The Power to Pivot: A Black Heritage Month Interview Series -- Cristina Mancini

The Power to Pivot series continues with Cristina Mancini . When I met Cristina, she was the Chief Marketing Officer at Salesforce--yes, SALESFORCE. Her team had named me to one of the highly coveted SALESFORCE TRAILBLAZERS honors and we were speaking on a Dreamforce panel together. She was this powerhouse Black woman executive wearing her hair in braids spitting so much knowledge and brilliance that I had to process her words before I could formulate my own. Almost a decade later, she's still an inspiration, but she's also a close friend.

Her career is a testament to the power of curiosity and bold choices. Today, Cristina Mancini is Chief Executive Officer at Black Girls Code. From pushing boundaries at Twentieth Century Fox to leading the charge for representation in an industry where only 2% of tech jobs are held by Black women, her story shows that embracing the unknown can lead to extraordinary impact. Her journey proves that innovation thrives when we refuse to “stay in our lane.”

When I look at Cristina's work and her pivots, she embodies a belief I hold close-- ROLES CHANGE; MISSIONS DON'T. Here’s how she navigated her unconventional career path, faced challenges head-on, and found purpose in empowering the next generation of tech leaders:?

What inspired your career pivot, and what challenges did you face when making the change?

Which pivot are we talking about? I’ve lost count! If there’s one thing that defines my career, it’s that I’ve never followed a linear path; I’ve always built my own.

The secret to my success is that my journey has been shaped by curiosity and determination. At Twentieth Century Fox, where I spent nearly 15 years, I was known for pushing boundaries. Never a fan of playbooks, I focused on innovating new ways to connect with fandoms and blending media, technology, and audience experience long before it was mainstream.

Then came the pivot that changed everything. Once I had the opportunity to see what was behind the velvet rope of technology after building solutions alongside technology partners like HP and Microsoft to develop tools to drive deeper engagement with our film franchises, there was no going back. I was hooked; I wanted to focus all my time on this space. You have to remember this was almost a decade ago.

When I raised my hand to transition from launching and leading franchise development in film to the technology team at Fox, people thought I was making a mistake. “Tech is for IT, not creatives,” they said. But they were wrong. Technology is for all of us. Back then, it was a strategic choice to follow my curiosity. Now, we know it’s necessary for anyone wanting to stay relevant in any industry.

At Salesforce, I carried my storytelling expertise into tech but couldn’t ignore the glaring absence of Black and Brown women's success stories in the industry. You see, when you work at a company like Salesforce, you are not just looking across one industry; you have a bird's-eye view across all industries. Where were we? Why were not more of us in rooms, not just where technology is developed but also where it is funded, legislated, and yes, even marketed? Who was coding our future?

This brings me to this last pivot. I left my corporate career to lead Black Girls Code. This was my scariest pivot. But how could I say no?? My storyteller’s mindset led me to a pivotal question: What if we changed the narrative of Black women in tech? Could we launch future leaders and reshape the face of technology itself??

That question drives me every day. Tech is shaping our world, whether we’re included or not. And I’m determined to ensure that we are.

How did you prepare for your pivot, and what resources or tools were most helpful along the way? (network, learning new skills & technology)?

What set me up for success in my career pivot was a combination of community, curiosity, and finally, the courage to advocate for myself, even when it felt uncomfortable.

As an introvert, self-advocacy does not always come naturally. But I learned that to keep growing, I had to speak up. As a visionary executive, I saw things others didn't, but what good does that do you if nobody knows? Use your voice and stay curious. Every career shift I’ve made started with a question: What if? What’s possible? How can I contribute in new ways? That mindset expanded my opportunities and helped me build relationships with sponsors, mentors, and peers who believed in my vision and supported my growth.

I am a lifelong learner, always seeking new knowledge through self-study on platforms like Udemy, Code Along, and LinkedIn Learning, as well as through hands-on experience. I also love diving into books that spark my curiosity. Fun fact: I always have at least three books in rotation on my nightstand. I’m old school; I still love holding a book, marking it up, and immersing myself in the pages. Learning is my constant, and curiosity keeps me moving forward.

But the most valuable resources were the conversations, collaborations, and bold moments when I put myself in new and uncomfortable spaces, learning from those who challenged me to think bigger.

Was there a moment when you questioned your decision, and how did you overcome any doubts?

Absolutely. Every time you pivot, it feels like a game of Chutes and Ladders. You find yourself back at the beginning, rebuilding from the ground up. But the more you do it, the easier it becomes to find your way back to the top. Leaving Twentieth Century Fox and the community I had built to move into tech was tough. I had to learn a new industry, navigate a new city, and build a new network from scratch. It is lonely and challenging, but one day, you notice you have a lunch date not tied to an agenda, your team realizes you have come in peace, and all the buzzword bingo starts making sense. The same was true when I transitioned to Black Girls Code. It was another leap into the unknown.

I'm not going to sugarcoat it, it’s hard. Some days, especially in this role, deep soul-searching is required. This is the most challenging and humbling job I have ever had.

But is it worth it? Absolutely. One of our girls, Ife Joseph, was recently featured on Good Morning America’s Black History Month segment, where she shared how she’s combining her passions for mental health advocacy, journaling, poetry, and technology. She’s been part of the Black Girls Code community since she was nine years old, during which time she developed her first app to help Black youth process their emotions and access mental health resources.?

This is why I do what I do. Every day, you wake up and go to work. What if you could find a way to use that time to be successful and use that platform that you have to drive much-needed change?

At Black Girls Code, every day, I get to directly impact the lives of young learners who share the same curiosity about technology that once drove my own career shifts. I’m not just teaching them skills. I am helping them see themselves in spaces where they belong, inspiring their passion for tech, and equipping them with the tools to launch fulfilling careers.

And that makes every challenge along the way worth it.

What advice would you give to someone considering a similar pivot in their career?

I like to ask: “What could you achieve if you decided NOT to stay in your lane?”

Having the confidence to try something new doesn’t come naturally to most people, but it’s a skill that great leaders cultivate. Don’t be afraid to be a beginner. Let curiosity guide you, and be willing to step outside your comfort zone.?

As I often remind the girls in our programs: boxes exist to limit us. Ignore them. They only exist in your imagination.

Innovation doesn’t come from playing it safe or letting others define your path. It happens when you follow your passions, show up unapologetically, and take up space. When you realize ~ you are the architect of your own destiny, no one can get in your way.

Is there anything else that you’d like to share about your pivot??

At the end of the day, curiosity opens doors, but courage walks through them. That’s what prepared me for every pivot I’ve made, including this one. The hard work doesn’t end once you make the pivot – it’s just the beginning, so buckle up and enjoy the journey.????

She's a creative, a visionary, a corporate executive and she knows that only 2% of tech jobs are held by Black women, and like many of us, Cristina Mancini knows that's unacceptable. But SHE is doing something about it! What she proves everyday is that we ALL have The Power To Pivot. To learn more about Black Girls Code, visit www.weareBGC.org.