STEAM Spark - Think STEAM Careers, Podcast with Dr. Olufade
STEAM Spark: Think STEAM Careers Podcast with Dr. Olufade. Welcome to STEAM Sparks: The Think STEAM Career Podcast, hosted by Dr. Ayo Olufade. Our mission is to raise awareness about the importance of pursuing college and careers in STEAM fields and the positive impact they can have on BIPOC communities.
Dr. Ayo's journey, fueled by his passion for STEAM education, lies at the heart of this podcast. His experiences and meaningful conversations with guests from STEM and STEAM backgrounds inspire us to highlight the significance of STEM education and careers as sources of empowerment. We aim to better position the next generation for success.
By sharing personal stories and experiences, we hope to inspire and encourage our audience to consider STEAM careers. We are committed to promoting diversity and representation of BIPOC communities in the STEM field, breaking stereotypes, and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone's unique perspective is valued.
Join us as we explore the endless possibilities and opportunities in STEAM fields. With your participation and support, let's work together to shape a brighter future for all.
#ThinkSTEAMCareers #BeInspired #BeAnInspiration
It is time to innovate!
Dr. Ayo Olufade, Host STEAM Sparks: Think STEAM Careers Podcast with Dr. Olufade
STEAM Spark - Think STEAM Careers, Podcast with Dr. Olufade
Navigating Cybersecurity Careers & The Enchantment of STEAM: Diversity, Innovation, and Grandpa Stocks' Podcast Magic
Unlock the doors to an unexpected career path as we navigate the enticing world of cybersecurity with expert Grandpa Stocks. This episode will transform your understanding of STEM opportunities, revealing how the cybersecurity industry is bursting with roles that don't require traditional degrees. We cover everything from technical wizardry in coding and digital forensics to strategic leadership in business and compliance. Grand Tire Stocks joins us to dissect the high demand for cybersecurity talent and the surprising entry-level salaries that come with it. Prepare to be inspired by the call for diversity in this field as we champion the unique perspectives women, people of color, and veterans can bring to the cybersecurity table.
Then, step into the imaginative world of Anthony Hall, affectionately known as Grandpa Stocks, as he shares the magic behind his trio of captivating podcasts. Each tells a unique story – 'Rose Speaks' for educational growth, 'Dragon Bellows' to fuel the gaming spirit, and 'Stork Howl' to connect us with the natural world. Together, we celebrate the fusion of Arts with STEM, giving rise to the vibrant STEAM education and its impact on innovation, public health, and economic sustainability. Learn how fostering play and creativity in learning isn't just for kids – it's a powerful tool that can propel us all toward a more inclusive and prosperous future. Join us for a conversation that's as diverse and dynamic as the fields we're exploring.
You did mention cybersecurity earlier and STEM careers, so let's talk about cybersecurity and STEM careers. I know that recently you did attend a conference on cybersecurity and you have a lot of experience when it comes to cybersecurity. How does this feel intercept with STEM or STEM and what opportunity does it offer for aspiring professional or young people?
Speaker 2:Okay, as far as STEM and STEM specifically, there are a lot of positions where you're doing research and analyzing, checking out probabilities and you're just reviewing just raw data and make sense of that, and so there's specialties there, but then there are not. There are some pretty curious and non-STEM or STEM like mine. I'm a training board new, I don't swim, I don't hack, I don't do any of that but mine is in the education field and so providing support to training and education of those who are studying for the certification for the organization that.
Speaker 2:I partner with is the help is a foundational cybersecurity training program gives the practitioner one intervention to feel a practitioner of greater understanding of all the different frameworks that are part of the whole landscape of protecting information, whether it be HIPAA, free health or for.
