Let me know what you think about this new series! Remember Esco's journey took over 10 years! Don't forget to check out Esco's group - Join Esco's Black SWE Facebook group for help with interview prep: facebook.com/groups/1561185027368081 -Read Esco's Study Tips for how to land a job at FAANG: bit.ly/3jXNbVS
This was such a good idea for a series esp since the CNBC Make It one on you did so well. I have a gut feeling this type of video but on your channel is going to be a big success.
As a fellow black man who didn’t go the college route and finally broke six figures this year, I’m so proud of him and we, I, need more stories like his.
@CriticMind I dropped out of college in 2011 after one year. I got serious about learning it in 2013. Didn’t get my first paid coding gigs until 2016. First full time coding job in 2017, and after some setbacks I got my first high paying job last year and earned my first six figure salary this year. Most stories don’t usually take as long as mine but we all on the same path.
As a Hispanic software engineer with parents with a 6th grade level education it hit hard when he starts talking about having imposter syndrome caused by your background. This year I hit roughly around the 3rd year mark of experience making around 130k TC and I still have moments where I self doubt myself wondering whether I belong in this field. I can only speak for Hispanic people, but one of the biggest issues that we face when trying to break into these high paying careers is the lack of support from friends and family, I remember being made fun of growing up by extended family for being tech savvy and liking computers, it really be your own sometimes.
Hispanics really don’t support other hispanics. I graduated recently with a degree in mechanical engineering. I started working for Samsung immediately after college and I always had moments of self-doubt. It’s devastating because those moments affect your performance and mental health and it sucks because family doesn’t see that. Anyway, I really want to dive fully into coding. I like the flexibility that computer science has to offer. Any tips/pointers would be appreciated. Wish me luck lol
I can definitely understand where you guys are coming from. It's a similar situation in the black community. Whenever I would tell family that I wanted to major in computer science/information systems, they would say, "whoa! Are you sure? That sounds hard." No one really helped me believe in myself. They just helped me doubt myself.
As a senior software engineer myself I can tell you this guy is right on. University not required (though I do have a CS degree). Learn and experiment like crazy. Set up a study schedule. Apply for lots of jobs and take interviews even when you don’t think it will work out; it gives you experience and helps you grow and helps you know how much your skills are worth to companies. And don’t think “I could never get a job at that company.” Work hard for it, you can do it!
I honestly think that if you were really a senior software engineer, you wouldnt be giving out such an advice. sure, it may be your job title, but certainly what you do is not even close to what is expected of the profession, otherwise you wouldnt be giving such a terrible advice.
@@lottexy honestly I agree with you, it’s very easy to see these success stories and get it in your head that “he did it, so can I!” But that’s not really the case. Esco dropped out of school, but he dropped out of NYU! That should tell you a lot right there! The barrier to entry for not just a software engineer position, but any position that gives you a 6 figure salary is going to be astronomical, especially considering the average Americans salary is like 45k a year. I love these success stories and more power to people able to accomplish these great feats- but I feel like a lot of stuff gets left out in the name of optimism, which can be misleading like the fact that you have to study like 8 months out of the year to take a coding interview for these high paying FAANG positions (not to mention it’s probably stuff that you won’t actually have to do on the job). Realistically the average person who’s not a student or doesn’t have bills or something won’t have that kind of time.
Im a young Black male who's majoring in computer science at North Carolina A&T and I will say seeing your videos really makes me happy and gives me way more hope of going into the field of cyber security. Thank you for doing this!
Even as a little child you can see that Esco was destined for great things. He was always at the top of his classes. In high school he was taking college courses in Trigonometry. He is a very intelligent and a good person. He is very generous to all his siblings and family members. He is very interested in elevating others by sharing his knowledge, experience and resources. We are all very proud to have Esco as one of us. Thank you Bukola, for showcasing Esco in this program. I am sure his story will serve as a catalyst to uplift others. Bravo!!!
Did he attend NYU Polytechnic around 2011? I think I might have come across him in NY. Great guy with a great head on his shoulders, hope he accomplishes all his dreams and goals.
Stories like this just makes me happy. Just as soon as he starts talking you can tell Esco is insanely bright, going through all that and his story and still not giving up. I went through 1/10th of that and felt like I "gave up" at times by not doing all I could. Every time I see or hear a story like this it just motivates me so much and he just seems like one awesome dude, I really enjoyed this one.
