In this episode of Habesha in Tech, host Tef Kassa sits down with Getnet Aseffa, the Founder and CEO of iCog Labs. Getnet, a computer science and engineering graduate from Ethiopian Defense University, shares his personal tech journey, discussing how he got started in the industry and the challenges he faced along the way. Getnet began his career as a software engineer, working for a variety of companies before starting his own business. He talks about the struggles he faced as an entrepreneur, including the difficulty of securing funding and the challenges of building a successful team. Despite these obstacles, Getnet persevered and was able to launch iCog Labs, a company that specializes in developing artificial intelligence and machine learning technology. He explains how his company is working to improve the lives of people in Ethiopia and other African countries by creating cutting-edge technology that can be used in healthcare, education, and other fields. Getnet also talks about the importance of diversity in the tech industry and how he is working to promote diversity and inclusion within his own company. He stresses the importance of encouraging young people from underrepresented communities to pursue careers in technology and the need for more mentorship programs for these individuals. Throughout the episode, Tef and Getnet also discuss the current state of the tech industry in Ethiopia and the challenges faced by tech companies in the country. They delve into the importance of using technology for social good and how iCog Labs is working to make a positive impact on the world, such as the famous robot citizen Sophia and other AI related projects and innovations which are being developed by the lab. Tef would like to thank Getnet for his time and willingness to share his tech journey with Habesha in Tech listeners, and also express his gratitude to Addis Alemayehou for recommending Getnet as a guest on the show. Overall, this episode of Habesha in Tech is a fascinating and informative conversation with Getnet Aseffa, a successful entrepreneur and leader in the tech industry. Listeners will gain insight into the personal journey of a tech leader, his educational background and the innovative work being done by iCog Labs to improve the lives of people in Ethiopia and beyond. It is a great opportunity to learn from Getnet's experience and to understand the current state of AI and Robotics industry in Ethiopia and the role of iCog Labs in it. ___________________ Habesha in Tech is a podcast that aims to share the stories of successful tech leaders from the Ethiopian/Eritrean diaspora, providing insight into their personal and professional journeys, as well as their perspectives on the state of the tech industry in Ethiopian/Eritrean and beyond. It is a platform for the Ethiopian tech community to connect, share ideas and inspire one another. Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the host & individuals participating in the discussion and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of their respective employers. The information provided in this episode is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as official guidance or representation of the policies or positions of Salesforce or any other company.

In this episode of Habesha in Tech, host Tef Kassa sits down with Getnet Aseffa, the Founder and CEO of iCog Labs. Getnet, a computer science and engineering graduate from Ethiopian Defense University, shares his personal tech journey, discussing how he got started in the industry and the challenges he faced along the way. Getnet began his career as a software engineer, working for a variety of companies before starting his own business. He talks about the struggles he faced as an entrepreneur, including the difficulty of securing funding and the challenges of building a successful team. Despite these obstacles, Getnet persevered and was able to launch iCog Labs, a company that specializes in developing artificial intelligence and machine learning technology. He explains how his company is working to improve the lives of people in Ethiopia and other African countries by creating cutting-edge technology that can be used in healthcare, education, and other fields. Getnet also talks about the importance of diversity in the tech industry and how he is working to promote diversity and inclusion within his own company. He stresses the importance of encouraging young people from underrepresented communities to pursue careers in technology and the need for more mentorship programs for these individuals. Throughout the episode, Tef and Getnet also discuss the current state of the tech industry in Ethiopia and the challenges faced by tech companies in the country. They delve into the importance of using technology for social good and how iCog Labs is working to make a positive impact on the world, such as the famous robot citizen Sophia and other AI related projects and innovations which are being developed by the lab. Tef would like to thank Getnet for his time and willingness to share his tech journey with Habesha in Tech listeners, and also express his gratitude to Addis Alemayehou for recommending Getnet as a guest on the show. Overall, this episode of Habesha in Tech is a fascinating and informative conversation with Getnet Aseffa, a successful entrepreneur and leader in the tech industry. Listeners will gain insight into the personal journey of a tech leader, his educational background and the innovative work being done by iCog Labs to improve the lives of people in Ethiopia and beyond. It is a great opportunity to learn from Getnet's experience and to understand the current state of AI and Robotics industry in Ethiopia and the role of iCog Labs in it. ___________________ Habesha in Tech is a podcast that aims to share the stories of successful tech leaders from the Ethiopian/Eritrean diaspora, providing insight into their personal and professional journeys, as well as their perspectives on the state of the tech industry in Ethiopian/Eritrean and beyond. It is a platform for the Ethiopian tech community to connect, share ideas and inspire one another. Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the host & individuals participating in the discussion and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of their respective employers. The information provided in this episode is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as official guidance or representation of the policies or positions of Salesforce or any other company.

