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From Fashion to Function: How Tech & Fashion/Beauty are more similar than you may think.

They say that nothing is ever wasted. This will explain why on my LinkedIn profile I am a self proclaimed Beauty & Fashion enthusiast. For nearly 20yrs, I worked for L’Oreal in their Professional Brands Division in various positions: education, product development, and creative direction. To be honest, I've always kept my eye close on the tech world, and would find a way to implement new tech in my positions (from digital mood boards to social media engagement). This past year at Baird Tech and working with tech startups, it's really opened my eyes to so many parallels in both industries. With NYFW is going on now in real time, here is how tech & fashion actually share several similarities.

INNOVATION & IMPROVEMENT: Betterment isn’t just in performance, it’s creating something that the consumer didn’t know what they themselves needed or desired. Whether you are targeting organizations or individuals, initial innovation needs to happen, then consistent improvement is post development.
DATA DRIVEN DECISIONS: As we know, development & production is expensive, so the insight of data & analytics is a critical part of RDI, then into marketing & distribution strategies.
CUSTOMER-CENTRIC: Both industries focus on creating a personalized and convenient customer experience through the use of technology i.e. social media, e-commerce, and the convenience of mobile apps.
SUSTAINABILITY: Let’s talk packaging - there’s plastics, metals, reactionary chemicals… all play a part in both industries. Both spaces are working hard to develop minimal or recyclable waste without not only compromising, but yet improving performance in product.
BRANDING & AESTHETICS: Apple is the epitome of branding and aesthetics when comes to tech. Think about most acquisitions - the branding & vision is so clear, whether it’s Beats headphones or a haircare/Make Up brand. Broad or niche, taste & image always matter. Even if you think it isn’t in tech (ask a UI engineer, its critically important), it’s the first point of the user experience. Fashion there are different tastes & likes… music too. It’s all connected.
MARKETING & GLOBAL REACH: Let’s be honest, both industries always have a goal of a global presence. Thankfully with a lot of hard work, smart innovation, pleasing aesthetics, and high performance, products and services can be sold and distributed worldwide.

Although fashion & beauty tends to lean towards being extraverted whereas tech leans introverted, they both pay great attention to detail. I look forward to continuing this new journey in tech and bring a fresh perspective over into the space!

(Some fun behind the scenes from various Fashion Week seasons in NYC)

BairdTech

Feb 9, 20232 min read

Stay Ahead: 5 Ways to Thrive During a Layoff Crisis

The job market can be a difficult place, especially during times of economic uncertainty and layoffs. When a company is facing budget cuts, it can be easy for employees to feel uncertain about their future and worry about losing their job. However, it's important to remember that there are still many things to be positive about, even in the midst of difficult circumstances. Here are five ways to stay positive and get through tough times in the job market.

Focus on what you can control: One of the biggest sources of stress during a period of layoffs is the uncertainty of not knowing what the future holds. While you can't control whether your company will go through a round of layoffs, you can control your own reactions and attitudes. Focus on the things that you can control, such as maintaining a positive outlook, developing new skills, and building relationships with coworkers and industry professionals.
Network and make connections: Networking can be a valuable tool during a period of layoffs. Not only can it help you stay connected to others in your industry, but it can also lead to new job opportunities. Attend industry events, join professional organizations, and reach out to former colleagues and contacts to stay connected and informed.
Invest in yourself: Layoffs can be an opportunity to invest in yourself and your career. Use this time to upskill and improve your marketability by taking courses, attending workshops, and learning new technologies. By investing in yourself, you'll be better prepared for the next opportunity that comes your way.
Practice gratitude: It can be easy to become overwhelmed by negative thoughts during a period of layoffs. To combat this, practice gratitude and focus on the positive aspects of your life. Write down three things you're thankful for each day, and reflect on the experiences and relationships that bring you joy.
Stay active and engage in self-care: Physical activity and self-care are essential for maintaining a positive outlook and managing stress. Exercise regularly, eat well, and engage in activities that bring you joy and relaxation, such as reading, meditating, or spending time with loved ones.

