In conversation with Charlotta Carter: a Black tech entrepreneur
By: Krista Henry (she/her)
Celebrating Black History Month
With more than 25 years of experience in the software development industry, Charlotta Carter (she/her) knows what it takes to succeed as a Black woman in technology. The experienced professional is CEO of GRI Technology Solutions and managing partner of PWC Technology Services.
Charlotta Carter
CEO of GRI Technology Solutions
Founder of LLENA(AI)™ Health Solutions
When Carter was diagnosed with type II diabetes, she founded LLENA(AI)™ Health Solutions in partnership with the medical community. LLENA(AI)™ Health Solutions develops AI/GI diabetes solutions from the patient’s point of view.
Outside of healthcare, Carter is focused on finance, cybersecurity and improving technology for global communities.
Carter is a panelist at Co-operative and Experiential Education’s (CEE) upcoming Building career paths for Black talent panel discussion.
Read on to learn more about her career path and perspective on Black excellence.
Tell us a bit about your career path and current role.
I’m the CEO/founder of LLENA(AI)™ Health Solutions, Inc. I started my career with IBM as an intern. I then worked in several senior technical roles for companies such as IBM, Microsoft, Sun Microsystems and SGI. I moved from deep technical to more customer-facing roles and started my own business in 2011.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received, career-related or otherwise?
The best advice I probably received was from my grandmother. She said, “no one has a patent on brains, and you are just as equal and deserving as the next person.”
Why do you think it is important to celebrate Black History Month?
We should celebrate Black history all the time — not just one month. I’m Black 24/7, not just one month out of the year. The work, the history, the contribution and the advances we have in life today have deep roots within Black culture.
What figure in Black history do you look up to most and why?
My dad, Vernon J. Jordan. He was one of the Baton Rouge students who had a sit-in for U.S. civil rights at Southern University. The original goal was to desegregate the lunch counters in Baton Rouge, Louisiana but then the goal shifted to reverse the expulsion of 16 Southern University students. The sit-in sparked a Supreme Court decision that allowed them to protest and to be served in any public establishment.
What are some of the barriers facing the career advancement of Black talent?
Lies, misinformation, fear and hate from people in power.
Want to hear more from Charlotta Carter?
Register today for our FREE virtual panel discussion titled Building career paths for Black talent.