DEI Under Fire is our monthly series that keeps you up-to-date on the latest DEI announcements and changes from the nation’s leading companies. The landscape of DEI has changed significantly over the past couple of months in the US. Some companies have succumbed to political pressure to roll back their DEI initiatives, while others stand firm in their diversity and inclusion stances. With so many changes to DEI in a short matter of time, it isn’t easy to keep up with where companies stand with DEI. This is why POCIT
Silicon Valley venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) has hired Daniel Penny, the former Marine who made national headlines following the killing of Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old homeless Black man, on a New York subway. The news was first reported by The Free Press. Penny was acquitted of criminally negligent homicide in December 2024. Although he has no prior investment experience, Andreessen Horowitz plans to train him for his new role. Jordan Neely’s Death Jordan Neely was known for being a Michael Jackson impersonator who performed in Times Square. During
In this Techish episode, hosts Abadesi and Michael chat about tech’s latest spite-fueled innovation, the buzz around the inauguration and crypto ball, and what Trump’s second presidency could mean for the intersection of tech and politics. And, of course, they tackle the big question on everyone’s mind: why is dating such a mess these days? Chapters 00:40 Gas Founder Creates App To Spite Snapchat04:00 Tech Giants at the Inauguration08:52 Rappers Perform at the Trump Crypto Party12:50 Meme Coins Are a Scam14:25 TikTok’s Future: Sale or Ban?19:33 Doomed To Reschedule Hinge
Techish is back with a fresh new season to kick off 2025! Michael and Abadesi dive into US politics—talking elections, inflations, and the role of ‘liberal elites’. They break down the debate about H-1B visas (no, Trump and Musk don’t actually care about immigrants), Zuckerberg’s MAGA pivot, and what censorship on social media actually means. They wrap things off by asking what owning an Android means for your dating life. Chapters Why Trump Won The Election (00:00) Trump and Musk Back H-1B Visas (08:05) Mark Zuckerberg Pivots to MAGA (15:30)
This year, we’ve witnessed the ripple effects of the Supreme Court’s ruling against affirmative action in college admissions with mounting conservative pressure against DEI initiatives across industries—from retail and banking to venture capital and nonprofits. Amid these challenges, the stories that resonated most with you this year were those of resistance and resilience: stories about Black women securing capital, launching funds, and building unicorn companies. You loved the stories about employees holding their employers to account—in words and deeds—and the investors, influencers, and innovators raising the bar in their respective
In this episode of Techish Podcast, Abadesi and Michael discuss Beyoncé’s recent brand launches Telegram CEO Pavel Durov gets arrested – privacy vs. accountability Financial literacy in the music industry The rise of frenemies The Play School accelerator and more! Listen to the episode You can find the Techish podcast on Spotify, Apple, and all good podcast apps. Watch On YouTube Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast episode represents the personal opinions and experiences of the presenters and is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered
Brand new Techish! Hosts Abadesi and Michael dive into: Weaponized incompetence harms DEI Reflections on getting older Companies outsourcing jobs overseas Tips for new B2B founders Listen on Spotify or Apple podcast also. Watch On YouTube
Apple Inc. has appointed Cynthia Bowman as its new Vice President of Inclusion and Diversity. Bowman, a seasoned banking executive, succeeds Barbara Whye, marking the fourth executive to hold this position in recent years. Cynthia Bowman: Bank of America Veteran Cynthia Bowman, who previously served as Chief Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Responsibility Officer at Bank of America Corp., joins Apple following a 17-year tenure with the bank. “We are excited that Cynthia Bowman will serve as Apple’s next Vice President of Inclusion and Diversity,” an Apple spokesperson said in a
Brand new Techish! Hosts Abadesi and Michael dive into: Starbucks and Apple are in their flop era Women on Bumble no longer have to make the first move Bank of America employees to strike following death from overwork The decline of the UK Listen on Spotify or Apple podcast also. Watch On YouTube
This year’s top stories reflect the challenges, opportunities, and dynamic changes in the tech industry and broader society. Unsurprisingly, many of these years’ top stories concern the boom in generative AI, from developing the “BlackGPT” to concerns around the historical and present-day harms and philosophies underpinning AI developments. We’ve also shared stories of Black innovation, Latine entrepreneurship, workplace wins and challenges, collective triumph, and personal tragedy. Here are the ten stories that resonated with you, our POCIT readers, the most this year. 10. Cash App’s Appeal in the Black Community
