Black History Month Spotlight: Mindy Parker

What personal passions bring you to Delphix?

I chose a career in eLearning because of my passion for teaching. I enjoy deconstructing complicated concepts into smaller digestible ideas to help people understand and retain what they learn. Adult simply learn differently from children. And having worked for both very large corporations as well as small startups, I realized I liked the smaller, family-like atmosphere of a startup. Startups tend to be a lot more innovative, creative, and simply easier to navigate. I love how Delphix can maneuver quickly and change direction to meet the changing global environment. That’s something you simply can’t do in a large corporation.

What does Black History Month mean to you?

It’s a chance to see what is not normally shown. A chance to recognize the unrecognizable and a chance to say I’m not apologizing for how I was born.

Who inspires you?

My mother. She has taught me determination, fearlessness, and grit. My mother was born in rural South Carolina, and her parents were farmers. She excelled academically in high school and received a partial scholarship to attend Stillman College. During the summers, she would travel to New York City to visit her sisters and work at Saks Fifth Avenue, where she got her stellar sense of fashion. She went on to get her master’s degree from Atlanta University and worked for the IRS until she retired after 30 years of service.

Throughout her life, my mother has taught me the importance of fighting for representation and equality in society. She too participated in the civil rights protests, where she was sprayed with fire hoses and attacked. Today, she is a successful businesswoman, realtor, and the most spectacular mom, grandmother, and role model.

How does being black impact the way that you approach diversity & inclusion?

Being black in this country, you are constantly reminded that you are different and often not seen in a positive light. I’ve often heard “Oh, you speak so well.” or “You paid for your own college education?” These are examples of the assumptions that are often made about African Americans. Bringing awareness to these assumptions and learning more about each other is an important part of inclusion.

What’s your favorite mantra or quote?

Never let a win get to your head or a loss to your heart. -Chuck D