A Dream Come True: Mentoring with Aicha Evans

“If you had to make a list of the top 1-3 relationships in your life (personal or professional) that you want to start, grow, or rekindle, what/who would they be and why?” This was a question on an email I received from my Account Director at Acceleration Partners (AP). The first people that crossed my mind were Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, because they are my besties in my head and who wouldn’t want to start a relationship with them? But as I pondered on the question some more, I realized I have not fostered many professional relationships outside of my company. Who I wanted to foster a relationship with was someone I did not see enough of in my life and the career field—a successful Black woman who I could learn from and could guide me on navigating a successful career and achieving my goals, based on their own personal experience.  

Attending 2022 AP Summit: Dream Awards

AP Summit 2022 rolls around and I am enjoying my time meeting and connecting with coworkers from all over the globe. We’re all gathered on turf underneath bright stars and surrounded by a still lake. This night was special, as it was the last night we’d all be together and also the night of AP’s awards ceremony. Acceleration Partners has an annual, special awards segment that happens at the end of every AP Summit awards ceremony: AP Dreams. AP Dreams are unique awards that are given to select employees to make their dreams and goals come true. AP’s founder Robert Glazer got up to the podium to present some of these Dream awards, when I suddenly heard my name called with a slideshow that read “AP Dream Gift: Lunch Meet and Greet in San Francisco with Aicha Evans, CEO of Zoox.” I was stunned and kept questioning “who submitted me for an award?!” Then the next slide appeared with an explanation for the award: “Shakiria, you shared that you would like to meet a successful Black woman, and to learn from their accomplishments and how they navigated their career.” Tears streamed down my face as the dots connected that the email from my Account Director had led to this very moment, along with the realization that AP genuinely cares about its employees and fostering future leaders.  

Experiencing Zoox Vehicles with Aicha Evans

My time spent in San Francisco is an experience I will never forget. The day started off with a tour through the streets of San Francisco inside a Zoox vehicle that had been programmed for autonomous driving. Yes, autonomous, as in no human operating the vehicle, (but there was a licensed driver in the driver’s seat for safety measures). My mind was blown that I was riding in the backseat of a vehicle that was driving off the intelligence of computers. The vehicle knew when cars were backing up, when pedestrians were jaywalking, where a stop sign was and when a traffic light was changing—essentially all the different types of traffic patterns a driver would need to navigate. The vehicle was able to perfectly mimic what a human’s reaction would be when driving. The vehicle even navigated Lombard Street, and if you know, you know.