It is easy to see the recent tech layoffs as businesses simply restructuring and cutting funds where they see fit. However, it is crucial for us to remember that behind every job cut is the new reality of someone’s life. Being Black in the workplace A recent TikTok video of a Black woman sharing her pain and frustration after being laid off from her job has triggered an all-too-familiar feeling amongst Black professionals. YouTuber and TikTok user @aestheticsconash posted a video on her social media shortly after being fired
Why wait for Black History Month to celebrate Black talent? According to Zippia, Black people comprise 13% of NASA’s workforce, each playing a significant role in astronomy and space exploration. Here are some of them. Dr. Christian Braneon – Climate Scientist Dr. Christian Braneon was a climate scientist and civil engineer at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) from 2017 to 2022. Dr. Braneon co-leads the Environmental Justice and Climate Just Cities Network (EJCJC) at Columbia University’s Earth Institute and serves as Co-Chair of the New York City Panel
Two years after the Big Tech companies pledged to fight racism, Black and Brown employees still bear the brunt of recent layoffs sweeping the industry. DEI teams are shrinking rapidly – here’s why. Hiring for DEI roles first ramped up during Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. Tech companies pledged to boost their diversity efforts. According to Bloomberg, listings for DEI jobs have now dropped by 19% – a more significant drop than human resource or legal jobs. Many Big Tech companies that pledged to boost their diversity efforts have
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has launched an educator-enablement program at its Machine Learning University to help HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions teach the ins and outs of AI. Artificial intelligence has become one of the fastest-growing skill sets across multiple industries. Despite this, AI is still out of reach for many students, especially Black and Latinx students. AWS Machine Learning University program aims to help HBCUs and other institutions serving historically underserved and underrepresented students to deliver courses in next-gen tech. “We need the best minds from all backgrounds entering these fields [database,
Female and Latinx-founded fintech company, Mendoza Ventures, has taken a massive step in its move to invest in underrepresented startups. Bank of America’s Investment Mendoza recently achieved a first close on its third $100M fund to further their work to support startups founded by diverse founders. The fund, led by Bank of America (BofA), included Grasshopper Bank alongside multiple other investors. The anchor funding comes from BofA’s commitment to making capital much more accessible to founders often overlooked by investors. “Mendoza Ventures is at the forefront of supporting innovation and
From podcast host to launching his own VC fund, Steven Bartlett is gearing up to invest in the development of the next generation. Steven Bartlett, star of Dragons’ Den and host of the most downloaded podcast in Europe, The Diary of a CEO, has set his sights on a new mission. The entrepreneur has announced the launch of the Flight Story Fund – a $100 million VC fund dedicated to advancing early-stage companies. Bartlett has spent the past two years working towards the launch of this fund. Over this time, he
A movie about AI, aliens, and social media? Sounds like a must-see! “Missing” is the latest tech thriller to hit our screens. The film, written and directed by Nick Johnson and Will Merrick, explores the story of June – played by Storm Reid (Euphoria) – who is on a quest to find her mother after her strange disappearance while on vacation in Colombia. The film, currently out in cinemas, includes a star-studded lineup of talents such as Nia Long – who plays June’s mother – Megan Suri, Ken Leung, Daniel Henney,
The Business of Tech’s Diversity report has revealed that diversity in IT leadership still has a long way to go. What is The Business of Tech’s report all about? The report, created by Dave Sobel, examines diversity development in tech leadership. Sobel, the host of The Business of Tech podcast, is a leading expert in delivering technology services. Through his podcast, Sobel discusses uncomfortable topics associated with tech and business – one of which is diversity. “We love metrics in our industry. We have data and statistics and performance numbers
The tech industry has a diversity problem. At this point, improving diversity in the tech industry is no longer a moral imperative but a massive key to reducing economic inequality. What is Capital One’s Make Today initiative? Capital One is using its new initiative to promote diverse tech talent. The banking platforms hope this will be the first step in creating welcoming tech workplaces by building financial technology products that bring diverse perspectives to data solutions. The Make Today initiative – which will be led by Kimberly Hall, Vice President of Software
Melanated AI is the platform giving ‘melanated’ creators a prominent place in the AI movement. From Lensa AI photos going viral on Instagram to Malik Afegbua’s ‘Fashion Show for Seniors’ sparking a debate about computer-generated work replacing human creativity – it is safe to say AI artwork is having a moment right now. Melanated AI’s unique platform is committed to celebrating and promoting the diverse talents of artists of color by creating a safe space for them to sell canvas prints and digital downloads to a global audience. Founder Aquarius