Layoffs can be a challenging time, but there are still many things to be positive about. By focusing on what you can control, networking, investing in yourself, practicing gratitude, and staying active and engaged in self-care, you can stay positive and get through tough times in the job market.

BairdTech

Feb 7, 20233 min read

From Rhymes to Resumes: How a Hip Hop Career Shaped a Successful Headhunter

David "Stock" Baird, founder of BairdTech, is not your average headhunter. With 20 years of experience as a hip hop artist, he brings a unique perspective and set of skills to the table. His music has been heard in films such as "White Chicks" starring the Wayans Brothers, November Rule produced by Queen Latifah, and TV Shows such as "House of Lies" Starring Don Cheadle. He has released music under the moniker Stockmashin and David "Stock" Baird and has a catalog of 50+ fully mastered songs he has yet to release. But how did his musical career lead him to a successful headhunting firm?

Writing a song and being a headhunter may seem unrelated, but they both require creativity, attention to detail, and the ability to connect with people. In the same way that a musician must understand their audience and craft lyrics that resonate with them, a headhunter must understand their client's needs and culture in order to find the perfect candidate.

Baird's experience as a hip hop artist taught him the value of building relationships, loyalty and connecting with people, skills that he now brings to his headhunting business. He uses his network and industry knowledge to find top talent for his clients, resulting in a high success rate and a personalized approach to talent search. While he pursued his music career Baird worked and lived between London, UK and Detroit, his hometown. He would perform to a crowd of 30,000 one day and the next day you would find him in the office working within sales, Stockbroker in London, or maybe a Headhunter. His experience within music and business gave him the perfect edge over other firms when he started BairdTech in 2017.

But why would a company choose to work with BairdTech over other headhunting firms? The answer lies in the statistics. Research shows that many musicians, who have become successful tech entrepreneurs, bring a unique combination of creativity and technical expertise to the table. Musicians are in essence their own mini-startup. The search to find people that believe in their talent and story is no different than a headhunter looking for an engineer that will believe in their client's vision and story. By working with a headhunter who understands both the music industry and the tech industry, companies can tap into this valuable talent pool, network, and custom search expertise. Someone like Baird has had decades of experience finding needles in a haystack and has developed unique sourcing methods in order to land on someone's radar.

How can a company trust that Baird would know technology if he was a musician? Baird started by tapping into his passion for music and opened up a music tech Startup in 2012, called Selocial. He researched who his competitors were, what languages their platforms were written in and then sought out engineers that could write in the stack. After forming a rockstar team, that believed in his vision, they had coded over 100,000 lines of code and built a unique platform that was noted by the press as Instagram meets Spotify app for musicians and fans.

Baird worked tirelessly with the developers and stayed up almost every night until 5AM until he was able to set up his own local environment and code in the changes he wanted to. He learned how to work with AWS, Github, NodeJS, CSS, HTML, MongoDB, Javascript, Angular and QA and resolved any Github conflicts if needed. Selocial went on to receive a Detroit Fintech Award in 2018 and earlier in 2014, their innovation landed him and his team on Richard Branson's Private Island called Necker Island for the first Extreme Tech Challenge, originally started by Susi Mai and Bill Tai.

Baird developed a connection with Sir Richard Branson and has since been invited into a couple Virgin Group companies where he was a part of brainstorming sessions with upper management. Out of Selocial, BairdTech was born, and Baird has been consulting with well-funded startups on their direct hiring ever since. He and his team have worked with thousands of candidates and filled numerous roles within technology and software development including CTO, VP of Software Development to Junior Full-Stack Engineers. He and his team also built their own Applicant Tracking System called Bairdhunt.com to help streamline the headhunting process and keep track of their own candidates.

In conclusion, a company looking to fill technology positions would benefit greatly from working with BairdTech. With Baird's background as a hip hop artist and successful headhunter, his company offers a combination of creativity, expertise, and personalized attention that sets it apart from the competition. So if you're looking to build a strong tech team, let BairdTech help you find the right rhythm.

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