Speaker 2:SEP, financial records or SOX and all these, all the GDPR, all these standards, they, as far as and as far as the company is concerned, who has to adhere to those standards when doing business outside the country or with the government that they have to have a culture of security, but also that they have people who understand how to implement those programs don't necessarily have to be practitioners in the sense of, like, doing the program and doing the coding and doing the forensics and so forth, but they're involved in leading the company and see and making sure that cybersecurity is an and a neighbor of the business objective. Really, it's a business of cybersecurity and how cybersecurity helps support companies bottom line, and so you can be a part of that industry. There's so many aspects of the cybersecurity industry that are non-technical but toward those technical ones who are interested in protecting the country or problem solving or and it can be and even the gaming aspects of it.
Speaker 2:That's how a lot of young people are getting involved with it, and one of the goals we have is introducing cyber security careers, but also helping people people of color, women, minorities and veterans, you know become part of the leadership as well, and because that's where we need more diversity. So there's opportunities for those in this technical track and the same track, but also in the leadership track as well, and a lot of diversity in careers across any industry that you're interested in. If you're a foodie or if you're a star trekker or you like gaming, it doesn't matter. There's cyber security is built into all those. That's all part of it.
Speaker 1:Do you need to be in college and have a college degree?
Speaker 2:No, I don't. I don't have a college degree, I have certification, and so that's one of the things you'll be wanting to be looking at. You don't necessarily have to have a college education, but the education you get through some of the programming and then hands on experience of your apprenticeships, internships.
Speaker 2:That's really what our companies are looking for, so certifications are certainly part of it, and some colleges have excellent cyber security programs and we're actually looking at history. You know organization that we're partnering with, we're also looking at being part of a college program, the University of Virginia, Iowa, CVI.
Speaker 2:You know, create programs to be a part of that community, because it's more mainly a tourist industry. And so what are the types of jobs that are available? It's not that those types of industries there so providing cyber security education, training and certification can provide, then a way to not only change an individual's life but then also the economy, because then you can use the jobs that entry level jobs are paying. Almost six speakers in cyber security.
Speaker 1:Did you say more than six speakers?
Speaker 2:Wow, yeah, that's a little A hundred thousand, yeah, entry level Cyber security Entry level.
Speaker 1:I'm not an analyst.
Speaker 2:So I haven't gone that track. I'm focusing on my own. I'm happy to be a part of the education, helping others reach that, but I've done the mind nine to five. I'm going to do it for something that I love, which is what Trey owes about.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I noticed some of my colleagues have been considering data analyst, going back to get certification in that. And I also know one of my colleagues the Paschal year who basically got his master's in data analytics and he basically got a job offer immediately after he graduated. Now he's no longer a teacher, now he's a data analyst. He's going to be working as a contractor, working for the government with high security clearance. So it's just amazing, right. I was just amazed. And then I have another student in my old school who is trying to get a diploma, a high school diploma, is also trying to get a certification. She's also taken a night online classes to get a certification and with her she mentioned that there are some doctors, people with medical degrees, who are trying to actually navigate into the data analyst field because it pays more money.
Speaker 2:A lot of people are transitioning. People are transitioning, yeah, happy with their careers or they're just looking for something different. And yeah, there's a lot of opportunities, a lot of need in the job.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so a lot of organization.
Speaker 2:So I would encourage people to look at organizations that help, that cater to and help provide educational opportunities for people of color, women I said women veterans. Cyber city is one of these organizations that are on LinkedIn and work with history partners with to provide cyber training and educations. So there's organizations out there, national black engineers, so there's all kinds of organizations out there. We're getting there. We're getting there.
Speaker 1:Excellent for transparency sake. So, as I said earlier, I teach. I've not represented my employer. This cast is my organization and it is separate from my daytime employer, but I teach as a career technical education high school. We have 19 programs, for example, hvac, so cyber security is one of them, cosmetology is another one. How can we encourage or how can teachers or educators, or maybe employing this industry, be part of this team innovation, any advice at all? I know you started in construction and look at what you're doing. Is there anything from your experience that you can offer so that our community, too, can start thinking long term into the future? Say, for example we know the space industry is here to stay and, as you said, there's got to be $4 trillion to $10 trillion to be made. It is growing. When boots on mass on moon, we'll still need geometry right. We'll need electricians right. So how can people in this industry electricians, people in HVAC be part of inspiring the young generation to see themselves in the STEM field?