In this episode of our podcast, we are excited to welcome three experts from Salesforce to discuss the different roles and responsibilities within the company. In addition to answering our host's questions, these experts will also be taking live audio questions from our audience. First, we have Alem Abraha, Lead Systems Engineer at Salesforce. Alem will provide an in-depth look at the role of a lead systems engineer and the skills and experience necessary to excel in this position. He will discuss the importance of strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams. Additionally, he will share some of the key challenges and opportunities that he has encountered in his role and offer insights on how to overcome them. Next, we have Messay Shoakena, Solution Architect at Salesforce. Messay will delve into the responsibilities and expectations of a solution architect at Salesforce. He will discuss the importance of understanding the needs of the customer and being able to design and implement solutions that meet their requirements. Messay will also share some of the key considerations that go into designing scalable and maintainable solutions and how to effectively communicate and collaborate with other teams within the company. Finally, we have Abel Adamu, a 5x Certified Senior Solutions Consultant at Salesforce. Abel will provide his perspective on the role of a senior solutions consultant and the key skills and qualities that are necessary for success. He will discuss the importance of being able to understand the business needs of customers and developing tailored solutions to meet their specific requirements. Abel will also share some of the key challenges and opportunities that he has encountered in his role and offer insights on how to overcome them. Throughout this discussion, all three experts will address the various responsibilities and expectations of their respective roles, as well as the skills and experience needed to excel in these positions. They will also be responding to live audio questions from our audience. Whether you are a current Salesforce employee or simply interested in learning more about the different roles within the company, this episode is sure to provide valuable insights and information. ___________________ Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the individuals participating in the discussion and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of their respective employers, including Salesforce and the host of this podcast. The information provided in this episode is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as official guidance or representation of the policies or positions of Salesforce or any other company.

In this episode of our podcast, we are excited to welcome three experts from Salesforce to discuss the different roles and responsibilities within the company. In addition to answering our host's questions, these experts will also be taking live audio questions from our audience. First, we have Alem Abraha, Lead Systems Engineer at Salesforce. Alem will provide an in-depth look at the role of a lead systems engineer and the skills and experience necessary to excel in this position. He will discuss the importance of strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams. Additionally, he will share some of the key challenges and opportunities that he has encountered in his role and offer insights on how to overcome them. Next, we have Messay Shoakena, Solution Architect at Salesforce. Messay will delve into the responsibilities and expectations of a solution architect at Salesforce. He will discuss the importance of understanding the needs of the customer and being able to design and implement solutions that meet their requirements. Messay will also share some of the key considerations that go into designing scalable and maintainable solutions and how to effectively communicate and collaborate with other teams within the company. Finally, we have Abel Adamu, a 5x Certified Senior Solutions Consultant at Salesforce. Abel will provide his perspective on the role of a senior solutions consultant and the key skills and qualities that are necessary for success. He will discuss the importance of being able to understand the business needs of customers and developing tailored solutions to meet their specific requirements. Abel will also share some of the key challenges and opportunities that he has encountered in his role and offer insights on how to overcome them. Throughout this discussion, all three experts will address the various responsibilities and expectations of their respective roles, as well as the skills and experience needed to excel in these positions. They will also be responding to live audio questions from our audience. Whether you are a current Salesforce employee or simply interested in learning more about the different roles within the company, this episode is sure to provide valuable insights and information. ___________________ Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the individuals participating in the discussion and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of their respective employers, including Salesforce and the host of this podcast. The information provided in this episode is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as official guidance or representation of the policies or positions of Salesforce or any other company.

