They say a New York minute is faster than anywhere in the world. Tai Nehisi is no stranger to speed: subways, taxis, and people rushing to pick up their latte from Starbucks as if their lives depended on it. Just a typical day in Brooklyn. But in Tulsa? Tulsa moved fast in an entirely different way.
In 2021, she found an article on Tulsa Remote—a program that pays full-time remote workers $10,000 to move to Tulsa for a year. It sounded intriguing, almost too good to be true. Tai doesn’t move hastily, even though she’s accustomed to the fast life. Brooklyn had been her home, her rhythm, her backdrop for years. Trading it for a city she had never considered? That wasn’t something she’d decide overnight.
However, during a LinkedIn Live interview, something shifted. Teresa, a woman splitting her time between Brooklyn and Tulsa, captured Tai’s attention.
“I said, Brooklyn, Tulsa. Why was that?”
Teresa explained that she was part of Tulsa Remote.
“I was like, ‘Oh, I’ve heard of that program,'” Tai said. “I was interested in relearning it, and that was the impetus—the conversation with Teresa from our interview about upskilling and reskilling via LinkedIn.”
From Brooklyn to Tulsa: A calculated leap
With Tulsa Remote fresh in her mind, Tai took a closer look. In February 2022, she applied. Things moved quickly—within a month, she was accepted.
Despite the acceptance, Tai didn’t pack her bags right away. Tulsa Remote gave her a year to make the move, and she took every bit of that time.
By February 2023, she left nearly everything and drove 1,400 miles from Brooklyn to Tulsa. She had time to prepare, and she used it. With COVID-19 still lingering and interest rates fluctuating, she wanted to make sure the move was the right decision. But once she arrived, she didn’t ease in—she hit the ground running.
Hitting the Ground Running
Within weeks, she was house hunting. After her first offer fell through, she set her sights on a new build in North Tulsa. Four weeks later, on April 13, she officially closed on the home—a process so fast even her realtor was shocked.
“This is the fastest close we’ve ever done. The fastest ever,” the realtor told her.
But Tai’s ability to settle quickly wasn’t just about preparation—it was about connection. Through Tulsa Remote she was able to connect with another New York native who helped her the navigate the city. Even before officially completing her orientation, she was already getting a taste of what Tulsa Remote had to offer.
“So I kind of got access to the Tulsa Remote experience by association with her,” Tai said. “The first week I was there, she went to a TR event, and I picked her up because her car was getting serviced. And there were so many people at this event. I was like, ‘Oh, I’m looking forward to being official.'”
Business owner and community builder
In 2021, Organizely was founded, a company focused on workplace efficiency and digital solutions for upskilling and reskilling. Just as she streamlined her transition to Tulsa, she built her business on helping others do the same in their careers.
Tai’s impact goes beyond her own business. Seeing Tulsa’s potential as a growing hub for all things tech, she founded Tulsa Tech Week—an initiative showcasing the city’s thriving tech ecosystem.
Through Tulsa Tech Week, she’s showcasing the talent already in Tulsa and creating opportunities for all community members to connect, collaborate, and grow in the city’s tech space. The inaugural event will run from September 22 through September 27, 2025.
“This is really a love letter from me to Tulsa to bring my love of community and my love of technology together to be able to showcase the talent, the culture, the community, and the technology that is already here in Tulsa,” she told The Black Wall Street Times.
For Tai, moving to Tulsa wasn’t just about a change in scenery—it was about building something lasting. Her journey has been one of momentum and purpose, from finding a home to fostering a community to pioneering tech spaces. Now fully settled, she embraces the name that her community affectionately knows her by — “Tulsa Tech Tai.”
A New York minute brought her to Tulsa, but the city’s rhythm made her stay. Now, it’s home.
“No matter where I travel, I always return to Tulsa,” Tai said. “This is home now.”
To learn more about Tulsa Tech Week, visit https://www.tulsatechweek.ai/
or email Tai at hello@tulsatechweek.ai
Instagram: @Tulsatechweek