Speaker 2:Good question, good question. I think that's where partnerships come in and the Rosamund Portrayo having this large ambition. Part of that was recognizing that we want to provide access and exposure to these different things, and it would be to partner with those organizations and companies. And so I think, for organizations like the school is then to find those companies that are working in those industries, providing to partner, to come in, partner, come in and talk to present on the object.
Speaker 2:What is the launch system made of? What is the life support system? The life support system HVAC would be part of the life support system, as well as electricity and the electrical system. All those help support the life support and launch system. All those are part of it. Cooling, rockets and engines, there's just so much. But it's going to be really in your collaboration and identifying strategic partnerships to introduce those things, to say that and how to then create maybe after school curriculum, right After school programs that involved that or have costs. So I think it's really wide open. So think about it. And then you think about how could these companies maybe partner with and have interns, so maybe that these ones could become a printer, so become an intern for summer, and I think it's like some of the SBU schools do as well. Disney is Disney University Studios. So I was in LA for the AtSec conference and I was there with the founder of the of his thing, cyber Studio Organization.
Speaker 2:He gave the keynote closing speech, and so his daughter just is graduating in September or this year, next year, so September, january, maybe in a couple of months and so she's already done an internship with Disney and is doing one with Universal Studios or finish on one with Universal Studios, because there are corporations have a long history of viewing these colleges as a pipeline, and so how did schools like yours and also be viewed as a pipeline, how do you position it? And that's where those collaborations, those financial organizations who would be willing to be interested in being a part of that journey and creating programs like the same trade, to identify some of those students who to bring that about. And we're designing like with, so with the Eden 3, moon or Mars colony. Part of it will be designing the HVAC and the other system. A lot of things you want to do that were part of that designing a sustainable offworld habitat. And, yeah, grandpa Storm's House of Flying Dragons and set himself there and they can be part of the Rose Rock and Steam team.
Speaker 1:Amen, Amen. Definitely. I want to move on to something that is very dear to you and to the power of podcasting. I know you mentioned in the past in our conversation your interest in starting a podcast, if I'm not mistaken. So let me ask you I'm going to put you on the spot as a way to inspire you and also to put the pressure on to start your own podcast. How do you envision using this platform to further your mission and connect with your audience? I think you did mention that you were interested in doing a podcast.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and so actually three podcasts. So, Grandpa my name, so there's the Rose Speaks, the Dragon Bellows and the Stork Howl, and so the Rose Speaks is will be a podcast generally talk about education and Rose Bellows while it's a philosophy, about collaborating and building an ecosystem of education and how do we better educate and find ways to educate our young youth in a more compassionate and engaged way.
Speaker 2:The Dragon Bellows is will be more about the Dragon's Fire flying game, the gaming aspect of it and imagining, and so part of that, and about also, how do we awaken the dragon and silence, how do we awaken that fire and that passion and all those things and use that to help become our fuel. And then the Stork Howl or the Wake Up Howl is early concept. That I first when I started back down in the creek down in 2010, where it was meant to be like a concept of a vlog. So a video, a video, a video, a video, a blog, a video, podcast, that working outside.
Speaker 2:But I'm also getting talking philosophically about life and how we need to view ourselves more attached to nature, and nature is our inspiration that we need to wake up. Wake up to a potential, but not from. We need to be, hug and treat it. But more about that. I was a bunch of round art and to be inspired by, yeah, and that we can draw so much energy and creativity by racing our. What do we value most? And for me it was being outside, connected to, not just within walls or a classroom, but like that, that we are part of the future and the effort that we can leverage that connection in productive way, in a way that we contribute to society, that we can do good and do good business at the same time. And that's viewing compassion as an economic drive, competition, so yeah. So that's the step, the store cows or the wake up, howl, howl is it? So yeah. So three parts that's my fifth interview so far this test month and a half, so I'm getting the juices flowing.
