Today’s guest is passionate about helping people reach their highest potential. She is an award-winning diversity expert, a proven thought leader, an author, and a trending businesswoman who is dedicated to increasing diversity in the technology industry.By teaching candidates to think more strategically about their careers, she helps them accelerate their personal and professional development. She is the President and CEO of The Tech Connection, a premier marketplace for purpose-driven, diverse, technical talent.Recognized as a leader and mentor, at the root of her work is a passion for community service. On top of running her business, she is the founder of the first ever Black Tech Boston Meetup, a platform to celebrate and introduce the impact of technology within African American communities. She regularly engages in speaking opportunities to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in minorities and received the U.S. Presidential Service Award for her relentless commitment to the community.Please join me in welcoming Melissa James.Would you leave an honest rating and review on Apple Podcast? Or Stitcher? They are extremely helpful and I read each and every one of them. Thanks for the inspiration!In this episode we discuss:her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is knowing the difference between when to be a cheerleader and when to deliver really hard messages and it requires you to take time to understand what message needs to be heard every day.”what diversity and inclusion look like to her.how her friend’s encouragement caused her to take a job that ended up being one of the best experiences of her life.what she finds most rewarding in her work today, using a strengths-based approach to helping people see their grit, perseverance, and endurance.how leading has helped her learn patience, coaching, and helping.how she connects with others in the tech world.Links:Melissa James on LinkedIn and Twitterwww.melissajames.cowww.TheTechConnectionInc.com on LinkedIn and TwitterBooks mentioned in this episode:“Croissants vs. Bagels: Strategic, Effective, and Inclusive Networking at Conferences” by Robbie Samuels“When Are You Going to Get a Real Career: A Guide to Designing a Career You Would Be Proud Of!” by Melissa JamesOther resources:Interested in booking Robbie to speak? Learn about his signature Art of the Schmooze session on effective and inclusive networking, and the other sessions he offers.Thinking of hosting a podcast? Writing a book? Want to launch an Amazon bestseller? Ready to make the most of your next conference experience? Robbie offers several free Masterclasses on these topics. Each one of these Masterclass replays is over an hour-long and contain valuable takeaways to help you grow your business or in your career. Find all the free Masterclasses at www.robbiesamuels.com/masterclass.Looking to get M.O.R.E.? A few times a year Robbie runs The M.O.R.E. Program for Entrepreneurial Women. This program helps women grow their business to the next level using relationship-based business strategies. For six months, he meets bi-weekly online with four women who want more Money, Opportunities, Referrals, and Engagement. First, there’s a 90-day sprint to help you clarify your goals (a mix of one-on-one coaching, mastermind hot seats, and content-rich masterclass sessions) followed by 90 days of masterminding and a final coaching session to help you implement your new goals. Check out the details and then schedule a call with Robbie to see if it would be a good fit. www.robbiesamuels.com/moreStay Connected:Connect with Robbie on LinkedIn@RobbieSamuels on Twitter and InstagramNew to this website? Start hereOn the Schmooze podcast archive and show notes for recent episodesSubscribing and leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts helps this podcast be discovered.