Transformative Lessons from the AfroTech Conference
A Journey into Tech Inclusivity
Last month, the YYK team traveled to Texas to attend AfroTech, hosted by Blavity, Inc. AfroTech is one of the largest black professional tech conferences. Over 20,000 people gathered for five days in Austin to learn and network from Black S.T.E.M professionals, innovators, entrepreneurs, & visionaries.
This year’s AfroTech Conference featured more than 100 speakers, who covered a variety of topics, such as:
Real Talk: Innovation, Patents, and Black Excellence;
Navigating a Career in Emerging Technologies - Tips from Meta’s Metaverse Employees;
Using Storytelling and Imagination to Ship Product and Ideas,
And more…
The speakers came from various industries, standouts included: Tope Awotona (CEO of Calendly), Robert F. Smith (Founder of Vista Equity Partners), Congresswoman Maxine Waters (U.S. Representative of the 43rd Congressional District of California United States House of Representatives), and Issa Rae (Chief Executive Officer, Producer, Actress and Writer).
From learning about innovation, patents, and AI, we had to lace up our running sneakers to move from one event to the next. We didn’t want to miss a “sprint” of wisdom!
We took a deep dive into learning more about cyber attacks in today's digital landscape. By the end of the session, we were able to gain a comprehensive understanding of cybercriminal tactics. We walked away from the session with practical tips on how to better protect digital assets and how to make cybersecurity a top priority.
We attended a session on how to integrate inclusive design into product development. We were able to gain insights into strategies for inclusively designing intelligent products and services to enhance daily life. We walked away from this session with actionable approaches to implementing DEI strategies and fostering inclusivity within our tech team.
AI is here and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. HBCUs are working towards preparing the upcoming generation of tech entrepreneurs to better understand AI innovations. There’s a call to action in the tech industry to collaborate with HBCUs, fostering diversity, equity, and innovation within AI and related fields.
TLDR: AfroTech 2023 served as a beacon of inspiration, illuminating the path toward a more inclusive and dynamic tech industry. The lessons learned this year are not just takeaways but catalysts for change—a testament to AfroTech's role in shaping a future where brilliance knows no boundaries.
Here's a few invaluable lessons we took away from this transformative five-day conference:
“Who cares about the idea? It’s the team that matters most.”
In the world of tech, ideas are abundant. However, it's the collective expertise and resilience of a team that shapes the trajectory of those ideas into impactful results. Your team should always take center stage, as this is what becomes the driving force behind your success.It’s the adaptability, skillset, and collective genius of a team that determines how a company navigates through unexpected challenges.
Inclusion in tech is not just a buzzword
Inclusion is not something that’s indispensable. When you think of innovation, inclusion becomes the linchpin for fostering diverse, multi-talented teams that can weather the unexpected challenges in the ever-changing world of tech. When a team represents a variety of unique perspectives, experiences, and expertise, it gains a competitive edge in tackling complex problems and envisioning groundbreaking solutions.The pipeline problem is not the actual problem
It's not uncommon to hear VCs, founders, and tech leaders speaking on the supposed difficulty of finding black talent. This narrative often echoes in conference halls—“I cannot find underrepresented talent,” they say. AfroTech, stands as a contradiction to this industry narrative. With each passing year, the conference has nearly doubled its attendees. AfroTech sends a message to companies that it’s time to re-evaluate your approach.
Photo Credit: AfroTech Conference
In essence, the key is to embark on a journey of enlightenment, not a quest for a quick fix. If the struggle to recruit black talent persists, it's a clear signal to review recruitment strategies and ponder deeply on what aspects of your organizational culture hinder the inclusion of those who are underrepresented in your team.
In addition, we gained some solid technical insight on big data, cloud computing and UX design. The tech community is challenging; we have a responsibility to look out for one another, support each other, and to give back. Innovation in tech has made it easier for folks to connect and collaborate. If no one else is actively looking for ways to solve the issues within our community, it’s up to us to find those answers.
