Regina Lawless is a former Instagram executive and the founder of Bossy and Blissful, a collective for Black female executives. Meet Regina Lawless Her journey to becoming the first director of diversity and inclusion at Instagram was marked by personal loss and professional insights. According to The Grio, after her husband’s sudden passing in 2021, Lawless found herself reflecting on the complexities of Black women’s success in corporate America. While she felt her role was supported, there needed to be a more comprehensive commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion. Bossy And
Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and JP Morgan are among the Wall Street giants that have modified their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. As DEI faces scrutiny and right-wing backlash, with accusations of reverse discrimination, companies are cautiously navigating the landscape to avoid potential legal pitfalls. Changes To DEI Programs Goldman Sachs Group Inc. has changed its “Possibilities Summit” from exclusively being for Black college students to opening the program to white students. According to Bloomberg, lawyers have also advised senior executives to remove references to race and gender
Tesla Inc. is currently involved in a significant lawsuit involving nearly 6,000 Black employees from its California factory. The group, alleging rampant racism at Tesla’s Fremont plant, received tentative approval from Judge Noël Wise of Alameda County Superior Court to proceed with their class-action lawsuit. This development underscores a continuing struggle with racial discrimination allegations for the renowned electric vehicle manufacturer. A ‘hotbed’ of racism The lawsuit, initiated in 2017 by Tesla employee Marcus Vaughn, claims the factory’s production floor was a “hotbed of racist behavior,” with racial slurs routinely used by co-workers
RuPaul, the iconic multifaceted celebrity, has embarked on an innovative venture with the launch of Allstora, an online book marketplace. Allstora This 100% author-owned platform empowers and showcases storytellers from underrepresented communities, including LGBTQ+ individuals, women, and people of color. Allstora, co-founded by RuPaul alongside bestselling author Eric Cervini and his partner, Adam Powell, hosts an impressive selection of over 10 million titles. Before Allstora, Cervini, and Powell were involved with ShopQueer.co, a precursor to this new initiative. As the chief creative officer, RuPaul will also spearhead RuPaul’s Book Club, focusing
Gerald Black, an acclaimed figure in the African tech ecosystem, has recently been appointed as a Partner at Black Ops and is launching a new initiative: Black Ops Catalyst. This marks a step in Black Ops’ mission to extend its influence across Africa’s tech landscape, emphasizing the importance of operators in shaping and scaling successful ventures. Meet Gerald Black With over a decade of experience as a founder and operator and a background in computer engineering, Gerald is no stranger to the tech world. His journey has seen him navigate the challenges of
Raioni Madison transitioned from a classroom teacher to the full-time leader of 3D Girls Inc., a testament to her unwavering commitment to empowering young women. Meet Raioni Madison In 2019, Raioni Madison, an educator with a rich family history in teaching, made a momentous decision. She bid adieu to her teaching job to focus entirely on 3D Girls Inc., a nonprofit she founded in 2012. Her dedication to addressing the disparities in resources and opportunities for young girls, particularly in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), fueled this leap.
Black-owned businesses can help close the racial wealth gap in the United States, a report has found. The “Gather Against the Gap” report marked a significant step towards addressing the racial wealth gap that critically impacts Black Americans. The Racial Wealth Gap The data found a $10 trillion racial wealth gap in the United States. The gap was illustrated by the median wealth of Black households at $20,000, in contrast to $180,000 for white households. This wealth disparity, coupled with an employment and income gap, significantly hinders the economic progress
The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) is leading a significant initiative to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) remain central as AI technology evolves. CBC Chairman Steven Horsford, D-Nev., and Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., announced the launch of an artificial intelligence policy series in a recent virtual press conference. The AI Policy Series The series aims to shield Black Americans from potential injustices arising from AI systems. Recognizing the influence of AI technologies, Horsford emphasized Congress’ responsibility to lead the way in understanding and shaping trends that profoundly affect their constituents’ lives and livelihoods. Clarke told reporters, “True innovation
MOONHUB has recently announced a significant boost to its growth and innovation efforts with an investment of €1.3 million ($1.4 million), led by Unconventional Ventures. The round, backed by Pi Labs and Ada Ventures, has raised MOONHUB’s total funding to an impressive €4.1 million ($4.5 million). MOONHUB’s Story MOONHUB is a trailblazing, interactive virtual reality (VR) training platform. Founded in 2016 by CEO Dami Hastrup and co-founders Vinh Ly and Hannah Sutcliffe, MOONHUB is pioneering in learning and development. Its platform offers CPD-accredited immersive VR learning experiences featuring its patented Spot and Jot technology. This approach has seen the
Tiana Tukes, a prominent co-founder of LGBT+ VC, has recently announced her departure from the organization. Her decision is a significant moment in her career, marked by groundbreaking achievements and unwavering commitment to advancing LGBTQ prosperity through venture capital. Tukes’ Journey With LGBT+ VC Two years ago, Tukes embarked on a journey to establish LGBT+ VC. The non-profit organization focuses on supporting the LGBTQ community in the venture capital sector. Her initiative began as a simple idea for a private dinner for openly LGBTQ investors, a concept she initially felt
