PHLASK Software Developer Seif Sekalala, PMP
An Interview with PHLASK Software Developer Seif Sekalala, PhD, PMP
By Robb Scott
RS: Can you tell me about PHLASK, an organization you are involved with, which is based in Philadelphia?SS: Thanks for taking the time to interview me, Robb. That work is actually ongoing; I am a software developer with PHLASK. And the best way for the public to learn about that organization (PHLASK), is to access our website and social media pages.
In a nutshell, the web-app is called “PHLASK”—a play on the word “flask,” as well as “PHL”—the initials for Philadelphia. With it, members of the public in Philly—and eventually, other cities in the USA and worldwide—can look for the nearest source of clean and FREE drinking water; food—including food-banks, foraging, etc.; and bathrooms. These things are necessities, and we shouldn’t hoard them, or make them hard to find for the general public.
Initially, the focus was only on water, as we wanted to drastically reduce the use of plastic water bottles. Despite recycling and other positive efforts, plastic bottles are still a horrible menace to the world’s environment and ecology. Eventually, we expanded the initiative to include all the above, i.e., food and bathrooms.
And by-the-by, we eagerly welcome volunteers from around the USA and even the world! Volunteers can acquire or hone skills in software development, project management, UX-UI (user-experience, user interface), and other highly marketable work skills. Come check us out! https://codeforphilly.org/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/code-for-philly/ .
RS: I notice the "PMP" after your name. Please tell me what this stands for and what this certification represents.
SS: The credential’s full name is “Project Management Professional,” and it is awarded by Project Management Institute. I have read that it is considered a “Gold Standard” for project managers (PMs), demonstrating one’s project management knowledge, skills, and experience.
In order to apply for the PMP examination, a high-school graduate must have 60 months of experience leading projects and a person with a four-year college degree must have 36 months of experience leading projects. After getting approved to take the PMP exam, a person has to study for the exam, in order to internalize the theory of PM work, based on PMI’s PMBOK-guide; PMBOK is an acronym meaning Project Management Body of Knowledge.
Personally, I had accrued the required PM-work hours since my early IT-work days, circa 2008, my undergrad graduation year, through my project-management fellowships with Code for Philly and Code for America. But I had also earned the junior-level CAPM credential—meaning, Certified Associate in Project Management; this made my preparation for the PMP exam a lot easier, as I already had the required PMBOK-guide, as well as Prof. Belinda Goodrich’s exam-prep materials. All I had to do was actually study—and I mean, **rigorously** study. But thank goodness, my efforts paid off. As part of my preparation, I developed a YouTube video series in this context to help me review.
RS: You recently launched an online news site (The Global Shield) and a LinkedIn newsletter (Be Your (Professional) Self!). Can you tell me something about those? What is your intended audience?
SS: Unfortunately, the Global Shield initiative, though still active, is in somewhat of a hibernation mode at the moment. It is a prime example of the ways I try to keep myself busy, given my un- and/or under-employment. The news aggregation aspect is meant for a worldwide audience. But if you click around the tabs, you’ll see that the portal also offers other services. These are mostly targeted to folks in need of OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) services, especially about the East African region, my native land—so to speak. I was born and raised in Uganda, and I am here as of Winter-Summer 2024, till further notice. My LinkedIn newsletter, however, is a going initiative, with weekly content.
RS: You and I first met on a faculty bus trip from Fort Hays State University to a conference at Lawrence, Kansas. Our FHSU colleagues and all of us ate several meals together at Lawrence and my strongest impression of you is your "gift of gab," that is, you are such a lively participant engaging in conversations on such occasions. How old were you and where were you living as a child when you discovered and/or developed your wonderful conversational skills?
SS: That’s a very generous compliment, Robb. Thank you. But honestly, I don’t see myself that way; meaning, I don’t consider myself a gifted conversationalist. And as such, I can’t quite give an origin story, so to speak, of when I first discovered the talent in me, etc.
In fact, one of my most significant memories about my childhood and teenage years in Uganda, is the way I didn’t fit in, especially in primary school. I was always a loner, a reader, a brooder. So I guess it makes sense that in the end, I took to writing and academia—college-teaching, social science research, etc.
I just genuinely enjoy hanging out with people; getting to know folks from diverse backgrounds, hearing about their experiences, trials and tribulations, as well as their victories. Be it at the bus stop, on a plane (or even train), or on such a road trip.
RS: I know you earned a doctorate in communication studies and you have taught in this specialty as well. What drew you to this field of study? What is your primary research interest today? Where do you see yourself and what do you see yourself doing five years into the future?
SS: I hope you won’t mind this somewhat disjointed response vis-à-vis the relevant timeline-, or topics for your question. First: my current research focus. At the moment, I am in a hiatus with my research and teaching; my last major work was that auto-ethnographic and cognitive-science-related book, “A Social-Scientific Examination of the Dynamics of Communication, Thought, and Selves” (IGI Global, 2022). After failing to land a tenure-track or permanent academia position, I took up project management and data science. But I intend to pivot back to academia as soon as possible.
As for the “why” and/or “how” of what led me to the field: it was by accident, really. After graduating with a B.A. in English-Writing, I earned a generous full-ride grad-assistantship and private fellowship. But the school at the time had no Masters in English program (eventually, they started one, but the program was mostly focused on K-12 teaching of English and English literature).
Incidentally, the English department was one floor below the communications department, in the same building. And somehow, I struck up friendships—as a G.A—with the communication studies faculty. “One thing led to another,” and I quickly switched my Masters major from Liberal Arts to Communication Studies.
By that point, I had already discovered my advanced scholarship ambitions—specifically, the fact that I really wanted to do a Ph.D. I even already knew what my research focus would be—refugee stories of survivorship and resilience. Thus, again, during and after the Master’s program, “one thing led to another,” and I started the processes of identifying suitable Ph.D. programs and advisors, etc. Eventually, in 2012, I was accepted to Drexel University's Communication, Culture, and Media program; and voila!