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Maya the Fly Girl

@mayatrends

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Software Engineer | NYC
Empowering. Building. Connecting
Founder of @sistemcollective 💕
[email protected]

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One year ago, we decided to change how women of color connect in tech.

We saw brilliant Black and Latinx women crushing it in tech, but doing it in silos. Grinding through demanding roles in demanding cities, achieving incredible things... but often feeling isolated in spaces where they were the only ones who looked like them.

So we asked: What if connection didn’t have to be so hard?
What if instead of hoping to bump into someone like us at another networking event, we created something different? Something intentional. Something beautiful. Something ours.
That feeling became SiSTEM Collective.

Over this past year, we’ve picked apples in orchards where laughter mixed with career advice. We’ve crafted charm bracelets while crafting our next career moves. We’ve shared intimate dinners where vulnerability met ambition. We’ve sat through panels where our questions finally felt heard.

But here’s what we’ve learned:
It was never really about the apple picking or the bracelet making. It was about creating sacred, intentional space for women who understand the weight of being excellent while carrying the dreams of our families, our communities, and ourselves.

It was about saying: You belong here. Your brilliance deserves community.

In a world that tells us to compete, we chose to connect. In industries that can feel isolating, we built bridges. In cities that move too fast for real relationships, we slowed down long enough to see each other. Really see each other.

To every sister who showed up this year: Thank you for trusting the vision and proving that genuine connection isn’t just possible, it’s powerful.

To those still watching: Your seat is waiting. Your story matters. Your community is here.

One year in, and this is just the beginning. 🎉
Here’s to the connections that change careers, the conversations that shift perspectives, and the community that reminds us we were never meant to do this alone.

With love and gratitude,
The SiSTEM Collective
📸: @momentsbydamora
#SiSTEMCollective #OneYearStrong #WomenInTech #CareerDrivenConnection taken in Brooklyn, New York by @mayatrends

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a year ago

The SiSTEM universe is expanding!!!! And we’re beyond excited to unveil our new limited series—a dynamic space where curious minds with bold dreams come together to connect and create ✨

Driven by the incredible people we’ve encountered on our personal journey, each episode will feature insightful conversations with successful entrepreneurs, innovators, and trailblazers who have turned their bold ideas into thriving realities.

Join us as we sit down with friends, old and new, who’ve created some of your favorite apps and launched their own ventures. We’ll dive deep into their stories, explore the hurdles they’ve overcome, and uncover valuable insights to fuel your own path to success.

The first episode drops Monday, August 25th! Don’t miss a series that champions curiosity, ambition, and the unstoppable power of a community turning dreams into reality. @sistemcollective by @mayatrends

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2 years ago

Just a late 20s Black woman in NYC trying to balance all her passions, ambitions, and a little bit of fun. 🤭

Between kickboxing at Rumble, building community through @sistemcollective Collective, hosting Tech Tuesday, and attending @google Googlebook with @googlegemini launch, life has been FULL lately.

Being a software engineer, founder, and content creator means my world is constantly changing, but honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Because who said we have to pick just one lane? We deserve to explore every version of ourselves and make room for all the things that make us happy. 🥹🤎

The girls have RANGE, okay?!

#blackwomenintech #googlebooks #nyclifestyle #aitools #womenintech taken in New York, New York by @mayatrends

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3 days ago

When my curly sew-in wash-and-go starts looking tired, my old faithful half-up, half-down ALWAYS comes through! 15 minutes, a little curl refresh, and she’s good for a few more days. 🤭

Products + tools used:
➰ @bouncecurl — Curl Defining Brush
🤎 @cecred — Hair grease for my scalp + takedown
✨ @ilovethedoux — Push It! Braid & Edge Gel

Because who has time for a whole wash day every time they want to switch it up?! 😭

#CurlySewIn #HalfUpHalfDown #CurlyHairStyles #FlipOverSewIn #CurlyHairRoutine taken in New York, New York by @mayatrends

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4 days ago

Grace Hopper Celebration 2026 has officially been canceled, and as a Black woman in tech who was going to speak this year I have THOUGHTS👩🏾‍💻

I was supposed to speak this month alongside some of my closest friends about navigating the tech industry as Black women @gracehoppercelebration Instead, the entire conference has been canceled after registrations and corporate sponsorship commitments fell short.

With general admission priced at $1,099, before flights and accommodations, we need to have a bigger conversation about the cost of accessing career opportunities in tech.

As the founder of @sistemcollective , I know firsthand how much work and funding go into creating these spaces. But at a time when women are navigating layoffs, career uncertainty, and an industry being reshaped by AI, we need these communities more than ever.

We can’t keep telling women to get in the room while making the room harder and harder to afford.

What do you think this cancellation says about the current state of the tech industry?

#gracehopper #WomenInTech #BlackWomenInTech #layoffs #careeradvice taken in New York, New York by @mayatrends

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5 days ago

Black women gotta touch grass! 🐎🍃

We traded NYC nightlife for horseback riding in New Jersey to celebrate my girls’ birthdays, and honestly, 10/10 experience!

There’s something so special about getting outside, trying new hobbies, and making memories with your girlfriends. 🤎

Because why does the group chat always have to plan dinner and drinks?! We need more adventures like this on random Saturdays!

