Samuel Tillman shares his journey from a troubled youth to becoming a successful SRE (Site Reliability Engineer) with the NBA. He discusses his early life, military experience, and how he got interested in technology. Samuel talks about his transition to civilian life and the challenges he faced in finding IT jobs. He also highlights the importance of diversity in the workplace and how the NBA embraces it. Finally, he shares his transition to DevOps and SRE roles and emphasizes the value of self-study and continuous learning in the tech industry. In this part of the conversation, the speakers discuss the rise of AI in the news and the importance of staying updated on new technologies. They also talk about the base requirements and certifications for becoming a Site Reliability Engineer (SRE). The conversation then moves on to learning the cloud and infrastructure as code, with a focus on using Terraform for infrastructure deployment. The speakers also discuss working with managed Kubernetes clusters and the importance of mentoring and helping others in the IT industry. The conversation covers various topics related to learning and working in the IT industry, with a focus on opportunities for growth and development.

Takeaways:

• AI is a rapidly evolving field that is constantly in the news, and it is important for IT professionals to stay updated on new technologies.
• To become an SRE, it is important to have a strong foundation in networking and to obtain relevant certifications such as CompTIA's A+, Network+, and Security+.
• Learning the cloud and infrastructure as code is essential for SREs, and tools like Terraform can be used to deploy and manage infrastructure.
• Choosing a cloud provider and becoming familiar with their platform is crucial for SREs, and it is recommended to start with the cloud provider that aligns with your existing skills and experience.
• Managed Kubernetes clusters are becoming more common, and it is important for SREs to understand how to work with them.
• Mentoring and helping others in the IT industry is a valuable way to give back and contribute to the community. Cura Labs in New York offers a free bootcamp for learning DevOps.
• Some individuals can go from zero to hero in just six months with the right training and resources.
• New York provides great opportunities for IT professionals, with high-paying jobs and access to industry leaders.
• Keeping cloud services running is a crucial role in the IT industry, ensuring that applications are always available.