Habesha in Tech Founder interview with Gabina VOA

At the end of 2021, The Ethiopian government called 1 Million Ethiopians to come home for Ethiopian Christmas and support the Economy, show the world that Ethiopia is still a stable country and change western media's negative portrayal of Ethiopia. In our session we discussed techie's experience.  The session was moderated by Tef (Habesha in Tech host). The panelists were Professor Solomon Negash, Fiseha Desta, Rahel Boon-Dejene, & Jay Jemal (PhD candidate). Podcast Cover art by: Beth Burka

The demand for tech professionals is growing. Tech jobs are getting very competitive. Companies are hiring aggressively. Amazon is aiming at hiring 30K new employees every year. Our guest for March 19 session was Melon Y. and she shared us all things we need to know Before Applying at AWS. Teferi, the host, started the session by asking Melon about her brief background. Melon was born in Ethiopia and grow up in New York after her family moved to the US. She loves New York city. Melon has worked in high profile companies including UN, S&P, PwC, Boeing, etc... and now she is the Global Head of HR, AWS Partners and Channels. Melon spoke about LinkedIn Profiles, AWS career page, Resume, Interview, Loop Interview, AWS Leadership Principles, and more. I would like to thank Melon for her invaluable wisdom, advices & tipes she was able to share us during this session. I also would like to thank the audience for joining us. Please listen to the full conversation so that you can learn from Melon. Share | Comment | Like Follow Teferi Kassa | Follow Habesha in Tech

Our guest is Dagnachew Birru (PhD) who is currently the Global Head of R&D at Quantiphi. Dr. Dagnachew has many years of experience as an idea-driven technology researcher, developer, and leader in systems employing Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning and smart algorithms, resulting in 50+ issued patents. He was born and raised in Northern Ethiopia. Dr. Birru grew up in a very difficult time where there were no role models who could inspire him professionally. He was curious to learn about technology that he used to disassemble his dad's radio to learn where the sound was coming from and how it worked. He used to do some work to financially help his family. Dagnachew was a bright young man that he betted on himself that when he sat for a national exam he said "If I pass this exam, I will move forward and continue my education or else I will be a businessman". He passed and went to Addis Ababa University to study Electrical Engineering. Dr. Birru had high grade and the university hired him as a lecturer. After serving for about a year, he and his friend were able to secure a scholarship in Netherland where Phlips was funding the program. He studied Master of Science -Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Electronics Engineering and Signal Processing from Technische Universiteit Delft. His PhD thesis helped him secure his job at Philips in New York, USA. Dr. Birru have worked at Philips, Philips Lighting & Signify all of which are Philips companies and he served in many different levels started from a researcher to team leadership roles and to more higher positions such as Head of Research & Sr. Director, Head of Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence. He is currently Global Head of R&D at Quantiphi where he focuses further shape, build and lead a world-class R&D function, reimagining business with AI-led solutions, and laying the foundation for the next phase of growth. Quantiphi, Founded in 2013, is an award-winning AI-first digital engineering company driven by the desire to solve transformational problems at the heart of business. As always, I was privileged to learn Dagnachew Birru's Tech Journey first hand. I would like to thank Dr. Birru for his time and willingness to share his tech journey and respond to all of the questions from audiences and myself. I would also like to thank everyone who made it to the live session on clubhouse. Please help us spread this wonderful recording here on LinkedIn & all of the social media platforms. Share | Comment | Like Follow Teferi Kassa | Follow Habesha in Tech

