Marcus Webb, Syracuse University ’19 and G’22, on Building Skills for a Successful Career in Tech

Before being interviewed for this story, Marcus Webb G’22 was in a three-hour long meeting about the Syracuse Surge Learning Community Program that Webb is putting together in his role as Economic Inclusion Fellow at CenterState CEO.  Webb is educating community members about opportunities in the tech workforce in Central Upstate New York through programs such as this and Generation Next, an initiative around equity, inclusion and racial justice. His goal is to develop collaborative ways to integrate the next generation’s ideas and talents into solving these challenges.

Webb graduated from Syracuse University in 2019 with a degree in economics and is now a graduate student at the Whitman School of Management, getting his Master of Business Administration.  After working for On Point for College, mentoring students and helping them connect for opportunities, he joined CenterState CEO which is focused on diverse talent development strategies. Webb is supporting that effort by shaping research projects and creating programming to support community engagement and economic development by underrepresented and diverse groups and individuals.  

Webb’s personal goal is to help young people from diverse backgrounds launch a career in the tech industry and succeed, working under the Tech and Culture initiative of CenterState CEO, which is sponsored by JP Morgan Chase.  He wants area college students at Syracuse University, SUNY ESF, LeMoyne, Onondaga Community College, SUNY Oswego and other regional campuses to connect to these resources to help them succeed in finding a rewarding job the tech industry. These opportunities include the Tech and Culture speaker series that Webb manages, which spotlights leaders in the tech industry while promoting diversity and inclusion in tech. The program helps students build a mental bridge between their college life and their future career.  Webb says it is meaningful for students to listen to someone who is successful in the tech industry, who also looks like them. 

Read the full article on Syracuse University's website, here.