Two Black women are leading rival robotaxi programs that could define the future of autonomous transportation in the US. Aicha Evans, CEO of Amazon subsidiary Zoox, and Tekedra Mawakana, co-CEO of Alphabet subsidiary Waymo, have been named to Forbes’ “Women to Watch in 2026” for their influence in one of tech’s fastest-moving sectors. Alphabet’s Waymo: Tekedra Mawakana Tekedra Mawakana, 54, has been co-CEO of Waymo since 2021, overseeing the company’s strategy and the commercial rollout of its autonomous driving technology. Before taking on the top job, she served as Waymo’s COO and previously held leadership roles at eBay, Yahoo, AOL,
Apple is undergoing its biggest leadership upheaval since the death of cofounder Steve Jobs, as a cluster of top executives head for the exits. Among them is Lisa Jackson, the company’s vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives, and one of the most visible Black women in Silicon Valley. On December 4, Apple announced that Jackson will retire in late January 2026, marking the end of more than a decade at Apple, which helped shape the company’s climate agenda and its public commitments to racial equity. Lisa Jackson’s Departure Apple will not replace Jackson with a
Each year, Forbes releases its flagship Under 30 list showcasing young innovators shaping the future of business, culture, and society. The 2026 class marks the list’s 15th anniversary and showcases 600 young innovators across 20 categories from technology and venture capital to music, arts, sports, social impact, and beyond. Forbes reports that 41% of honorees self-identify as people of color, and 22% were born outside the US, hailing from countries including Mexico, Cameroon, Tanzania, and the Dominican Republic. Among this year’s honorees are a number of Black and Latine founders and
Crystal Brown has no background in biology. She studied political science and women’s studies at the University of Michigan. Yet she has raised $3.3 million for CircNova, her AI-powered biotechnology company developing new therapies using circular RNA. Since securing the seed funding earlier this year, the Detroit entrepreneur has split her time between Michigan and Boston, building partnerships with biotech heavyweights as she scales the company. An Unlikely Journey To Biotech Brown’s path to biotech began in Michigan’s automotive industry, where she was climbing toward an executive role. A friend’s introduction to a life
Emma Grede, founding partner of $5 billion shapewear brand SKIMS, has said workers have “no choice but to AI-proof our careers” at Axios’s BFD dealmaking summit in New York last week. The British-born entrepreneur has an estimated net worth of $405 million and has been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s richest self-made women for four years running. AI: It’s Do Or Die Grede, who also serves as SKIMs’ chief product officer and is the CEO and co-founder of Good American, says she sets aside time in her schedule to focus on AI. “I have what
Former Harvard students AnhPhu Nguyen and Caine Ardayfio have raised a $6.6 million seed round led by General Catalyst to develop Mira: audio-first smart glasses that “remember everything.” Described as a “second brain,” Mira designed to learn throughout your daily life and provide personalized, private insights. The Viral Moment That Started It All Nguyen and Ardayfio first drew widespread attention in September 2024 after an X video demonstrating their hacked Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses went viral. In the demo, the pair used facial recognition tools and public data sources to
Barclays is hiring on POCIT. Deborah Barnwell is the inclusion and opportunity partner for UK corporate at Barclays. In this role, she focuses on fostering inclusion and ensuring that all colleagues, regardless of background, feel valued, empowered, and supported in their careers. She also collaborates closely with senior leaders to embed inclusive practices and drive meaningful change by championing initiatives that expand equitable opportunities across the organization. A Journey Shaped By Inclusion “My career journey has been one of continuous growth,” Deborah says. “It’s been shaped by a commitment to inclusion and
Barclays is hiring on POCIT. Oyindamola (Dammy) Lawal, Partnerships Execution Lead for Barclaycard Payments, plays a key role in shaping the strategic collaborations that power Barclays’ expanding payment technology. Working at the intersection of innovation and relationship-building, Lawal’s ultimate goal is to grow the bank’s payments partnerships across the UK and Europe. He spoke with POCIT about building a thriving career at Barclays that leaves the door open for others. Tenacity Meets Opportunity “My journey has been a mix of tenacity and good fortune,” Lawal tells POCIT. “My career with
The Legal Defense Fund (LDF), the nation’s first civil rights law organization, has appointed Dr. Joy Buolamwini, founder of the Algorithmic Justice League and author of national bestseller Unmasking AI, to its Board of Directors. As AI tools proliferate across policing, hiring, lending, education, and healthcare, civil rights advocates warn that their built-in biases could disproportionately harm Black communities. LDF says Buolamwini’s expertise in algorithmic accountability will be key to guiding the organization’s response to these emerging tech-driven civil rights challenges. A Leading Voice on Algorithmic Justice Buolamwini founded the
Sula Labs, a beauty research and development lab for melanin-rich skin, and UFarmX, an AI-powered agri-fintech platform tackling Africa’s agricultural financing gap, have been named the $100,000 Co-Grand Prize Winners of the Black Ambition Prize. Black Ambition’s fifth annual Demo Day, held November 14–15 in Miami, marked the culmination of its three-month accelerator for underrepresented founders. Featuring conversations with Pharrell Williams and investor Mellody Hobson, and a surprise performance from Chance the Rapper, the event spotlighted 27 prize winners selected from more than 2,500 applicants. Sula Labs: Pioneering Science-Driven Beauty for Melanin-Rich Skin
