A Champion for Diversity in STEM
Your Life is your story. Write Well. Edit Often.
The "I.T." Girl!
I am passionate about empowering underrepresented communities from diverse backgrounds with opportunities and tools for SUCCESS!
Tech Leader. Diversity & Inclusion Champion. Speaker.
Jamila Parham, PMP, ITILv3
B.S. Computer Graphics & Animation, DePaul University
M.I.S Project Management, Keller Graduate School of Management
It all started when...
When most young girls were playing with dolls. Jamila loved comic books, video and computer games a little more.
All of this set Jamila on a path to develop her critical thinking and problem solving skills in preparation for her career in technology. Unfortunately, there were little to no resources in the Chicago Public School system to prepare her for the advanced and vigorous curriculum at DePaul University School of Computing. Although, the road was tough, Jamila made her own way. As she navigated her career, Jamila saw little to no reflections of herself in tech roles and leadership. She decided to speak up and do something about it! This was the beginning of her journey in STEM advocacy as The Tech Unicorn.
Jamila uses her story to inspire and motivate inner city youth to pursue a career in STEM. Jamila affectionately known as the "The Tech Unicorn", is on a mission to celebrate and elevate all the unicorns excelling in industries where barriers exist.
Jamila is very active in Chicago’s Tech Community as a STEM Advocate and Diversity and Inclusion champion. You will find her speaking on panels, working with teachers and students and uplifting her community. One of her many passions is advocating on behalf of under-represented communities in order to address the lack of diversity in STEM.
The Tech Unicorn has been featured by Verizon as 1 of 10 brilliant men and women breaking stereotypes in their professions. The Root highlighted Jamila as one of " The 10: These Black Women Are Changing the Face of Tech". She was honored as a 40 Under 40 Awardee and featured by MADE Magazine as "A Millennial to Watch in 2018". The Tech Unicorn has been recently been nominated by the Editorial Board of Women In IT Awards USA as "Future CIO of the Year 2018". Stay tuned, The Tech Unicorn has big dreams and even bigger plans!