Building Diversity: Elevate Underrepresented Voices and Leaders in Tech

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Rosa Thomas
Sr. Software Development Manager
Automatic Summary

Elevating Unrepresented Voices and Leaders in Tech

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to this exploration of how we can raise the profiles of unrepresented voices and leaders within the tech industry. Our focus will be on leadership, creating a culture of inclusion, and implementing effective strategies to attract and retain diverse talent.

Defining Leadership

When I refer to “leaders”, I don't just mean those in managerial positions. Individual contributors are also key members and vital drivers of culture within an organization. Both management and individual contributors can help set the culture and values for an organization to help elevate others.

In my own recent experience, I encouraged a wider selection of people to contribute to our work culture through a “pass the pen” exercise. This initiative engaged everyone in drafting key cultural tenants for the organization. The results resonated powerfully with the team, and I encourage you to implement similar initiatives within your own team.

Create Opportunities within and beyond Your Team

Leadership means not only creating opportunities within your team but also reaching out beyond your immediate environment. Engage with affirmative programs, strategic efforts, and universities to attract diverse talent. This outreach can help enrich your talent pool and make diverse candidates feel personally valued.

From Good Intentions to Results

While good intentions are important, they must be backed up by concrete action. This involves implementing structures, processes, and mechanisms to ensure these intentions translate into meaningful outcomes. These outcomes could revolve around sourcing, interviewing, onboarding, and retaining leaders, helping to transform good intentions into tangible results.

Sourcing and Interviewing Leaders

When it comes to sourcing potential leaders, remember: you are the most important actor in the process. Be intentional about sourcing diverse candidates. This means actively reaching out, filtering effectively, and creating a personalized connection with each potential candidate.

Preparation plays a crucial role in successful interviews. Using well-thought-out questions and ensuring diversity in your interviewing panels can create a welcoming environment for candidates. This is pivotal to providing a positive interview experience that assures candidates they can belong and succeed in your organization.

Effective Onboarding and Retention Strategies

Onboarding is where the real work begins. Being intentional in creating a robust onboarding plan that sets newcomers up for success is a critical first step to retaining talent. Ensuring an inclusive environment that respects diversity in thoughts, experiences, and backgrounds is crucial for an effective onboarding process.

Equally, successful retention relies on identifying the areas where individuals need growth and providing them with opportunities to expand their skills. Amplifying their successes and giving them recognition for their work not only boosts morale, but also strengthens their relationship with the organization.

Developing Confidence and Setting Goals

As leaders, it's critical to inspire confidence in your team and encourage them to set ambitious goals. Building trust and fostering an environment where failure is considered an opportunity to learn and grow can significantly improve overall team confidence.

Creating a Diverse and Inclusive Team

Building diverse teams has a magnetic effect – diverse teams attract diverse candidates. When considering a new role or organization, potential candidates often gauge the diversity of the existing team. If you create a diverse, inclusive environment, it will naturally attract more diverse talent.

Aim to create a ‘flywheel effect’ – the more diverse leaders you add to your team, the more your organization will become a magnet for diverse talent. It's a powerful way to build momentum and ensure that your organization continually attracts, retains, and develops underrepresented leaders.

Thank you for joining me today as we navigated the topic of elevating unrepresented voices and leaders in tech. Let's embrace the opportunity to make a significant and lasting impact in our industry.


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