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Mind the Gap: Improving Diversity in Tech

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!

annaecookux

August 16, 2019
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  1. @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
  2. @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 “
  3. @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/
  4. @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/
  5. @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/
  6. @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,
  7. @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
  8. @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
  9. @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
  10. @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
  11. @annaecook 82% of the girls who attend TechGirlz workshops change

    their minds about working in tech. Source:: techgirlz.org Get involved