What a STORY!!!! This is it! Defying the odds. He didn’t let his circumstances victimize him, even after he lost his own mother. 😭👏 it’s the strength and perseverance for me! God keep blessing and bless you Esco
Buky, I'm so proud of you! I'm a Nigerian Dad, a documentary filmmaker; I moved to the US in '79. Your visual story telling skills have improved a lot!!! Keep doing you :)
This summarizes major problem. Socio economic background can be a barrier because of lack of comfort and resources that people with good socioeconomic status are already having, still all hail to this man
@@AlfieTank The kid part is so real. So many people I've met love their kids, but they are struggling with cash. They have a "stable" job but not exactly well paying. It's hard for them to learn new skills and move into other industries. This is because they already work full time, and between all baby responsibilities and all other responsibilities, there is rarely any time to sit down and learn a skill. It's definitely possible .. anything is possible..but you'll be significantly more miserable during the process. People suffer mentally from going to work full-time and learning, so imagine adding a kid on top of that. Guys, don't get a kid until you're at a "if you don't grow from here, you'll be alright" level.
My boy Esco I'm a part of his group on Facebook, have been for a minute. The help and gems he provides are next level and I'm glad I joined salute Esco!
Bukola been giving us quality content since day 1. In the past I've occasionally seen youtubers talk about breaking into tech but it wasn't until I found your channel that I finally made the leap. Keep doing what you do, we are forever grateful!
I've been in IT since 1993. I'm from Detroit. I'm Black. I've never made $500k in a year but have never gone to college either. Very low 6 figures. It's all about your passion. I've noticed more and more Black people getting into IT which is good because for years I've felt like I've been living in a house with no mirrors.
@@BrwnWndr representation matters? You do realise black people are literally all over the movies, TV, music, sports, entertainment. Try being a minority with no mainstream representation... Its that victim mentality that differentiates the winners from losers.
Very sharp guy - imagine what he could be doing had he lived in a society that encouraged him every step of the way and gave him all the tools he needed to create his success vs having to struggle all steps along the way.
@@piecesofme8531 🤣 shots fired 🔫. Actually I am African American. All African Americans have roots to Africa. I wasn't raised in an African household. I'm actually half Nigerian on my father's side. My mother was born on Staten Island, New York and so was I. My father was born in Nigeria but he didn't raise me. It wasn't until 2012 that I started to learn more about Nigerian culture.
@@escobyte That’s nice. Why did your Nigerian parent flee Nigeria and choose to build his legacy in the US, off of the backs of the work of foundational black Americans who built the wealth of this country? Why not return to Nigeria to make the Nigerian tech world great? What is this “different mindset”, a better willingness to use your intellect and labor for the benefit of white corporate America?
I am really happy for him. He's done the hard work to get to where he is. Also thank you for sharing his story with us. It's really inspiring. Great video, Bukola.
This had me reflecting on some things. I have the opportunity to go to community college and finish my associates in web dev without having any debt and I'm slacking. This was a nice wake-up call and I am grateful I found this video. I am enrolled in the Harvard cs50 course and also work doing gig work. If I hustle academically all next year I can graduate. I am looking to get into the front end and make a decent salary. I just want to succeed so my mom is taken care of, after that starting a family and so on. Thanks for inspiring me with this video!
This is video is so inspirational. Watch a video like this one in the morning right before starting your day, really does help motivate and challenge you do to do better that day and push out any doubts you may have on your journey. A series of this sort of videos would be awesome! Loved it.
I love this! His story has so many relatable elements. I love seeing us win! 💪🏾 Bukola, the quality of this video from the actual video to the content is amazing!
@@julieeg1849 In short, when I made the transition, there were no bootcamps. So I quit my job, and went back to school for a Master's in Software Engineering. I survived on my savings, finished in 2 years, got a job, and I have been a Software Engineer professionally eversince.
@@fabioladoissaint Oh, that's good you're contemplating switching 👍. I just wrote this piece on another comment regarding my move to tech, but I couldn't "@" lol. So here you go: When I made the transition, there were no bootcamps. So I quit my job, and went back to school for a Master's in Software Engineering. I survived on my savings. I finished in 2 years, got a job, and I have been a Software Engineer professionally eversince.
@@julieeg1849 It wasn't hard for me because I enjoy writing code (it's almost like solving puzzles, and I like logic). However, I do know someone who started my Master's program, and quit the same semester -- so difficulty will vary from person to person. Learning to code is VERY time-consuming though. One will need ample time to soak in the concepts, and practice a lot to gain proficiency.
@@rethabilempx2419 hi love I’m not in the field yet. Still completing a coding course and then hopefully a bootcamp once that is done! Are you in the field?
Thanks for this video!! I professionally started my engineering journey with a bootcamp March of 2020. I've been teaching software engineering since and now have negotiated my first offer to join a tech company as a software engineer. Channels like this one def educated me on what I could expect in the industry. I enjoyed this interview. Thanks again Bukola and Esco!!
