Being Black or Brown in tech is one thing; being Black, brown, and queer in tech is another. Being a minority in the tech space can be isolating; now imagine having intersecting identities. The tech space is still very white and male, as only 3% of the UK tech workforce is Black, according to Tech Talent Charter Diversity in Tech Report 2023. While only 2-3% of tech employees identify as LGBT+, as stated by Women Tech Network. So, just existing as a Black or brown queer person in tech is
Techish is back! This week, Abadesi and Michael kick off the episode with the backlash over Stormzy’s McDonald’s collaboration. They also break down Meta’s latest layoffs and how performance reviews play into the mix. Then, they take a look at the rising cost of concert tickets—why are prices for artists like Beyoncé skyrocketing? Finally, they discuss the future of DEI in corporate America and what these shifts mean for the people driving the work forward. Chapters 00:25 Stormzy’s McDonald’s Collaboration Sparks Backlash09:49 Meta Lays Off “Low Performers”16:03 Cowboy Carter Tour:
Tech workers union Prospect is asking UK lawmakers to examine the diversity efforts of US multinational companies operating in the UK to ensure they comply with UK regulations and values. It has written to Parliament’s Women and Equalities, asking them to review American businesses rolling back DEI efforts. “Prospect represents thousands of UK tech workers, including in companies like Meta, and we have been alarmed to see how these companies have acted since Donald Trump’s inauguration as President,” the letter stated. It added “Not only have the CEOs of many
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), founded by Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, announced it will end its commitment to DEI, according to The Guardian. Executives at CZI told staff workers on Tuesday evening that it would end its internal and external DEI efforts, as stated in an internal email and other messages. The announcement came despite Zuckerberg’s recent assurances that the for-profit charity organization’s longstanding support for DEI remained unchanged. “Given the shifting regulatory and legal landscape, we will no longer have a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility team at
The NAACP has announced the launch of the Black Consumer Advisory to help Black consumers stay informed on which companies promote diversity. As more companies continue to scale back their DEI programs, Black consumers should spend their money where they are valued. However, they can only do this if they know which companies value diversity and inclusion. This is why the NAACP is creating the Black Consumer Advisory, to remind Black consumers that their money is valuable. “The NAACP stands firm in our belief that, in a global economy, those
Deloitte recently shared that it would scrap its diversity goals and urged government contract employees to remove gender pronouns from their email signatures. However, in the UK, Deloitte’s senior partner and chief executive Richard Houston informed staff in an email that diversity “remains a priority” despite the US firm’s plans for DEI. Deloitte US rolling back on DEI efforts. The Financial Times reported that the firm told consultants to remove pronouns highlighting their gender from external emails to align with emerging government client practices and requirements,” as stated by people with
On Monday, President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that Mexico would sue Google if it continues to label the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America to US-based users, CNN reports. President Sheinbaum contended that President Trump’s executive order to rename it only pertains to the continental shelf’s part under US control. “What Google is doing here is changing the name of the continental shelf of Mexico and Cuba, which has nothing to do with Trump’s decree, which applied only to the US continental shelf,” told CNN. “We do not agree with
NBCUniversal and its parent company, Comcast, are under federal investigation over their DEI initiatives and practices. Investigation into DEI efforts at Comcast In a letter dated February 11, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced it is investigating Comcast and its media arm, NBCUniversal, citing “substantial evidence” that they continue to promote DEI in violation of FCC regulations. The investigation follows President Trump’s executive order, signed on January 21, which ended DEI programs across the federal government and directed US agencies to encourage the private sector to do the same. FCC
Apple Maps will rename The Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America to adhere to executive orders made by President Donald Trump, as stated by Bloomberg. The company will also introduce the name change to all users globally. This change was part of a series of over 100 directives and executive actions signed on Inauguration Day. One of these orders included renaming the Gulf of Mexico, which is made up of the US, Cuba, and Mexico, the Gulf of America. This came after Google made similar changes. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had
OpenAI has deleted a page that used to highlight the company’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), as first reported by TechCrunch. The now eradicated page had noted the company’s ongoing “investment in diversity, equity and inclusion.” The URL “https://openai.com/commitment-to-dei/” currently diverts to a “building dynamic teams” page, which references people with “different backgrounds” with no sign of the word “diversity.” Previously, the page had stated that OpenAI was dedicated to “continuously improving our work in creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization.” When did OpenAI remove the page?
