Introducing yourself, and use your new title and your new company.
My name is Uzo, a graduate of the great things Yellow Tail Tech is doing. I currently work as a Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator at GNESCO. They own brands like Journeys and Journeys Kids. I never would have known what they actually do if not for Linux. But that’s where I work right now.
Tell us a little bit about how you got started in tech and what brought you to Yellow Tail Tech.
My background is that I worked in a nonprofit for seven years. I worked in the Philippines before I moved over here to the US, I thought I was going to go into nonprofit project management. I also worked in healthcare.
I wanted something different. The pandemic helped me make that decision. Before, I was just kind of dabbling. I thought tech was great, operating systems and all that. I also thought it was something only really smart people did.
I didn’t think it was for me. I’ve always been more on the arts side, English, writing. Everyone in my family is into engineering; they’re the “smart” ones. Me? Arts.
Yellow Tail Tech changed that for me.
During the pandemic, I moved to a new city and couldn’t find a job in project management. I was doing everything just to get by. At that point, I knew it was now or never to make a change, to pivot into something new. I’d been eyeing tech for a while.
Then I came across a Yellow Tail Tech ad, booked a call with Jubee, and he walked me through everything. That’s when it all started to change.
You didn’t have any technical experience under your belt prior to coming to Yellow Tail Tech?
No, I had no technical background. My experience was in writing reports, managing projects, that kind of thing. Nothing in tech.
I had tried to learn things on my own, but it didn’t make sense. It felt like I was going down a rabbit hole, jumping from one thing to another without direction.
That’s actually one of the reasons I chose Yellow Tail Tech. There are a lot of programs out there, but Yellow Tail Tech was specifically geared toward people with no IT experience. They were going to walk us through everything.
And they didn’t push the outdated belief that you have to “start at the help desk.” Jubee showed me there was a real, structured path to becoming a Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator, and I believed him.
How was that experience through Yellow Tail Tech? Did they help you prepare for the exam?
Structure. They had a plan. I remember when we started, our instructors told us, “Trust the process.”
They had everything laid out: this is the end goal, and here’s the roadmap to get there. At some point, I had to let go and actually trust the process.
It wasn’t easy. It was all new. My brain had never worked like that before. But what you put in is what you get out.
One thing I really appreciated was the structure. On your own, you can get lost. Like me, I was chasing shiny objects one day, something else the next. At the end of the month, I’d look back and think, “What did I even achieve?”
With Yellow Tail Tech, it was clear: here’s where we’re going, here are the tools, now go do it. They gave everything they could, then it was on me to walk that path.
They didn’t just prepare us for the exam. We were prepared for what comes after the exam. They gave us a strong foundation, and I really appreciate that now in hindsight.
After you completed the program and got your certification, you participated in the apprenticeship program. How did that help you in your newfound role?
During the program, while you’re learning, your hand is being held a bit. They’re not dragging you, but they’re guiding you: “Here’s the way, here’s what you do.”
But I feel like Yellow Tail Tech took a different approach with the internship. It was, “We spoon-fed you through this first part. Now it’s time for the real world.”
You’re not alone, but you’re given the freedom and expectation to find your own way. Now that I’m working, I really appreciate that. Because in the real world, no one spoon-feeds you.
No one tells you exactly what to do step by step. But Yellow Tail Tech had already prepared us. They said, “Now go do it,” and you get better as you go.
I’m glad I followed the process. Blood, sweat, and tears went into it, but it was worth it. Now that I’m working, I see it was worth every tear.
Taking ownership. There’s also this sense of pride, “I did this.”
You look back and think, “Two years ago, I couldn’t do this.” But now? Look at me.
There’s a great sense of accomplishment that’s hard to put into words.
Was the Career Services department able to help you with that?
Yes. The first time I tried to do it all by myself. I wasn’t really listening, I was just trying to go it alone.
But when I fully engaged with Career Services, Rob, when I came to you and said, “This is what I’m doing,” and you gave me a few pointers: “Do this, this, and this”, it changed everything.
One of my goals was to have recruiters chasing me. Usually, I was the one chasing them.
But once I followed your advice, it was like flipping a switch. Suddenly, recruiters were coming to me, flooding my phone, and my LinkedIn.
And I remember thinking, “Why didn’t I do this before?”
There was this quiet satisfaction, “Wow, the structure, the hard work, it’s paying off.”
I could finally see it. That’s when I saw the results of everything, of becoming a Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator, of trusting the process, of doing the hard work.
How has your financial standing changed since you started your new role?
Yes. It has changed. I was in a nonprofit, and I used to joke that people don’t go into nonprofits to make money. We go in because of passion, we love it, and I still do. I still believe in giving back and doing all of that. One of the things I really desired was to be financially stable. Not just stable, but to grow. And tech has given me that.
I remember the first time I got a job offer, and I looked at it and said, “Wait, what?”I don’t even know what to do with this! I’d never seen that kind of number on anything with my name on it. It has changed, and I’m very grateful. But I also know that it’s just the beginning.
There’s still room to grow. That’s one thing about tech. It gives you that platform, that opportunity to continue growing, and the sky really is the limit if you put in the work.
If you could go back and talk to yourself a year ago, two years ago, what would you say?
I would say, “Do it scared.” I would say, “Jump.” Because I waited. I thought, “Maybe I need to study some more, maybe I need to get this in place,” or I was afraid, what if I fail? What if this doesn’t work?
But now I know that sometimes you just have to jump scared. You have to do it. And it’s going to make sense as you go along. Everything is not going to be perfect before you start. I would say, “Jump. Do it afraid. It’ll all work out.”
Is there anything else you’d like to share with someone who might be on the fence or doubting themselves about entering tech?
Yes. I would say if I can do it, you can do it. I’m not saying that to be cliché. I mean it. I had no background in tech. I was a nonprofit person; I wrote reports and did planning. Nothing technical.
What you need is commitment. You have to be willing to do the work. The Yellow Tail Tech program is not magic. They provide the structure, but you have to bring the discipline. If you commit to the process, you’ll get the results. You really will.
And for people who think that they’re not smart enough or not “techy” enough, I used to think that. But now I know that it’s not about being naturally gifted. It’s about being determined and consistent. If that’s you, then this is for you.
Ready to start your tech journey? Book a 10-minute intro call with Yellow Tail Tech today.
