Welcoming the Next Generation of Tech Leaders from HBCUs

Earlier this month, Adobe opened its doors to 150 students from 40+ Historically Black Colleges and Universities for the UNCF HBCU Innovation Summit. Held annual, the Summit leads a tech trek—a series of immersive trips that provide computer science and engineering college students with the opportunity to visit the most innovative companies in Silicon Valley. Adobe was the last tour stop of the day, and we ended it with a bang!

Upon entering Adobe, students were greeting with high energy Homecoming theme music with DJ tunes from Archy Posada, Associate Product Manager, and Taylor Alarcon, Associate Program Manager, while members of Adobe’s Black Employee Network greeted and cheered our guests. After settling into the lobby steps, students were given a look at what the #AdobeLife is all about by Toni VanWinkle, Sr. Director, Employee Experience Solutions, and Carita Marrow, Diversity & Inclusion Talent Program Manager. They were followed by the University Talent team, Helina Nadew & Kelsey James Reiger, who provided an overview of open roles for interns and new grads, as well as a look at all our amazing benefits and employee network groups.

As the day went on, the 150 students were given a tour of our headquarters and were treated with a behind-the-scenes demo of Adobe Spark, and an intimate panel discussion. The panel included members from our HOLA, BEN and Adobe Proud employee network groups. Here’s what some of them shared with the students.

Jordan Gonsalves, Adobe Proud Member, Associate Customer Success Manager:

Be so fiercely protective of your joy! As people of color, it’s important to be intentional about the spaces we put ourselves in, and that they encourage us.

Tomeka Seckinger, BEN Member, Sr. Manager, Employee Relations

Advice to your younger self? Dream big and work hard! Keep seeing yourself higher than where you are today!

Archy Posada, HOLA + Adobe Digital Academy alum, Associate Product Manager

My manager will do whatever I need to make me the best me. He pays for me to go to conferences. He sends me books. He exposes me to things outside of my job. They invest heavily into your personal success.

Following the panel, Ameer Brown, Software Quality Engineer and Adobe Digital Academy alum, provided the students with a behind the scene coding experience on how Adobe Spark is managed. Students did not want to leave this session and were busy taking notes as it provided them with hands on experience and an inside scoop in the life of an Adobe Software engineer.

At Adobe, we strive to create experiences that matter and this extends to our guests, too. As Irene Love Camunag shared on social, “Had such an awesome experience at Adobe! Thank you Carita Marrow Toni Vanwinkle and the rest of Adobe team for welcoming us with such an electric energy today! #AdobeLife #hbcuinnovation”

Inspired to join our team? Apply today on our career site.