There is a major opportunity to improve racial disparity in enterprise tech. Black employees comprise less than 1% of the workforce at U.S. software companies according to 2019 data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. With more than 8 million new tech jobs predicted over the next decade, companies in the industry can change to promote greater diversity with the goal of eliminating discrimination in the hiring process, workplace culture, support from leadership, and career advancement. By offering equal opportunity to all individuals, regardless of race or background, businesses can escape the limited perspectives of a homogenous workforce and benefit from the increased productivity, employee satisfaction, and improved outcomes that result from having diverse teams.

Making the changes to underlying biases within a company requires introspection from all team and organizational leaders. Having challenging conversations, reflecting on areas of failure and opportunity, and most importantly, taking action are essential responsibilities of the business community.

Under the leadership of our panel and in our small group discussions, we’ll explore common blindspots and address areas where racial inequality is most problematic in the tech industry. Our hope is to provide an opportunity for significant reflection and a foundation for initiating conversations that lead to meaningful changes in the community.

We hope you’ll join us.