Gavin Pollard Bey
Gavin Pollard Bey (he, his, him) - Business Mentor
Autodidact. Creative. Scholar.
As a business mentor at the Academy, Gavin has been an instrumental figure in the creation of the business curriculum and introducing the Junior Learners to business and Project Management concepts that will carry them through their journey of self learning and growth in the tech field. Gavin enjoys this role as it gives him the opportunity to help others learn and grow more in their chosen field.
Prior to join the Academy Gavin worked with many organizations (non-profit and for profit) in which he was in charge of organizing members of the community for events as well as a board member for a scholarship committee and numerous community organizations.
Gavin got his degree in Business/Communication at Kellogg Community College and also studied Business, Communication and Africana Studies at Western Michigan University. When not in the Academy, you can find Gavin in nature with his camera enjoying the scenery or you can catch him outside in his roller-skates.
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What would your fellow mentors say your greatest strengths are?
My fellow coworkers would probably say that my strengths are that of communication (being able to speak with a diverse group of people and making them feel comfortable and at ease).
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If you were to offer students one piece of advice as they start their journey at the Academy, what would it be?
One piece of advice I would offer Academy students is that it is okay to be yourself as new ideas come from the most unique voices. Let your voice be heard and represented.
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Have you always wanted to work in tech? What is your personal history with tech?
I have actually not wanted to work in tech but I have always wanted to work with people and help them find and reach their goals, this wish has been a presence in my journey in tech as I have seen that goal setting and achieving such is a group effort and many people do better when they have someone who can guide them in that journey.
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What was your experience with coding, tech, iOS, or entrepreneurship before the Academy?
I had plenty experience with entrepreneurship before the Academy as I am a freelance photographer and have been doing photography as a side business for over a decade.
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What made you want to be a mentor? What are you most excited about?
I wanted to be a mentor because I wanted to be able to impact lives in the community in the most positive way I know how which is teaching others how to be comfortable with themselves. Im most excited about seeing the growth of the new cohort of learners in the Academy and to see how far this journey will take them.
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Where are you from and where do you live now?
I am from Battle Creek, Michigan (the Cereal Capital of the World), I now live in Detroit (Midtown) which is and has always been my favorite city in the world!