Let's talk about coffee meetings.
As I spoke publicly and grew in my field, I began to receive more and more requests to grab coffee, tea, lunch, or dinner and share advice. I love meeting and helping people, but there are only so many hours in a day. I'm now more selective regarding how and with whom I spend my time.
How I prioritize requests
These are the questions I ask. Use them to assess the likelihood of us meeting.
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Who are you?
I'm very open to connecting with people. Skillsets and experience levels don't matter to me. However, I assign a higher priority to meetings with marginalized people because of the lack of support for them in tech.
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Was it written about yet?
Break down what you'd like to discuss during our meeting. Did I already write about it on my blog? Is it something that you could ask on a service like Quora? If not, meeting with me face-to-face is a viable option.
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What are your intentions?
I love meeting people to form connections and bond as human beings in design, tech, and games. I do not enjoy having my mind excavated for potential profit and will likely decline to meet if you're looking to recruit me.
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When are you available?
While most of my meetings are virtual these days, I have a full-time job and work in the Eastern time zone. Does that match your schedule? Let's figure out a way to connect that doesn't zap us of our energy.
Alternatives
Chances of meeting not looking so good? You're not out of luck. I may have blogged about the topic you're looking to discuss.
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How to become a public speaker in 1 year – Step 1: Build confidence
If you're like me, public speaking naturally makes you uncomfortable. Before you can speak confidently on a stage, you must feel comfortable talking in front of groups.
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Ten Lessons Learned from Organizing Diversity-Focused Events
Here are some methods I've learned over the past two years to create well-attended, diverse events.
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Advice for New UX Designers
I was recently contacted by a young person who's trying to figure out their career path. Here's the advice I gave to this potential UXer.
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My career goals (and how I keep track of them)
People ask me how I keep track of time. My secret is pretty simple: I write lists.
What it's like to be a woman of color in the tech industry
The following is my experience and doesn't speak for all women of color (or all Black women) in tech.
If none of those are relevant, consider asking about your topic within an online space such as Merit, Quora, UX Stack Exchange, Designer News, or The Independent Gaming Source Forums. Thank you! ♥