Member Spotlight by Doug McCollough, CEO
Provide us with a brief summary of your business’ services.
Color Coded Labs is a technology skills bootcamp that targets underemployed Black and brown communities to build bridges into technology industry career pathways. Through our 19 week education platform, we help creative and gritty people thrive in high demand tech jobs.
Tell us about your company’s mission and values.
Emblazoned on our wall are the words “Everybody Eats”. We are founded on the principle that we do not leave people behind or to fend for themselves. Rather, at Color Coded Labs we work together so that not one talented individual is left out of great opportunities for lack of skills. We help people get better jobs than they start with at better salaries and better growth potential.
What are the services you use the most (or are looking forward to using) from the Columbus Chamber?
The relationships and networking at the Columbus Chamber are key to our success. Our product is talent. We want to partner with other members on this most critical of resources that all of us need. The opportunity to raise awareness and spread the word about our value to the Columbus business community is our focus.
How do you stay engaged with trends that you see in your industry?
The founders of Color Coded Labs are also founders of local organizations such as BLK Hack, Black Tech 614, ColumbusBLACK and others. We have been leading affinity networks on technology trends, workforce development, economic development, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for many years. The Columbus culture of supporting each other fuels our daily conversations and provides us with active and ongoing intelligence on what is happening with the business trends of our industry. We work in tech and keep the tech community close at all times.
Please describe your company culture.
You can get a great education in any college. But at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) many people receive heightened personal attention, deep and sustainable networks, and cultural support. Color Coded Labs calls itself the HBCU of tech bootcamps and we have a culture of personal wraparound support as we work to help people from historically marginalized communities transition to whole new career pathways. Some of the same camaraderie, longstanding relationships, and sustainable support structures you find in HBCUs, you will find at Color Coded Labs.
What defines a successful employee at your company?
Our most successful employees have a deep understanding and appreciation for the anxiety and misgivings of career-changers. They have empathy, professionalism, grit, and patience. Our employees are successful when our graduates are successful. We expect laser focus on this priority.
What makes Columbus such a great place to do business?
Columbus is the middle of the country. Our culture is American culture. People say if you can make it in New York you can make it anywhere. We think if you can make it in New York, you can make it in New York. We’ve got a diverse, engaged, and vibrant community in Columbus. Doing business here means a great customer environment, talent pool, investor interest, and partner community. We are closer to more customers than most other locations, and we have the best combination of amenities and qualities to attract everything a business needs to achieve breakout growth.
Social Media
Twitter: twitter.com/ColorcodedLabs
Facebook: facebook.com/ColorCodedLabs
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/color-coded-labs
Website: colorcodedlabs.com
