Javin Vance has become a recurring figure in the information technology space, attending the heavily anticipated Atlanta Tech Week where he explored the resources at Render ATL. Atlanta Tech Week was held from June 8 – 13, 2025, and serves as a space to bring industry leaders together in a citywide connection.
“Being around so many Black entrepreneurs and successful individuals really motivated me to create my own version of success. Each connection I made showed me how they built their own lane, and I plan on doing the same,” Vance said.
Vance, a senior undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology (IT), attributes this opportunity at Render ATL to his recent involvement in Students in Technology, Academia, Research and Service (STARS), which connected him to IT alumnus Casey Jostine, Technical Program manager at Microsoft, who provided Vance and recent FSU Alumnus Vedant Mishra with a ticket to the event.
“A conference like RenderATL can change the game for a student—it’s a space to build community, make meaningful connections, and inspiration to innovate. You may not land the job you’re looking for on the spot, but the people you form relationships with can be the same ones who advocates for you a year from now when a role opens up. That’s the long game,“ Jostine said.
Render ATL offers a multitude of presentations and panels where attendees gain valuable insight on rising industries such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the ways it can be implemented in business interactions. Vance referenced Brandon Butler’s (CEO and Founder of Butter ATL) presentation as the most impactful personally. Specifically, Butler used the phrase “Don’t overthink it” which described how when thinking of solutions we overcomplicate. Butler shared a reference that resonated with Vance discussing how hotels installed mirrors into waiting areas to make elevator rides feel shorter. The talk encompassed this idea of creative problem solving a lesson Vance internalized.
Vance attended job expos that were larger in scale with well-known companies such as Google. He made it a point to utilize his elevator pitch when walking up to tables or marketing his personal brand towards influential figures in attendance. In a conversation with Gregory Pierce, Senior Leader at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Vance put his elevator pitch to the test and Pierce gave him advice on the tech industry leaving Vance with a connection in AWS.
Vance also developed a “drive” at Render ATL, “A drive to prove that I belong. A drive to keep showing up, to keep learning, and to turn every opportunity into something greater. I left Atlanta with more than just notes and connections. I left with a vision,” he explained.