Speaker 2:The challenge now will be to get some new equipment. I need to do the laptop's following. It died while I was in Atlanta, so I was in LA, so I can take it to the shop. So that's the journey and that's joy, and so like it's been two years. I've had that for two years. I need a new laptop.
Speaker 1:Now the pressure is on.
Speaker 1:Now the pressure is on Really would love to see your podcast and, if fortunate, I would love to be invited. Yeah, so, if you can invite me to come onto your podcast to talk about Steam and because I believe that in order to really get our community involved, it has to start from family, parents, community, or, like in Africa. There's an adage in Africa home training begins at home, or training begins at home, right? If we want to be part of the innovation, we have to start from our community, from our own homes. If you want to invite me to come and talk on that, then we can have a nice chat on that, strategize, on what we all can do, get our community to be part of this. That will be great. One last question that I have for you from your experience and your vantage point, what advice will you offer educators, parents especially parents policymakers, professional passionate about Advocacy in Steam field and education, like you and aiming to amplify a STEM initiative that impads the community? Is there any advice that you would like to give them?
Speaker 2:Embrace the power of play Really Okay, and support curiosity and imagination. I really I think that's really the key. So find ways to integrate play into the curriculum as part of the learning modalities, and that's really the gamification that's been out there for a few years now, with mixed results, with applications, but really, but there's ways. I think that our teachers out there and educators that we can tap into, you know and that they, but they already and they're already doing it. So why does it that we need more of that? We need more of embracing of their play as a education modality, and how can we find a way that it can be?
Speaker 1:Thank you so much. I want to thank you, anthony Hall, aka Grandpa Stocks, for Grayson's team, sparks, ting Stam, korea's podcast this afternoon and sharing with us about sharing your inspiration and the difference that you're making in our community. I would like for you to come back and share how you've been really making a more major impact, not only in the United States, but internationally. Thank you once more again. As Grandpa has said, as you all have heard, if you can help him pitch in, I'm going to include some of his information on the YouTube so that you can reach out to him or help him replace his computer. That would be great. I also need, as you also have heard of him, he wants to start a podcast. If you enjoy a program like this that I am bringing periodically. I also need some new equipment. I really could use the help. I really want to come to the next level. Please try to support me as much as you can. I would like to remind everyone that STEAM plays a pivotal role in our community Because it encompasses essential elements such as public health advancement, economical growth, agricultural resources, waste management and technology and sustainability. This area is crucial and integral to the innovation across various industries, consistent rankingly among the top 10 fields of innovation.
Speaker 1:This podcast STEAM SPOT STEAM Career Podcast has finally to create awareness about the significance of STEM and STEAM education, providing empowerment for the upcoming BIPOC generation by diving into the ever-evolving landscape of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
Speaker 1:This podcast aims to sparking novel research and innovation by exploring the intersection of this academic and career path to help the next generation in our BIPOC community, envision them so earning STEM and STEAM degrees and pursuing careers in this field, ultimately fostering increased representation in this field, while shedding light on the underrepresentation of Black, the indigenous, a people of color, in STEAM collegial programs and profession. As the STEM field continues to evolve, this podcast aims to engage with individuals who are champion in STEAM education and have firsthand experience in STEAM careers, by sharing the insights. The content set to provide perspective on how the BIPOC community can become an integral part of STEM, a multi-dimensional field that drives innovation. Additionally, this podcast discards strategies with guests, as you've heard, with Grand Tire Stocks, to boost BIPOC participation in the STEM field, thereby enriching the quality of research, data collection, innovation. By incorporating diverse viewpoints, the interview and resources shared through this podcast are compiled to provide valuable information for STEM students, professionals and enthusiast align Well.
Speaker 1:To thank you, grand Tire Stocks, for gracing us today. I would like to wish everybody have a wonderful afternoon, thank you.
