We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amethyst Farrar a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Amethyst, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Amethyst The Gem is a community for people interested in learning more about Tech and how they can get started in the industry. We share tips, resources, and advice to help new techies navigate their careers. We host network events and attend technical conferences throughout the year to bring the community together for a fun and meaningful time. Our mission is to increase representation and ensure technical careers are easily accessible. Though we have been heavily focused on providing resources for Software Developers, we most recently began consulting in other software areas, such as Technical Program Management, Project Management, and Product Management.

Amethyst, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

AmethystTheGem.com was a dream of mine from ten years ago. Then, I wanted to create a technology school for young adults from backgrounds that might not have granted them the same opportunities as others. And now, ten years later, I’m doing the work and helping my peers achieve their dreams and gain financial freedom. I created a community with purpose, a community of love. In the early years of my career, I faced many challenges. Some of those are highlighted in the Voyage Houston Magazine article I did a couple of years ago. These challenges helped me grow and become the best version of myself. That growth has allowed me to gain knowledge and expertise in the technology industry. Now it’s time I share it with you all. Become a Gem and join the Amethyst The Gem community, where we learn, network, and grow.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Credibility. Being credible is a critical factor in a thriving business as a business owner. At the start of my consulting and coaching career, I wanted to ensure that I was giving out the most accurate and updated information. I share through experience, knowledge, and things I’ve learned from mentors over the years. My reputation is built on trust, successful execution, and being an effective leader.

Any advice for managing a team?

My advice for managing a team is to define your leadership strategy. Deeply understand yourself to understand the way you lead and why. I’m a high-performing self-directed leader that leads self-managing, self-inspired teams. What’s your leadership style? Once you narrow down your style, determine what you want from your teams. Clarify what you want, and ensure that you have a diverse group of people with diverse perspectives to deliver on the goal. Leaders should refer to the DISC Personality Test when building a team.

Contact Info:

• Website: AmethystTheGem.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/amethyst_thegem
• Facebook: facebook.com/amethyst_thegem-104703564295107/
• Twitter: twitter.com/Amethyst_TheGem
• Youtube: youtube.com/channel/UCJFF8hr9mcD2nlGdm-gvKbg?view_as=subscriber
• Other: TikTok: Amethystthegem