Our Black in Tech series features the career path & advice from Black professionals in the tech industry. In this Q&A, Belle Berghoffer, Program Manager at Acquia shares her story.
Where did you grow up and what were you like as a child? What did your parents do for work?
I grew up in Douala, Cameroon in Central Africa and moved to Baltimore, Maryland as a teenager. Growing up, I played piano, did ballet, played a number of sports, and was also that kid who journaled and religiously created 1-year, 5-year and 10-year plans; it’s no wonder I ended up in project management. My father was an attorney and entrepreneur and my mother worked as a Regional Manager for Swiss WorldCargo. They both had Master’s degrees and stressed the importance of education.
Where did you go to college? What did you study and what did you do after graduating?
I went to Towson University and majored in International Studies with a minor in Creative Writing. After graduating, I worked as a Senior Program Assistant for a non-profit organization in Washington, DC and eventually went on to get my MBA from the University of Baltimore.
What inspired you to get into the tech industry?
I’ve always wanted to build a career doing something I was good at and enjoyed. Being quite analytical (sometimes overly analytical), organized and efficiency-driven, that eventually landed me into the tech field on a track that led me from Business Analysis to Program Management.
Can you share the high-level responsibilities of your current position as Program Manager at Acquia?
As a Program Manager, I am responsible for stakeholder, schedule, resourcing and budget management as it relates to programs and projects. And very recently been charged with leading efforts to stand up a project management office (PMO) within Professional Services.
What has attributed to your success thus far and what types of obstacles have you had to overcome along the way as a Black professional?
I’m a firm believer that God has a plan for my life and all the success I’ve experienced professionally and personally comes from Him. And I carry that confidence while navigating life, not only as a Black professional, but also as an immigrant, which definitely had an impact early on in my career.
What advice would you give to other Black professionals who are interested in joining the tech industry?
I would advise them to jump right in. There are a plethora of opportunities in tech and endless possibilities for career paths. Don’t take no for an answer, research opportunities, apply, follow-up with recruiters and take valuable certifications that sharpen your skills and make you stand out.
While general awareness of the problem of diversity in the tech industry is a step forward, to make a lasting change, real actions need to be taken. Do you have any ideas or suggestions on what companies or employees can do to step up and make a difference?
I participated in training on unconscious bias a few years ago and that opened my eyes to the fact that we all have biases which influence even the most well-intentioned of us. I think that messaging along with other initiatives should be pushed out to raise awareness on how our background and experiences shape the way we think which sometimes needs to be corrected, without judgment. But also practices should be put in place to account for human error in hiring processes, organizational culture, performance evaluation and career advancement opportunities. And ensuring that teams reflect the type of diversity that exists in our communities.
