[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"conference-blog-article-christine-izuakors-afrotech-story-started-with-dinner":3},{"id":4,"author":5,"authors":14,"title":16,"subTitle":9,"excerpt":17,"slug":18,"body":19,"categories":20,"tags":26,"featuredMedia":35,"publishedAt":43,"publishedAtGMT":44,"updatedAt":45,"updatedAtGMT":46,"type":47,"listicle":48,"disableContentGate":49,"disableListicleNumbers":49,"canonicalUrl":9,"socialThumbnail":9,"readingTime":50,"customFields":51,"additional":52,"acf":53},276214,{"id":6,"avatar":7,"firstName":8,"lastName":9,"displayName":10,"email":11,"username":10,"normalizedUsername":12,"description":9,"htmlBio":9,"twitter":9,"facebook":9,"instagram":9,"registeredAt":13},32,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.afrotech.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F06\u002FScreen-Shot-2023-02-28-at-4.54.31-PM.png","AFROTECH™","","AfroTech","AfroTech@blavity.com","afrotech","2018-09-24T13:05:40+00:00",[15],{"id":6,"avatar":7,"firstName":8,"lastName":9,"displayName":10,"email":11,"username":10,"normalizedUsername":12,"description":9,"htmlBio":9,"twitter":9,"facebook":9,"instagram":9,"registeredAt":13},"Christine Izuakor’s AFROTECH™ Story Started With A Dinner","In 2024, Christine Izuakor spoke at AFROTECH™ Conference for the first time. She also hosted a small dinner on the side.","christine-izuakors-afrotech-story-started-with-dinner","\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">In 2024, Christine Izuakor \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fafrotech.com\u002Fafrotech-conference-tanya-sam-returning\">spoke at AFROTECH™ Conference\u003C\u002Fa> for the first time. She also hosted a small dinner on the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">“I was just scratching the surface of exploring how I could create space for multifaceted professionals to connect through curated conversations,” the founder and CEO of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Frauk.ai\">Rauk AI\u003C\u002Fa> told AFROTECH™. “I hosted a small dinner at one restaurant to test the waters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 dir=\"ltr\">From One Restaurant to Dozens\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">The idea took off. In 2025, the dinners became an official AFROTECH™ Conference event partnership, with gatherings at dozens of restaurants across Houston.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">This year, Izuakor launched monthly virtual networking roundtables, and she’s returning to AFROTECH™ 2026 as an event partner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 dir=\"ltr\">A Different Kind of Business Focus\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">The work is a change of pace for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">“This is quite a shift from my prior focus which was mainly on cybersecurity business growth, margin goals, and investor ROI,” Izuakor said. “Those things are important in any business.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Now, she said, she has the freedom to put her energy into human connection and conversation, and she’s found that results come more easily when she pursues what matters to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 dir=\"ltr\">Why AFROTECH™\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">“AFROTECH™ is by far my favorite tech community,” she said. “There’s power in having a space where you can show up as your full self, without having to perform or code-switch, and feel empowered to reach your full potential.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Her advice for attendees follows the same thinking that grew one dinner into a partnership.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">“Focus less on what looks good to do and more on what is good to do,” Izuakor said. “I’ve learned that there’s a difference between proving you can do something and choosing to do something because it truly matters to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">\u003Cstrong>Buy Your Ticket Today\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Whether you’re building a company, growing your career or looking for your people, AFROTECH™ 2026 is where it happens. Join us Nov. 2-5, 2026, in Houston, TX, for the conference’s 10th year. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fafrotechconference.com\u002F?utm_source=afrotech&utm_campaign=general&utm_medium=web\">Lock in your tickets\u003C\u002Fa> today!\u003C\u002Fp>\n",[21],{"id":22,"name":23,"slug":24,"description":9,"image":25},323,"News","news",null,[27,31],{"id":28,"name":29,"slug":30,"description":9,"image":9},16112,"Afrotech 2026","afrotech-2026",{"id":32,"name":33,"slug":34,"description":9,"image":9},8304,"AfroTech Conference","afrotech-conference",{"url":36,"thumbnail":36,"credit":37,"title":38,"alt":9,"type":39,"width":40,"height":41,"mimeType":42},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.afrotech.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F10\u002Frauk-ai-afrotech.jpg","Photo Provided","rauk ai afrotech","image",320,180,"image\u002Fjpeg","2026-10-22T09:16:24-04:00","2026-10-22 13:16:24","2026-10-22T09:18:00-04:00","2026-10-22 13:18:00","default",[],false,2,{"disableConnatixPlayer":49},{"disableAd":49,"disableConnatixPlayer":49,"enabledComments":49,"headScript":25,"hidePhotoAttribution":49},{"reviewer_name":9}]