software engineering rapidly when given access. The organization trains young adults from BIPOC communities aged 18 to 30 for high-growth software engineering careers and connects them directly with jobs. Our mission is social justice through economic empowerment. When I joined as Director of Operations and Chief of Staff, I saw firsthand how we provide opportunities that change the economic landscape for an entire generation. The word resilient reflects what our communities have always been.
Taryell Simmons: Navigating a predominantly white male industry as a woman of color requires immense resilience. How did you tap into that strength to reach where you are today?
Ayanna Lott-Pollard: It starts with family and how I was raised. My father hung a map of Africa on our wall, and I grew up learning about great figures like Imhotep, Nefertiti, and Mansa Musa, knowing I descended from kings and queens. My parents were emphatic about teaching me the West African meaning of my name, "beautiful flower." Even though we are from West Philly, my parents gave me a village that poured into me. Whenever I faced self-doubt or identity challenges, I could return home to a community that built me back up, reminded me of my purpose, and told me I was born to lead. That foundation has been my greatest competitive advantage.
Taryell Simmons: That grounding in African history and personal worth elevates resilience and consciousness, especially when standard education often introduces Black history through the lens of slavery rather than royalty and innovation.
Taryell Simmons: As you continue to grow, how are you currently developing yourself personally?
Ayanna Lott-Pollard: Working in workforce development keeps me growing. The young adults I work with are brilliant; their quick mastery of skills challenges me to stay relevant, take classes, and constantly remain a student. Being naturally curious, I also work with an executive coach to stay focused on my goals, meet with a therapist to process life and maintain mental health, and surround myself with senior citizens—retired executives, pastors, and community leaders—whose wisdom keeps me grounded.
Taryell Simmons: If someone is struggling to identify their personal strengths, what steps should they take?
Ayanna Lott-Pollard: As a coach to emerging leaders, I recommend taking personality and strength assessments like DISC, Myers-Briggs, or CliftonStrengths. When I took the DISC assessment, I discovered my dominant style—outspoken, leadership-focused, and results-oriented. Growing up, people often mischaracterized those traits as bossy or opinionated. Understanding my wiring helped me stop apologizing for my natural strengths and instead flow in my gifting.
Ayanna Lott-Pollard: At the same time, great leadership requires learning to flex your personality. Not everyone communicates the same way. I learned to adapt my style—asking questions with more soft-spoken team members and adjusting my pace so I do not overwhelm others.
Taryell Simmons: That aligns with my experience. As an "I" (Influential) profile, I focus heavily on relationships and persuasion, whereas working with a "D" (Dominant) boss requires balancing bottom-line results with human connection. Without addressing emotions and relationships, high turnover occurs regardless of achieving bottom-line numbers.
Ayanna Lott-Pollard: Exactly. As scripture says, you must become all things to all people. When meeting with relational communicators, you allocate time for connection before diving into action items. With analytical or steady personalities, you provide data and time to process. Flexing prevents burnout and turnover.
Taryell Simmons: What encouragement would you offer to someone who feels stuck in their career?
Ayanna Lott-Pollard: You are not stuck. You are in a position where you have the opportunity to add new skills to your resume and artillery. Even if you are not moving as quickly as you desire, you are still moving. Take inventory of what you have, evaluate unexplored dreams, and use this time to pause, reflect, and prepare for your next step.
Taryell Simmons: Do you often reflect on past experiences, and how has that shaped your path?
Ayanna Lott-Pollard: My path has been completely non-linear. I originally studied broadcast journalism aspiring to be Oprah Winfrey. When I graduated, starting salaries in small markets like Yuma, Arizona, were $9.50 an hour ($19,500 annually), which was tough with student loans and bills. I decided to pivot into advertising at a Black-owned agency in Philadelphia, which gave me an exceptional foundation in client relations, strategy, and business operations. Later, I worked at the White House, and eventually earned my Master's in Business to master operations, finance, and human resources. I went on to serve in leadership roles at the American Cancer Society and Salvation Army before entering tech workforce development. Every experience provided valuable lessons that I now share with the teams I lead.
Taryell Simmons: Looking back, what are key leadership lessons you learned along the way?
Ayanna Lott-Pollard: Early in my leadership career over a decade ago, I had a strict "my way or the highway" mentality. Human resources even nicknamed me "The Terminator" because I was quick to write people up and let them go. Over time, I learned that true leadership requires patience, clear processes, and giving people opportunities to grow. I developed empathy, learned effective feedback delivery, and committed to treating people the way I would want to be treated. Second, I learned the importance of resilience—refusing to let external opinions define you, because people have the capacity to grow and evolve. Surrounding yourself with truth-tellers who give honest feedback is crucial.
Taryell Simmons: What do you consider your top value as a leader?
Ayanna Lott-Pollard: My core value is taking care of people. If you take care of the people, the people will take care of the mission, vision, and values. While there are occasional exceptions, operating with deep care for the team ensures long-term success and peace of mind.
Taryell Simmons: What concerns you about the future, and how do you prepare for it?
Ayanna Lott-Pollard: Economic shifts and technological disruption concern everyone. Traditional entry-level jobs—such as retail for young Black women and transportation for Black men—are rapidly being automated by self-checkout systems and autonomous vehicles. Instead of fearing tools like ChatGPT, our communities must realize that technology creates new opportunities. We need software engineers to build and program these systems. Increasing STEM education in BIPOC communities is vital so we are not just consumers, but creators and investors in technology.
Taryell Simmons: That connects to algorithmic bias, as highlighted in documentaries like Coded Bias and studies on "Jim Code," where facial recognition and automated systems fail on melanated skin due to lack of diverse engineering teams.
Ayanna Lott-Pollard: Absolutely. When diverse perspectives sit at the table, we build comprehensive solutions. We have the genius to be change agents across the globe.
Taryell Simmons: What essential steps helped you succeed, and what advice do you have for professionals in transition?
Ayanna Lott-Pollard: First, believe in yourself. You cannot wait for others to validate your worth; you have to step up and overcome imposter syndrome. Second, pair your ambition with real skills through continuous learning. Third, surround yourself with people who are smarter than you. Finally, for those transitioning careers, find a mentor who can help you recognize that your skills are transferable across industries.
Taryell Simmons: Where can our listeners find and connect with you?
Ayanna Lott-Pollard: You can learn more about our work at https://resilientcodes.org. You can also connect with me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayanna-lott-pollard-1, on Instagram @ayannalottpollard, and follow Resilient Coders on Twitter @resilientcoders.
Taryell Simmons: Thank you so much for joining us, sharing your wisdom, and lifting up the community. Keep shining and inspiring the next generation!
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