Mind the Gap: Improving Diversity in Tech

When technology firms started publishing diversity reports five years ago, the numbers revealed what many could see just by looking around their offices: there are a lot of white guys in tech. Regardless of initiatives to have better representation in tech teams, the numbers have shifted at an agonizingly slow pace. Many hiring managers complain that, despite their best efforts, there are not enough diverse candidates applying for positions. When these candidates manage to get in the door, we don't offer them the ability to rise up. Clearly, our diversity initiatives alone aren't bridging the gaps. So, what else can we do?

In this talk, we will: discuss how appropriate representation in the technology industry depends on changing our culture and educational systems; learn how to use best practices from diversity-in-tech education programs to set better, less biased standards; come away more knowledgeable of how we can collectively offer opportunities for skill development and inform systemic shifts. Together teachers, professionals, and organizations alike can affect positive change for today and tomorrow!

Transcript

1. @annaecook Mind the Gap Improving Diversity in Tech
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3. @annaecook What are we going to address? THE GAP THE EFFECT THE BRIDGE
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5. @annaecook EDUCATION HIGHER ED ADVANCEMENT RETENTION Hiring
6. @annaecook Source: Brotopia: Breaking the Boys’ Club of Silicon Valley by Emily Change, https://www.fastcompany.com/40540948/91-of-decision-makers-at-u-s-venture-capital-firms-are-men, https://unsplash.com/photos/kwzWjTnDPLk 25% of computing jobs in the U.S. are held by women 2.7% of venture capitalist funded startups have female CEOs 4% of computing jobs in the U.S. are held by women of color
7. @annaecook Choices that software developers make about design, technical architecture or business model can have profound impacts on our privacy, security and even civil rights as users. Sources: https://open.buffer.com/diversity-inclusion/, https://www.newscientist.com/article/2166207-discriminating-algorithms-5-times-ai-showed-prejudice/, https://www.ted.com/talks/ kriti_sharma_how_to_keep_human_biases_out_of_ai, https://googleblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/you-dont-know-what-you-dont-know-how.html — Anil Dash, CEO of Glitch “
8. @annaecook Why have a diverse team? • Diverse companies are 35% more likely to outperform those without diversity initiatives. • Companies with high amounts of gender diversity are 21% more likely to have better financial return Source: https://open.buffer.com/diversity-inclusion/, https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/why-diversity-matters, https://www.accenture.com/us-en/insights/communications- media/accessibility-advantage, https://www.cnet.com/news/uber-sued-by-former-female-engineer-for-sexual-harassment-and-discrimination/, https://www.vox.com/2017/6/21/15844852/uber-toxic-bro- company-culture-susan-fowler-blog-post, https://www.flickr.com/photos/wocintechchat/25720982610/
9. @annaecook Why have a diverse team? • Better retention • Higher employee engagement • Less lawsuits • Better reputation Source: https://open.buffer.com/diversity-inclusion/, https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/why-diversity-matters, https://www.accenture.com/us-en/insights/ communications-media/accessibility-advantage, https://www.cnet.com/news/uber-sued-by-former-female-engineer-for-sexual-harassment-and-discrimination/, https://www.vox.com/2017/6/21/15844852/ uber-toxic-bro-company-culture-susan-fowler-blog-post, https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2017/12/13/promoting-employee-happiness-benefits-everyone/#4df97f1c581a, https:// www.adatitleiii.com/2019/01/number-of-federal-website-accessibility-lawsuits-nearly-triple-exceeding-2250-in-2018/
10. @annaecook So, what considerations should be made to make real change now?
11. @annaecook How to build a diverse team 01 Start accepting more candidates from non-traditional educational institutions and backgrounds Better yet, start considering candidates who are self taught Sources: https://www.coursereport.com/reports/2018-coding-bootcamp-market-size-research, https://www.coursereport.com/blog/coding-bootcamp-cost-comparison-full-stack-immersives, http://www.collegecalc.org/majors/computer- science/
12. @annaecook How to build a diverse team 02 Start hiring more juniors. Invest in training them and the rest of your team Source: Brotopia: Breaking the Boys’ Club of Silicon Valley by Emily Change,
13. @annaecook Source: Brotopia: Breaking the Boys’ Club of Silicon Valley by Emily Change,
14. @annaecook How to build a diverse team 03 Stop hiring candidates based 
 on who you know Ensure candidates interview with multiple leaders of different backgrounds Source: Brotopia: Breaking the Boys’ Club of Silicon Valley by Emily Change, https://richtopia.com/companies/history-paypal-infographic-included, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confinity
15. @annaecook How to build a diverse team 03 Source: Brotopia: Breaking the Boys’ Club of Silicon Valley by Emily Change, https://richtopia.com/companies/history-paypal-infographic-included, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confinity, photo from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PayPal_Mafia
16. @annaecook How to build a diverse team 04 Take equal pay more seriously. Pay attention to your biases, and what you consider worthy of a raise. Source:Source: Brotopia: Breaking the Boys’ Club of Silicon Valley by Emily Change, https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/apr/07/google-pay-disparities-women-labor-department-lawsuit, https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/ 2017/02/28/why-women-leave-the-tech-industry-at-a-45-higher-rate-than-men/#2bd963d4216a
17. @annaecook How to build a diverse team 05 Build an inclusive culture Read more at: https://open.buffer.com/diversity-inclusion/ Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/bullying-driving-lgbtq-people-out-tech-study-finds-n752646, https://business.linkedin.com/talent-solutions/blog/trends-and-research/2016/the-gap-between-women-vs-men-in-stem-and- what-you-can-do-about-it-infographic, https://www.glassdoor.com/about-us/twothirds-people-diversity-important-deciding-work-glassdoor-survey-2/, https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/about-deloitte/articles/press-releases/inclusion- survey.html
18. @annaecook Finally, be ready to fail.
19. @annaecook 82% of the girls who attend TechGirlz workshops change their minds about working in tech. Source:: techgirlz.org Get involved
20. @annaecook linkedin.com/in/annaecook twitter.com/annaecook Thank you!