@@joseharper3314 I did have prior coding experience on the job (SQL, HTML and CSS but never built fullstack applications. I attended General Assembly - NYC. They have locations all over the world though.
This was awesome! Well Done! So proud and happy for him. I'm definitely going to look into teaching myself in 2022. Great channel. This was very inspiring. Great story!
You should make these types of interviews and ongoing series. Boys and girls, in "Black America" needs to know that you don't have to be JUST a RAPPER or ATHLETE in order to prosper and/or be successful. ✊🏾
@@saitamabaldy2566 Not necessarily all around the world. In most African countries our parents expect us to aspire for greatness. Doctors, Engineering professionals, lawyers, architecture etc. Infact if we said we wanted to be rappers that would not be accepted. They would say first go to college then pursue your rapping after.
@@Flourish_today I meant there is black people around the world that need to realize this this* the phrasing was wrong also I know this there's alot of rich successful black people around the world my point was that the black people who aren't striving to go college, start a business or whatever need to read this unless music or athletics is there passion as a lot of black youth do it because they think it's the only way to get rich
I can’t get enough of these stories of Black men overcoming the odds - in the most spectacular ways! More power to the brother Esco and others pushing past the obstacles! 👏🏾🔥👏🏾
Esco is the Name!! This guy helps me see things I did not see before. He motivates me to do better. Most of all he is one humble soul can never thank him enough. Esco...you know how grateful I am. One day I'll say thank you in person. ❤️💯
Watching Esco's story was inspiring! This series is so great for breaking the façade that you have to be an elite university Computer Science graduate to be able to be a successful Software Engineer. Looking forward to your next developer interview!
Bukola! The fact that you choose to use your platform in this way says a lot about you. This channel will be the reason why many underrepresented groups will be able to see themselves in successful, and thriving environments where they will make lasting change and create value. Thank you for proper representation. Much more success to you.
@@crisi6754 that’s really good to hear! Which one did you attend? I’m with App Academy right now. Hoping to find a good job in my city (LA) and/or remote. I finish next month 🤞
@@crisi6754 yeah, I need to do more work on my data structures & algorithms 😬 If you’re up for connecting on LinkedIn, I’d love to ask you about your job search, how you prepared and what your day-to-day is like now (I’m Dechon Ryan, the only one as far as I know). Otherwise, thank you for the encouragement & kind words!
Man! His story is very similar to my own. I grew up poor in Miami. When I was 12, I also wanted to be an animator and learned Macromedia Flash 5. Eventually, I joined the military and started working on a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering. I am currently a junior. I do like to code for my self, but I am still very green. I currently know basic C++ and Matlab for engineering. This story is a like a shining beacon that success can happen despite the upbringing. Thank you for the upload!
Hi Bukola! Just wanted to say I got a scholarship in tech boot camp last week 😊! I’ve been working hard since your CNBC video 😊! Thank you for making videos like this and forever being an inspiration
Really encouraging testimony, thanks for sharing. I have no degree and am going through a bootcamp right now so this is definitely reassuring that I'll be able to get a good job and be settled in the tech industry.
I have interviews lined up and I’ve been so scared… thanks to this interview I feel so inspired and motivated! Thank you for sharing this story it was so motivating
This is incredibly inspirational. I was born in Belfast Northern Ireland and grew up in a government housing project. My mom didn't have a high school diploma and supplemented welfare assistance by working at Burger King. She raised 4 children and although we are poor we always felt loved. I never knew my dad and was surrounded by so many fatherless households I didn't even really know what a two parent household looked like. My mom died of cancer when she was just 33 years old leaving myself and my siblings parentless. We ranged in age from 6 to 16; I was 13 at the time. When my mom went into hospice care we stopped going to school so we could be with her. I went back to school a year later and acted out and caused trouble. By the time I graduated high school there was not much hope for me to have a meaningful future. I enrolled in community college and worked fulltime and within 2 years I graduated community college and was offered 1/3 off tuition to any state college of my choice. I let my guard and focus down and got into trouble and was expelled from a prestigious state university. I spent time homeless sleeping on a park bench before getting a job driving a truck delivering floormats for 25 cents a piece. I then drove around in circles delivering 500 floormats per week for 4 years before I made enough money to go back to school. I am now a married father of 2 wonderful children and we live in a big expensive house next to the ocean. I just enrolled in a prestigious MBA program and plan to absolutely crush it. All the while the thoughts that I don't deserve the life I have or that I am live action role playing at being a professional that makes over six figures persist. Sometime the fears do not go away so you will just have to do it scared. Sometimes the voices tell you you are nothing and it will all be taken away from you...that's not a reason to stop moving forward. Keep moving in the direction of your dreams and create a legacy so that your kids never have to live in poverty.
