Black Voices at Amplitude: Mike Jackson

In celebration of Black History Month, we're proud to continue our series spotlighting Black voices within our employee resource group (ERG), Black Leaders at Amplitude Creating Change (BLACC). This initiative was inspired by Amplitude's commitment to uplifting and celebrating the experiences of our Black employees and the broader tech community.

In this installment, we delve into the insights and experiences of Mike Jackson, a senior engagement manager at Amplitude. Mike shares his journey into the technology industry, his impactful role at Amplitude, and his perspectives on diversity and inclusion in the tech sector.

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. I currently live in Los Angeles, California.

What’s your work background?

I started my career in technology about 13 years ago in consulting and servicing health and public sector clients. I primarily operated in business analyst and project management roles earlier in my career. About five years into my career, I became interested in understanding the design process of creating digital experiences. This led me to pivot my career to user experience (UX) design.

I became a UX architect for the next four-and-a-half years at a consulting firm based in Chicago, developing end-to-end modern apps and digital experiences. While a UX architect, I interfaced with product and design teams, which sparked my interest in a career at a product company.

Since joining our professional services organization, it’s been an exciting two-and-a-half years at Amplitude. It’s bridged much of my former consulting experiences by helping drive value from our excellent Digital Analytics Platform with customers.

What’s your role at Amplitude?

I am a senior engagement manager within the professional services organization. We’re helping customers accelerate time to value with Amplitude and drive product adoption.

What does it mean to you to be Black in the tech space?

It means that you are unique and, in most cases, will challenge norms. There may only be a few other people who look like you on your team or even in your organization. This dynamic provides an opportunity to offer new perspectives.

It can feel daunting, but it’s important to remember that Black people deserve to be in these rooms, conversations, and spaces. Indeed, we are required; innovation is driven by diversity.

What do you think the tech industry can do to be more inclusive?

For Black professionals and other traditionally marginalized groups in tech, the industry has to become more intentional in being receptive to different perspectives and thought leadership. It’s not enough to feel the job is “done” by having KPIs met with “diverse team members” hired or recruited.

This doesn’t happen by accident or simply over time. Mentorship and actively building trusting relationships with us is an important step. This may require external consultation and partnerships for some organizations to execute successfully.

Eventually, these steps begin to transform an organization into a place where new, diverse talent will be retained and reach optimal productivity because equitable measures and an inclusive culture have become ingrained in its DNA.

What advice would you give to people aspiring for success in your field?

Qualities such as empathy and critical thinking go a long way in professional services. Professional services are driven by human interaction, and understanding people and what makes them successful is key.