Dr. Sue Black, Tech Expert and Self-Described “Cheeky Geek”   

Where do I start with Dr. Sue Black, acknowledged as one of Britain’s leading tech geeks? She’s a “mum” of four (having brought up her three older children on her own while earning all of her education degrees), a social entrepreneur, author, tech evangelist, campaigner, thought leader, and a Twitter addict. Oh, and she has a PhD in software engineering, and has been invited to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen!

Sue and I met in San Francisco in 2013 when we were both invited to participate in British Airway’s UnGrounded Initiative – a hackathon at 30,000 feet, taking place from San Francisco to London.  Sue had flown in from England to participate, and I from New York — and well, we bonded in the bar over margaritas (along with William Hurley, aka whurley, founder of Honest Dollar and Cassidy Williams, software engineer and developer evangelist at Venmo).

Sue is recognized for her online and offline activism and campaigning, mainly around women in tech (she set up the British Computer Society’s network for women: BCSWomen), STEM and Saving Bletchley Park. She recently launched TechMums, a social enterprise startup which is all about getting people excited about technology.

What Sue loves tells you all — and so much more — about why I am in awe of my “cheeky geek” friend. In her own words: “I love making positive change in people’s lives, seeing that “lightbulb moment” in someone’s eyes and the smile on their face when they realize that they can do something they thought they couldn’t; walking in the English countryside with my family; the fact that I’m about to be come a grandmother for the first time; the fact that technology is here as a tool which we can use to improve our world, to connect millions, to empower them, and to bring people out of poverty.”

Define “entrepreneur.”
Someone with a burning passion to make something really awesome happen.

Who are your heroes?
All the people that have fought for me to have the rights as a women that I enjoy today, and everyone who fights inequality and tries to make it a more equal and just world.

What is your current challenge?
Getting the world tech-savvy, starting with moms. Moms rock, and they are key to getting everyone to understand the benefits of technology.

Your greatest achievement?
My four children!

What is your motto?
Don’t sit around worrying — just get on with it! (I don’t take my own advice enough, though!)

Why are you an entrepreneur?
Because it’s the best way to change the world, in the way that you want to.

What problem are you solving?
Disempowerment of women and us all, due to lack of tech knowledge and understanding, and not enough women being in tech.

What problem would you like solved?
Global poverty and inequality.

Biggest regret?
“Je ne regrette rien,” as the saying goes.

What mobile device do you presently use?
iPhone 5.

Essential app(s)?
So many! Twitter, WhatsApp, Traintimes, Linkedin, Shazam [music and TV app], Vine, Slack [team-communication app], Evernote, Wave, Citymapper, Swarm [friendship/hangout app], Skype, Gmail, and Facebook.

Which talent would you like to have?
I’d love to be able to fly.

Best pat on the back you’ve ever received?
I get embarrassed by pats on the back (interviewer’s note: many of Sue’s pats on the back are in her Wikipedia profile!).

Advice you wish you’d had (or had followed)?
“Trust your instincts.”

Your pitch in 140 characters?
You can trust me, I’m a doctor (of software engineering).

Your bio in 6 words?
“Cheeky Geek inspiring change thru tech.”

Are you on Twitter?
I’m @DR_Black

The Twitter follower you can’t live without?
@drlucyrogers

 What’s your hashtag?
#redselfie

The J.O.B. you’d actually like?
Ruler of the Universe!

Inc. or Rolling Stone or…..? Which magazine cover?
New Scientist?

What are you reading?
The Art of Asking, by Amanda Palmer

What conference would you like to keynote?
One that gives me the opportunity to change the way global leaders understand what’s important. Educating and empowering women is the way to make the world a better place for us all.  Begin there, and everything else will start falling into place.

What’s your guilty pleasure?
Knitting socks and eating chocolate. (Shhhhh!)

The memories of a chef are tastes and smells; what would you say are the memories of an entrepreneur?
The ecstatic/traumatic memory of the highs and lows.

What makes you LOL?
My boyfriend Paul, from the time I wake up until I fall asleep at night. 

Who or what inspires you?
Nature — every day I just have to look up at the sky through the trees, or look at a flower growing, and I feel inspired. Also seeing women really making stuff happen — I LOVE that!

What’s the most important startup / entrepreneurship lesson you’ve learned?
Don’t EVER give up.

What would be the title of your biography?
If I Can Do It, So Can You.

Favorite gadget?
Dishwasher, washing machine, and tumble dryer.

Your Ferris Bueller moment: If you could goof-off/skip out for a day, what would you do?
Spend the day walking along a beautiful beach or hillside with friends and family, then finish the day watching a fabulous sunset drinking a bottle of wine and laughing.

One place in time you’d like to visit?
I’d like to meet my mum and hang out; she died when I was twelve, and I don’t remember her very well.

Part of the trick to staying focused?
Coffee and chocolate!

You take a three-hour ocean tour and get stranded …what three items do you have with you?
Knitting, iPhone, and chewing gum.

Where can readers of “In Conversation With” connect with you online?
Twitter — tweet me and say hi.  I look forward to hearing from you!

One last thing (what’s the question I should be asking you)?
“What should you be doing right now?” Answer: so many things….ahhhhh.