Great job! I have been an engineer for many years but recently transitioned to a Software Engineer. A degree and coding bootcamp is nice but anyone can become one if they put in the work and learn on their own.
I am a Civil Engineer myself, about 6+ years in it and an MEng. Recently, I have been considering making the switch to I.T. I am curious, what engineering discipline where you in before you transitioned?
@@that.unknown My official Title was Test Engineer. I did not have a degree, not even a high school diploma, I was grandfathered in because of my experience in the Navy. I am still working on my CS degree but because of my troubleshooting skills, I was able to move into Software before I graduated. Recently I was promoted to Senior DevOps Engineer because of my leadership abilities. If you already have an engineering degree, I think moving to Software will be a much easier transition than it would be for most people.
@@that.unknown I.T. is quite a bit different than Software though. I.T. is more about maintaining infrastructure, backgrounds include knowledge of SQL, Linux, troubleshooting servers etc. A Software engineer develops applications and programs to be run on this infrastructure. Typically a Software Engineer could do the job of an IT person (not always), but not the other way around. A DevOps Engineer is more of a go-between (which is what I do). I write Software applications, automate tasks and collaborate with IT folks to streamline software releases. Hope all that made some sense?
Just saying Sis, what you are and have been doing with your platform is LIFE!! Me able to see my people in this light is something that was obviously missing, something my Black young Kings can attach themselves too and see themselves in. So for that, I say THANK YOU. new subscriber. (web programmer ;) who keeps telling his 7 year old son about becoming and the importance of being a Software Engineer).
Bukola!! Loved this video! I’m an Aerospace engineer, been working in the industry for 7 years. And I’ve toyed with the idea of transitioning to Software engineering. But its been tough for me to find a mentor or resource to get the support I need to learn and feel comfortable with the curriculum. Scripting isn’t a natural strongsuit of mine, but I want to improve. Seeing videos like this gives me encouragement. Have you ever considered starting a mentorship program?
I'm GENIUNLY curious why would you to transition for such industry to Software Engineering ? For the ressource it's must be easier would definetely give you some later
This is great. I really like the line, "it's not what you're worth, it's what you can negotiate." I'd love to see you do an audio podcast that I could listen to while driving/exercising.
@@The_Original_HybridWhat do you mean they literally are engineers the people building you iPhone,cars,Tv,consoles,Pc's and smarthomes are software engineers. What do you do for a living Mr "software engineers aren't real engineers".
Great idea for a series! This episode was amazing, can't wait for the next. Never heard of 'The Cliff', we always called stock options the Golden Handcuffs to keep you at a company. Not trying to be negative, but how could anyone give a thumbs down on this video?
I’m a 20 year old who comes from a family of immigrants living in South Central LA and I’ve been wanting to pursue computer science but have been too scared to start. Seeing this man’s story was hugely inspirational. I’ve tried the college route but my life has been too hectic to fully go that route. I feel like now I have the confidence built up to start pursuing my goal of becoming a software developer. Thank you!
I LOVE THIS!! It’s so uplifting and I love seeing stories from our community and our successes ❤️ it really inspires people who are underrepresented in tech and other industries to reach for the stars
Thanks for sharing this story and thanks to Esco for sharing his story. I have a very similar background, but from PR/Chicago and work for a different tech company. I wish more of us could make it. Thanks again!
There are some stories that fill your heart with so much joy! This is one of them. Single mom who passed away early and you go on to kick butt nevertheless.
It's great hearing stories like this. It proves if you take the reins and put in the work with an attitude to learn, anyone can command a salary like this! Really great video! 😊
Uninspiring comment, you’re way too obsessed with money it’s just a byproduct, this should not be the main focus. The title of the video is also vapid.
He's a nice, brilliant, and supportive person. I know him in the DSA study group he created, and I'm really learning a lot from him. Thank you, Mr Esco🙏🏽❤️
Awesome to meet you Esco! I work at a top financial company in Chicago and the whole black people(minorities) selling themselves short on the negotiation table is real.
Man, stories like this are extremely aspiring to younger black people who never had wealth in their families or opportunity for college growing up, the tech field can truly be the great equalizer, hope every young black person with anxiety about tech discovers this interview
Man in our industry we need to find people like you that have proven drive, ambition, and work ethic who need to replace lying paycheck collectors. Good on you and keep it up!
As someone who grew up in the projects in NYC w/o parents as an adult, and knowing how difficult it is to really get anywhere in that environment, this guy is a real life hero. Definitely inspiring and I hope he's successful in his start-up!
This is beautiful because he is black like me and he came from a complex life style like me. Representation of color and sex is important. Thanks for the passion to create this piece and share it with the world, your changing lives. Have a awesome year
