In 2023, the tech industry witnessed both advancements and persistent challenges concerning the experiences of Black and Brown individuals. Some companies are making strides in diversity and inclusion efforts, incorporating initiatives such as mentorship programs and targeted hiring practices. However, the sector has grappled with the complex intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) issues and ongoing legal battles against affirmative action. Concerns regarding biased algorithms and AI systems perpetuating discrimination have prompted discussions about the ethical use of technology in hiring and workplace practices. However, no matter how good or bad
What opportunities are there for shifting power towards the most racially marginalized? In a world as increasingly digitized as ours, there are urgent questions arising about centralized power, corporate accountability, and the impact on individual freedoms. An upcoming research report, “What Does Tech Justice Look Like In The UK?” explores Tech Justice and opportunities to empower the most racially marginalized. The research, funded by Catalyst and supported by the Engine Room, was carried out by a team of British women of global majority descent. Their backgrounds span West and East
From dealmakers at significant funds to founding partners of new firms and industry-changing nonprofits, Forbes 30 Under 30 listed young leaders helping to shape venture capital’s future. The list spotlights funders and founders aged 29 or younger as of December 31, 2023. We have compiled a list of some people of color founders who are helping the venture capital industry. Sesana Allen – Associate Investor, Smash Capital Allen is an investor at Smash Capital, a late-stage venture firm backed by former Disney executives and investors from Insight Partners. She sourced the firm’s investment in
People from historically underrepresented groups are securing more roles at Fortune 500 companies. Nevertheless, a new report has found that they are overrepresented as diversity and inclusion officers and unrepresented in the C-Suite. Fortune 500 C-Suite Snapshot The executive search firm Spencer Stuart reported on its Fortune 500 C-Suite Snapshot, asking how leadership teams of Fortune 500 companies are evolving in response to changing demands. The report mapped leader profiles for 11 roles commonly included in the C-Suite to develop a snapshot of executives in these positions. C-suite executives commonly include the
Tech company Mozilla has added four members from diverse backgrounds to the board of its parent organization, the Mozilla Foundation. The New Board Members Mozilla’s new board members include Armenian-American Raffi Krikorian, CTO at the Emerson Collective, a social impact firm focusing on education, the environment, immigration, and social justice issues. He is also the former CTO of the Democratic National Committee, where he worked to make technology a focus for the Democrats, ensuring every campaign could have industry-quality technology. Alondra Nelson, professor of social science at the Institute for
Albantsho, the first screenwriting tool created by African screenwriters for African screenwriters, has launched its first feature – The Scriptwriter. Albantsho Julie Ako and Nikita Mokgware from Nigeria and Botswana founded Albantsho in 2020. Their goal is to showcase the potential of African storytelling, foster authentic content representative of Africa, and empower creatives. With growing global investment in motion pictures in Africa, a higher demand is placed on authentic stories from diverse voices. Albantsho is a movement, and they’ve charged themselves with finding bold new narratives of Africa by Africans
Black women in teams with a more significant number of white peers may have worse job outcomes, a new study has found. Elizabeth Linos, the Emma Bloomberg Associate Professor for Public Policy and Management, along with colleagues Sanaz Mobasseri from Boston University and Nina Roussille from MIT, conducted the study. Underrepresentation of People of Color In Leadership According to the study, the underrepresentation of people of color in high-wage jobs, especially leadership positions, still needs to be solved. To better understand and reduce racial inequalities, researchers have often focused on
A former Black worker at AT&T, Stacey Fowler, has filed a lawsuit against the telecommunications company, alleging she was fired for reporting a racist threat she received. The complaint accuses the company’s Midwest division and Ohio Bell Telephone Company, an AT&T subsidiary, of “abhorrent and shocking conduct.” The Racist Threat According to The Daily Beast, Fowler, a Black woman, was the most senior person after working over 30 years in AT&T’s Ohio office at the time of her firing. She told the news site that the company was due to
October marks Black History Month in the UK, an occasion to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Black people to British society. Black people from African and Caribbean communities have been integral to British history and society for centuries. The UK Black History Month 2023 theme is “Saluting our Sisters”, highlighting Black women’s crucial role in shaping history, inspiring change and building communities. CIO reported that just 0.7% of Black women in the UK work in the IT industry, compared to 1.8% across the UK’s entire workforce. They also found
A federal judge in Georgia ruled that Fearless Fund, a venture capital fund for women of color, can continue offering a grant program only to Black women entrepreneurs. On Tuesday, the judge refused to issue an injunction blocking the program after a lawsuit alleged it engaged in “explicit racial exclusion”. The Lawsuit Against Fearless Fund The American Alliance for Equal Rights, founded by Edward Blum, brought a lawsuit against Fearless Fund in August 2023. It targeted the fund’s Fearless Strives Grant Contest, which awards Black women who own small businesses
