Dwight D. Jones Sr. Speaking Topics

• A Black Journey in Tech is a speech where I Introduce my Story, Tell the audience why I wrote my book and make Deposits to the audience from the book.

  There is an underrepresentation of Blacks in technology also referred to as the digital divide. However, the truth of the matter is that Black people throughout history have always contributed to technical advancement. The problem I want to solve is the despairingly low numbers of Blacks in technical jobs. I believe that this is in part due to the contributions of Black people in tech being hidden from view.

  When you cannot see people that look like you, the assumption is made that tech has no place for people like me. As a result, Black people are largely missing out on the opportunity and benefit that working in high tech is providing to the world. Did you know that the VOIP technology that allows us to meet in Zoom or Teams calls, the Electret microphone in your computer and mobile device and the first digital cell phone were contributions by Black inventors? I believe this message and many other similar stories including my own could be the genesis of an idea that could propel or encourage the next generation to their success in technology.

  Objective:

  • My objective is to encourage anyone, but more specifically the next generation of technologist particularly Black people by sharing my story. When I started in technology on my late father’s birthday March 3rd, 1986, I was an assistant 3rd shift computer operator making $7 an hour. This career choice has opened so many doors and provided a path where I have led or contributed to world changing innovations across multiple industries. From those humble beginnings to a career that has made me a millionaire.

  • More importantly a career that has taken me from the low bar set for my existence to traveling the globe and leading highly technical initiatives for one of the top technology companies in the world. I am a pioneer and building a legacy for others like me that were and are marginalized. The journey is not easy, and there were bumps and setbacks along the way, but yes it was worth it. Today my wife and four of my six children are Microsoft full time employees. I coach and mentor as many as I can because, I believe that there is no ceiling and no limits in technology. We just need to understand that there is space for all and if I could do it, so can you.

• Dean Did IT! : How I Turned Autism into a Superpower!

  In this talk I speak to the amazing journey of my son Dean who despite being on the autism spectrum, has accomplished remarkable things in his life.

  This book is dedicated to anyone who may be labeled or diagnosed as different. If you have special needs of any kind. I want you to know that you are beautifully and wonderfully made.

  After writing my first book A Black Journey in Tech, I learned how important and impactful it can be to share your story. I learned that I don’t need to achieve perfection, be an executive or scholar to provide a profound message that can change lives. I also learned how connected we are as human beings and how my experiences can help others along the way. This profound personal growth has me looking introspectively for messages that can have an impact to better the lives of those who I may never even meet in my lifetime. I think I have found that 2nd opportunity to help mankind.

  My son Dean is an exceptional twenty-six-year-old young man. He just purchased his first home. He is starting his third year as a Microsoft full time employee. He is soon ending his tour in the Army National Guard where he spent his entire tenure in Officer Candidate school as an O9S. He received his undergraduate from Central Washington University in 2020, where he earned a degree in Japanese. The year prior he graduated from Kyoto University of Foreign Studies where he earned the opportunity to study and live one year in the totally immersive and accelerated program in Kyoto, Japan. The year prior to that he completed a 1-year internship as a Program Manager at Microsoft after graduating from the rigorous Year Up technical job-training program with a database administration certificate. In high school, he won multiple State Football Varsity and JV Championships as part of the Bellevue Highschool Football program.

  In addition, from ninth through eleventh grade he wrestled on the varsity team. He also went to the state tournament (The Mat Classic) his junior in wrestling, where to do so he was tasked to utilize his 5-foot 8-inch 220-pound frame to wrestle exclusively in the 285-weight class. Yes, that’s right the 285-weight class. Where to go to state he had to defeat an opponent that was 6-3 and 289.5 pounds. The same opponent that had pinned him a week prior in less than 30 seconds. This earned him the role of senior year Bellevue’ varsity wrestling captain. He also earned the Wolverine Guard award for 100 plus hours of community service for each of his high school years at Bellevue. However, instead of graduating from Bellevue High school and being the wrestling team captain, he selflessly chose to transfer his senior year to Interlake high school to attend school with his brother. An impressive resume for any hard-working young man, right? Now what if I told you that Dean is autistic. Yes Dean did it!

  I am writing this book with Dean’s permission to share his remarkable story. In the prior paragraph, you see the amazing accomplishments that would make any parent proud. But what you don’t see are the hardships, the struggles, the rejections, and literal life and death situations that can come with growing up with autism. Dean faced them all, has and is overcoming them all.

  My goal is for this book to be read by the children and the parents of children that come into this world gifted with special needs. I want to provide hope and encouragement through Dean’s life examples to show that we all have a purpose on this planet. We all come with unique gifts, and we can choose to be victims or follow Dean’s model and become victors. No matter what. That is why I am titling this book Dean Did It!

Juneteenth Talk - What is your Juneteenth Story?

A provocative speech that looks into the topic that all Blacks were not freed with the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Decomposes why it is important for African Americans to understand how their families struggled post slavery to gain freedoms of today. And why it is important to keep the conversation going. Finally, it challenges the audience to leverage the strength of our slave ancestors to break down barriers of social and economic divides to find paths to prosperity that many have obtained in this country.

Emphasizing the importance of Inclusiveness in advancing AI

A compelling speech underscoring the importance of Inclusiveness in AI technologies with and emphasis on the following:

• Inclusiveness is the AI guardrail against overrepresentation and underrepresentation.
• AI is data driven and there is not enough data to reflect marginalized groups.
• We have to be careful not to perpetuate the same divides in the new era of AI.
• It is imperative for systemically marginalized communities to make sure that they are being heard and counted in the AI revolution.