📍Echo Lake Stables, New Jersey @echo_stables
🐎 Horseback riding day trip from NYC

Send this to the girls you need to plan your next adventure with! 🤭

#blackgirlluxury #upstate #horsebackriding #nycdaytrip #nyclife taken in New York, New York by @mayatrends

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5 days ago

Black community in the Hudson Valley, peak fall foliage, and the most beautiful dinner party in Rhinebeck 🍂🥂

This weekend I was invited to @noirvalleyny, a community created to bring Black professionals and creatives together in the Hudson Valley through connection, community, and belonging.

A waterfront home, incredible food, cocktails flowing, and conversations that made the whole night feel so special.

I’ve always loved visiting upstate, but this made it feel a little more like somewhere we could actually put down roots. 🤎

#hudsonvalley #rhinebeck #hudsonvalleyny #hudsonvalleyeats #blackgirlluxury taken in Rhinebeck, New York by @mayatrends

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6 days ago

4 weeks into my blonde curly sew-in and it was definitely time for a refresh 💜✨

My goal was to brighten the blonde, tone down the brassiness, and bring my curls back without another salon appointment.

I started with a hydrating cleanse, followed with purple shampoo to neutralize some of the warmth, then conditioned and went into my curly sew-in styling routine with leave-in, mousse, gel, my defining brush, twists + perm rods.

The result: brighter blonde, softer curls, and a little more life out of my custom color before my next appointment 🤭

Maintaining blonde curly hair is truly a whole job, but she’s worth it.

Products used:
💜 @olaplex purple shampoo
🧴 @amika Color Vault conditioner
💦 @lorealparis EverPure 21-in-1 leave-in
➰ @ilovethedoux Block Party styling products

#BlondeSewIn #CurlySewIn #BlackGirlBlonde #CurlyHairRoutine #BlondeHairCare taken in New York, New York by @mayatrends

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9 days ago

How I built the Career Brain behind my AI career coach using @chatgpt 👩🏾‍💻🧠

I’ve been talking to ChatGPT about my career for YEARS. Performance reviews, manager check-ins, projects I’ve owned, accomplishments, metrics, interview prep… there was already so much context sitting in my past conversations.

So instead of starting from scratch, I had ChatGPT pull together the career-relevant information I’d already shared and turn it into structured data for my Career Brain.

Now my AI career coach understands way more than what fits on a resume. It has context on my actual projects, strengths, gaps, career goals, the type of work I enjoy, and the things I absolutely do not want in my next role.

And if you don’t have years of ChatGPT history? You can build the same foundation by having ChatGPT interview you like a career coach about your experience, goals, strengths, salary expectations, priorities, and dealbreakers.

Your resume is the summary. Your Career Brain is the context. 🧠✨

Save this if you’re using AI for your job search because I’m building the entire system piece by piece.

#blackwomenintech #aitools #JobSearchTips #CareerAdvice #softwareengineer taken in New York, New York by @mayatrends

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11 days ago

I built an AI career coach with ChatGPT to help me with my job search 👩🏾‍💻✨

As a software engineer actively looking for my next role, I realized I was seriously underusing AI for job hunting. I don’t just need ChatGPT to rewrite my resume. I want it to actually understand my career and help me make better decisions.

So I built a personal AI career coach that knows my experience, career goals, salary expectations, priorities and dealbreakers.

I’m using it to help me:
✨ evaluate job opportunities
✨ decide where to spend my time
✨ make LinkedIn networking easier
✨ tailor my resume without making up experience
✨ prepare for interviews
✨ eventually evaluate and negotiate job offers

And the best part is I’m building the entire thing with @chatgpt and breaking down the prompts and process so you can create your own version too.

Because job hunting is already a full-time job. I’m not doing all this manually 😭

Save this if you’re job searching right now, because we’re about to build this thing outttt.

#AIJobs #chatgpttips #CareerAdvice #SoftwareEngineer #jobsearchtips taken in New York, New York by @mayatrends

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18 days ago

You cannot get this hair straight out the box babes 🤌🏾🥰

The curly blonde spec: 4 bundles from @scahlpsstudio, 2 appointments, and some coin $$

Hair colored by:@yojanse_j
Install by: @jackies_beau

I waited weeks for these viral blonde curly bundles, only to realize the warm blonde straight out the pack was NOT for me. So we customized all four bundles into the creamy ash blonde + ash brown dimensional color of my dreams, then I took them all the way to the Bronx for a flip-over sew-in.

20” + 22” + 24” + 24” because if I’m doing curly hair, I want BIG hair. 😂

Safe to say this has become my signature blonde look and probably my favorite curly install I’ve ever had.

Now the real question: do y’all want the wash day or styling routine next? 👀

#CurlySewIn #blackgirlluxury #flipoversewin #blackgirlblonde #nychairstylist taken in Brooklyn, New York by @mayatrends

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20 days ago

The birthday Kelly hunt has officially begun 👜✨

I bought my first Hermès bag in Japan, so naturally I assumed I’d have to go back to find my Kelly… but what if she’s been waiting for me in NYC this whole time? 👀

First stop: @whatgoesaroundnyc for some vintage Kelly research. I’m trying different sizes, colors and silhouettes before I commit because if I’m buying the birthday bag, I need to KNOW she’s the one.

Right now I’m torn between a vintage Kelly 28, a Kelly JPG 42, or going a little more classic. And yes, I’m taking this decision extremely seriously 😭

Which one would you choose?

#HermesKelly #VintageHermes #Kelly28 #vintageshopping #designerbags taken in New York, New York by @mayatrends

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23 days ago