From Hire to Inspire: Decoding Philly’s Tech Talent Scene

As Chief Executive Officer at Coded by Kids, Danae Mobley plays a pivotal role in the execution of the organization’s vision and strategic objectives. Since 2018, Ms. Mobley has been instrumental in orchestrating the deployment of crucial programming, marketing strategies, and organizational events that have built CBK’s reputation. Her leadership extends beyond her primary role, serving as the Executive Director for 1Philadelphia, a comprehensive city-wide initiative designed to establish Philadelphia as a national model for equitable technology and innovation.

With previous experience in consulting, education, and urban planning, Danae has brought a wealth of knowledge to her roles. This experience has honed her ability to manage complex projects and foster community engagement, skills that she now leverages to propel Coded by Kids towards its mission. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from Wake Forest University and a Master’s in City and Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania, where she also shared her expertise as an instructor.

Senzwa Ntshepe’s work lies at the nexus of social impact and innovation; generating creative solutions to create opportunities for professionals of color. He currently serves as the CEO of “The Connect” the Philadelphia-based ecosystem builder for professionals of color. The purpose of The Connect is to attract retain and develop young black and brown talent in Philadelphia by connecting professionals to the best the city has to offer while improving the quality of the social and professional ecosystem of Philadelphia. Senzwa has expanded The Connect to an audience that serves 20K+ professionals between the ages of 22-45 providing networking and employment opportunities, upskilling and development using AI innovative solutions, and research and policy recommendations to make Philadelphia a more attractive city for employers and talent of color. 
 

John Pennett is a member of the Mid-Atlantic Bio Angels, an angel investor group focused exclusively on new and emerging life science companies. He is also the Partner-in-Charge of the National Technology and Life Sciences Group at Eisner Advisory Group LLC. He has 35 years of public accounting experience, with a strong emphasis on public and private life science and technology companies. John is a frequent writer and speaker on industry topics. He is the publisher of Catalyst, a newsletter focused on delivering informative content on both business and technical issues affecting entrepreneurs in the technology and life sciences Space. Additionally, John supports entrepreneurial organizations around the country with content, resources and program development, and serves as a mentor to several early-stage companies. John has led the accounting, auditing and strategic advisory work for more than a 50 IPOs, private financing and mergers and acquisitions with an aggregate valuation in excess of $3 billion. In addition, he has served as the interim lead of the firm’s Risk Advisory Practice, leading internal audit, contract compliance and Sarbanes-Oxley implementation and testing. He is deeply involved in the firm’s Outsourced Accounting Services practice and the International Services Group. John previously worked as an Audit Partner for an international accounting and consulting firm.
 

Christopher Wink is a journalist and entrepreneur who is cofounder and CEO of Technical.ly, the news organization with a community of technologists and entrepreneurs. He specializes in local economic development, including entrepreneurship and tech workforce trends, journalism strategy and building trust online. He is lead organizer of Philly Tech Week, cofounder of Baltimore Innovation Week and is behind other events that bring together smart people. In 2022, Wink was named one of Pennsylvania’s most influential impact leaders, and in 2017 Folio magazine listed him as one of the 100 most innovative media leaders in the country.