Why I Left YouTube for 5 Years (And Why AI Brought Me Back)

I disappeared from YouTube for 5 years. In that time, I went from network engineer to AWS cloud networking specialist to AI Engineer. But when I looked around the AI industry, I noticed something troubling and it's why I had to come back. Key Timestamps: 0:00 - Why I Disappeared from YouTube 2:15 - Starting Out: CCNA Journey 5:30 - The First YouTube Videos & Finding My Why 8:45 - Landing My First Network Engineering Role (After Being Rejected) 12:20 - The Cisco San Francisco Interview I Turned Down 15:40 - The Reality Check That Humbled Me 19:15 - COVID Changed Everything 22:30 - Joining AWS: The Best and Hardest Job of My Life 26:45 - Getting MIT AI Degree & Going All-In on AI 30:10 - The Loneliness of Growth 33:25 - Looking Around AI Rooms: Where Are We? 37:40 - Why I'm Back & What's Coming Next 40:15 - The Real Talk About Certifications vs. Economic Impact 42:30 - My Mission: Representation in AI Research & Leadership ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Connect & Resources: 📺 Subscribe for AI content, career strategies, and real tech talk 📝 Blog: https://www.duanlightfoot.com 💻 GitHub Repository: https://github.com/labeveryday Thank you for the support! #ai #TechCareers