This article by Kelly Boutsalis was originally posted on Linktree. As Indigenous people continue to face marginalization across the world, we spoke to three powerful women working in tech who are paving the way for future generations. Celebrated every year on August 9, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People recognizes the need to voice Indigenous people’s inclusion and involvement in modern society, so that they can receive the same social and economic benefits provided to all. Despite the reconciliation efforts that have been made over the years, social inequity
Content creator Ashley Massengill rose to online fame after sharing her story of how she made $1 million in over less than an hour. In a now-deleted Facebook post, Massengill labeled herself a #MillionaireMentor before expressing her excitement at raising $1 million in just 40 minutes. Rise to fame Massengill’s online business, Digital Course Recipe, is centered around providing others with the necessary skills they need to turn their skills into a passion within 60 days. She also founded AM/PM Credit Repair, launched the AM/PM Academy and authored a financial literacy book
No one is in their bag like Keke Palmer. From becoming the host of Meta’s new metaverse series to starring in Jordan Peele’s first NOPE VR experience – Keke has entered a league of her own. Palmer’s latest venture is KeyTV Network, a digital space which will “spotlight the next generation of creators.” Palmer announced the launch while reflecting on the many hats she has worn throughout her time in the entertainment industry. “I want to share everything I learned with you because this is my greatest dream of all,” Keke explained.
“This is about controlling women, and it starts with controlling our girls and what info they have access to,” Saujani said in an interview with Insider. Founder of Girls Who Code, Reshma Saujani, has spoken up about her company’s books being banned from schools in Pennsylvania. The controversy, which has seen more than 400 books banned from schools as a part of a broader “literary censorship” program, has left many people wondering why Girls Who Code books have been prohibited. According to PEN America, all four of Girls Who Code’s books
How do we bridge the gap between art and science? STEM From Dance, a New York City-based youth organization, is fusing opposite sides of the spectrum to help tackle the lack of diversity within the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce in a way that has never been done before. The organization, founded in 2021 by Yamilée Toussaint Beach, is bringing together art and science – two sectors considered a juxtaposition – and bringing them together to promote the idea that artistic expression and STEM can work together to
Justine Skye is expanding her business endeavors, and we are very much here for it. The musician, known for sporting some of the sleekest tresses in the business, has partnered with Black-owned artificial intelligence wig brand Parfait. Parfait, founded by Isoken Igbinedio, is an AI and facial recognition-powered beauty technology that has created a community where beauty and tech co-exist. According to its founders, Parfait was founded to solve two problems: AI biases in tech and the fragmented wig buying process for millions of Black and brown women. “It was
“Done is better than perfect” is Tanya Sam’s mantra. Real Housewives of Atlanta star Tanya Sam has said goodbye to reality TV and hello to the tech world. Since leaving reality television in 2020, Sam has worked to become a key figure in female entrepreneurship, particularly within the tech space. Prior to her transition into the tech industry, Sam was a nurse working in oncology and hematology before she first appeared on the hit Bravo series. “I was a registered nurse for 10 years,” Sam previously explained in an interview with Page
Omidyar Network has announced the launch of The Tech We Want program which aims to help build community, infrastructure, and a solid support system for technologists, thought leaders, and investors in the tech space. The four-year, $8 million program primarily focuses on connecting and empowering new leaders and technologies that focus on inclusivity, sustainability, and responsible innovation. “If we want to develop a responsible tech future, we have to intentionally change who and what we produce. We need to support diverse organizations and inclusive communities working to redefine what technology
Black-owned asset management firm, Black Pearl Global Investments, is set to make history by becoming the first-ever Black-owned contact lens manufacturer in the world. Black Pearl Global Investments, co-founded in 2019 by CEO Dr. Shante Williams, Dr. Carl Smart, Marlon Joris, and Daniel Smart, is an asset management firm that invests in companies innovating the health space. The platform’s primary focus is helping upcoming businesses operating in North America, Africa, and the Caribbean. The lens maker, Hydrogel Vision Corp (HVC), based in Florida, was acquired by Clerio Vision in 2019. The company is primarily known
Capital G, Alphabet’s independent growth fund, has announced that seven Black-owned VC firms will join the Alphabet family as a part of the program’s $100 million commitment to investing in Black founders. According to data, only 4% of the US venture capital workforce and 1.2% of VC-backed founders are Black. The lack of diversity within the venture capital space has a knock-on effect on the number of Black-owned businesses that receive extra funding or investments. After years of leading a large team focused on investing in Black-led VC funds, startups,
