Open Forum: Identifying and Combating Bias and Racism in the Tech Ecosystem

Industry hiring data released by technology companies show they vastly under-employ African Americans and Hispanics. Many within the industry admit they have work to do but often cite a “pipeline problem” as a key factor in their inability to hire more computer scientists of color.

The tech community can no longer afford to offer only “thoughts and prayers” or make unfulfilled promises to do better and try harder. During this initial open forum, our panelists will address the overt and covert ways communities of color are marginalized, specifically in the tech community. Panelists will also brainstorm and welcome input from the audience about how allies can combat racism in our ecosystem. Every industry and system has fed into the climate we find ourselves in today. It is our responsibility as a tech community to highlight and uplift the voices that need to be heard and find ways to support innovation that accelerate equality for people who have historically and deliberately been excluded from it. ATC is inviting tech leaders to share their experience and expertise to finally break the cycle of recurring and devastating events that plague the black community, most recently, that of the murder of George Floyd.

Join your peers in this important discussion to dismantle the system of oppression and inequality that have ultimately brought us to this watershed moment. A special thanks to the panelists who are volunteering their time for this open forum:

Lauren Washington, Cofounder of Black Women Talk Tech and Fundr

Phil Walker, Managing Partner at Career Partners International

Preston James, CEO & Cofounder of DivInc.,

Who should attend: Tech and tech-adjacent CEO’s, Founders, Innovators, Influencers