Audience Questions It was a great honor to have a conversation with Mekonnen Kassa on Habesha in Tech club. We spent close to 3 hours talking about his personal &  professional journey. It was an eye opening session where we learnt how  he was able share us his personal story starting from his life in  Gondar, Ethiopia. Mekonnen left Ethiopia during the Socialist Derg military was leading  the country. He was young & ambitious so he and his friend together  walked to Sudan, yes WALKED TO SUDAN. He was able to  escape the suffering in Ethiopia but the suffering in Sudan was there  waiting for this young new Refugee. After few years in Sudan living as a  refugee, Mr. Kassa was fortunate enough to come to the US with his  partner. That’s where he was able to start his English language class.  He also started working as a taxi driver. Mekonnen is polyglot. He speaks Amharic,  Tigrigna, Arabic, English. He loves learning new languages he tried to  learn Afan Oromo too, he probably need some course – feel free to give  him tips 😀. While he was attending his language class he was able to  learn about his deep interest about education, therefore, he went to University of Washington to study Mechanical Engineering. While he was attending school he also works as a cab driver. The  conversation he had with one of his frequent customers was the one that  changed his life. His customer was kind enough to tell him what his job.  Mr. Kassa used this opportunity to pitch what skills & trainings.  His customer supported Mekonnen by guiding him to prepare his resume and  get him an interview at Accenture (then Anderson Consulting). That how Mekonnen’s Tech Journey was  launched. You can call it fate, opportunity or luck: but Mekonnen was  able to capitalize on what he was given. After he joined Accenture, his  career took off and still going strong. He is currently a Senior  Director of Cyber Security Engineering at Microsoft. Mekonnen told us that he struggled to move up the ladder at  Microsoft. But he wasn’t able to understand why. He was doing everything  right and was a successful tech leader but that wasn’t enough to get  him promotion. But one day he insisted to get the right reasons so that  he can improve & move up the management ladder. That where  everything changed: he was able to change course and made changes on his  communication, leadership & interpersonal skills. That changed his  career. He is now a leader, a mentor, a coach. It was an honour to have a chance to chat with you. I can’t wait to  listen to our conversation again. It was very rich with your personal  story and tech Journey. Thank you 🙏🏾 so much for sharing us your  journey. Please listen to our conversation and share it with your network. Follow | Share | Comment | Like Website | Clubhouse | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

It was a great honor to have a conversation with Mekonnen Kassa on Habesha in Tech club. We spent close to 3 hours talking about his personal & professional journey. It was an eye opening session where we learnt how he was able share us his personal story starting from his life in Gondar, Ethiopia. Mekonnen left Ethiopia during the Socialist Derg military was leading the country. He was young & ambitious so he and his friend together walked to Sudan, yes WALKED TO SUDAN. He was able to escape the suffering in Ethiopia but the suffering in Sudan was there waiting for this young new Refugee. After few years in Sudan living as a refugee, Mr. Kassa was fortunate enough to come to the US with his partner. That's where he was able to start his English language class. He also started working as a taxi driver. Mekonnen is polyglot. He speaks Amharic, Tigrigna, Arabic, English. He loves learning new languages he tried to learn Afan Oromo too, he probably need some course - feel free to give him tips 😀. While he was attending his language class he was able to learn about his deep interest about education, therefore, he went to University of Washington to study Mechanical Engineering. While he was attending school he also works as a cab driver. The conversation he had with one of his frequent customers was the one that changed his life. His customer was kind enough to tell him what his job. Mr. Kassa used this opportunity to pitch what skills & trainings. His customer supported Mekonnen by guiding him to prepare his resume and get him an interview at Accenture (then Anderson Consulting). That how Mekonnen's Tech Journey was launched. You can call it fate, opportunity or luck: but Mekonnen was able to capitalize on what he was given. After he joined Accenture, his career took off and still going strong. He is currently a Senior Director of Cyber Security Engineering at Microsoft. Mekonnen told us that he struggled to move up the ladder at Microsoft. But he wasn't able to understand why. He was doing everything right and was a successful tech leader but that wasn't enough to get him promotion. But one day he insisted to get the right reasons so that he can improve & move up the management ladder. That where everything changed: he was able to change course and made changes on his communication, leadership & interpersonal skills. That changed his career. He is now a leader, a mentor, a coach. It was an honour to have a chance to chat with you. I can’t wait to listen to our conversation again. It was very rich with your personal story and tech Journey. Thank you 🙏🏾 so much for sharing us your journey. Please listen to our conversation and share it with your network. Follow | Share | Comment | Like Website | Clubhouse | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter