Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Mundy and Quawn Clark.
Pivot Tech Co-Founder Joshua Mundy attended a leadership study mission in Austin, TX. The goal of our trip was to understand how Austin’s intentionality around building a technology ecosystem led to great success. Joshua recognized how Austin set a goal and accomplished it in grand fashion. He also recognized the severe lack of diversity in the technology sector. Josh, being the visionary entrepreneur he is, vowed to return to Nashville and focus on building a pipeline of technology talent that was highly inclusive. A few months later, he and Quawn Clark, an entrepreneur and software developer, launched Pivot Technology School.
The grand opening of Pivot Tech was supposed to be March 3, 2020. That day, a devastating tornado hit Nashville and destroyed the building where classes were to be held. Shortly thereafter, the COVID 19 pandemic hit. Josh and Quawn had to make some hard decisions and rise to the occasion of their brand – they had to PIVOT.
The global pandemic made it even more important for people to keep their career options open and find ways to secure their income. Pivot Tech was ready to help them make the transition to the tech industry by shifting to a virtual course format and educating the community on the importance of tech education.
With COVID-19 striking African Americans both physically and economically, Mundy and Clark want to show that there is a future in tech, one that can be both promising and prosperous. A prevailing reason for the lack of racial diversity in the technology industry stems from the presence of well-developed pipelines of minority talent. While the talent pipeline is certainly not the sole issue, it does play a significant role as most organizations are competing in the same talent pool. As a result, many efforts are focused on growing the number of qualified minorities through specialized training programs that allow them to compete for the increasing number of available technology roles. That is where Pivot Tech comes in.
Pivot focuses on creating a pipeline of diverse talent that is trained in the skills needed in today’s technology industry. The target audience is minority professionals seeking to shift into tech-specific roles. Students in the Pivot program engage in 20-week intensive courses in either web development or data analytics. Soon, Pivot will launch a cybersecurity track. Because of its virtual learning platform, Pivot currently has students enrolled in various geographic regions.
The goal is very simple. Pivot seeks to create a pipeline of diverse talent that can fill the growing workforce needs of the global technology industry. Just as the city of Austin intentionally rose to prominence as the Silicon Valley of the South, Pivot is intentionally focused on being the premier academic institution for experienced, diverse technology talent.
Has it been a smooth road?
Pivot Tech School launched on the day of a devastating Cat 3 tornado. The building where classes were to be held was completely destroyed on the day that classes were to start. Shortly thereafter, the COVID 19 global pandemic hit. To say there have been struggles would be an understatement. Adapting to the new normal has been a challenge for many businesses, but its been especially challenging for a Black-owned start-up. True to our name, Pivot Tech has successfully pivoted to engage our target audience, enroll students, offer scholarships, build partnerships and begin our mission of transforming the tech industry one student at a time.
Pivot Technology School – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
At Pivot Tech School, our goal is ambitious, yet simple: we aim to foster minority talent and connect them with opportunities in the technology industry. Within a year, Pivot has gained traction and garnered national media attention. The school has launched student cohorts in web development and data analytics and is preparing to launch a cybersecurity cohort. Next month we will launch our first women’s only coding Bootcamp. We specialize in finding, educating, nurturing, mentoring and supporting students who are ready and willing to make a change in their career and life. We are most proud of watching our students grow and evolve into skilled professionals. What sets us apart from other schools is we are not on the outside looking in. We know our students because we have been where they are.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
We believe Atlanta is a prime location for Pivot Tech School. In February of this year, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution published an article that identified Atlanta as fast becoming a mecca for African Americans in tech. According to the article, “Atlanta’s tech community is relatively small and tight-knit, but tech jobs such as software developer, software programmer, and computer support roles, have grown faster than the national average by 46.7 percent since 2010, which is about 20 points above the national average.”
Atlanta was also named the #6 best city for job seekers. Atlanta has risen because its black tech infrastructure is further along. Pivot Tech School offers a new affordable option for people seeking the opportunity to be a part of the new tech mecca of the south.
Pricing:
- Average Cost of Pivot Tech Course: $6500
Contact Info:
- Website: pivottechschool.com
- Phone: (615) 200-8511
- Email: crogers@pivottechschool.com
- Instagram: @pivottechschool
- Facebook: faceboook.com/pivottechschool
- Twitter: @pivottechschool
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pivot-technology-school/
Image Credit:
Josh Mundy
Quawn Clark
Roland Martin Show
Photographer: Jodie Smith
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