Inclusion and Representation in the Tech industry is an agenda that has been gaining publicity during the past few years, however actionable steps need to be taken by members of the industry to further drive this agenda, as data suggests that the level of exclusion in the tech industry would increase over the coming years.
According to wearecrew.io
tech companies are overwhelmingly made up of men, and just 6% of venture capital-backed startups have a female founder or co-founder.
According to mckinsley.com
Black people make up 12 percent of the US workforce but only 8 percent of employees in tech jobs. That percentage is even smaller further up the corporate ladder; just 3 percent of technology executives in the C-suite are Black, according to a McKinsey analysis of Fortune 500 executives. That gap is likely to widen over the next decade. Across all industries, technology jobs — those in data science, engineering, cybersecurity, and software development — are expected to grow 14 percent by 2032. Black tech talent in those roles is expected to grow only 8 percent over the same period.
Representation in the field of technology is important because it fosters diverse thought processes and perspectives in the tech community. When the tech community lacks diverse representation, decisions and implementations made by the collective tech community are prone to be biased.
For example, if a product is being designed by a team of individuals who all share the same background and experiences, the product being built may not satisfy the needs of other individuals from entirely different backgrounds. This could lead to the unintended exclusion of individuals who belong to or come from a different part of society from using the product. However, if the team consist of individuals from different backgrounds, the product is more likely to address the needs and concerns of the different social groups as each team member can act as a representative or ambassador of his/her societal group.
In addition to these concerns, there are also practical reasons why representation is important in technology. Studies have shown that diverse teams are more innovative and creative and are better at solving complex problems. By including people from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives in the technology industry, we can create better products that are more useful and accessible to everyone.
Steps to be taken to foster Inclusion and Representation in the Tech Industry
Improving inclusion and representation in the Tech Industry requires a combined effort from all stakeholders, both organizations and individuals. Hence we will split these steps into two categories;
Steps to be taken by companies.
Set clear diversity and inclusion goals: The first step is to set measurable goals that will guide the organization’s efforts towards diversity and inclusion. This includes tracking and measuring diversity and inclusion data, such as the number of women, people of colour, and individuals from underrepresented communities in leadership positions.
Provide diversity and inclusion training: Training programs can help employees understand the importance of diversity and inclusion and provide them with the necessary tools to be more inclusive in their day-to-day work. This can include training on unconscious bias, cultural competency, and creating an inclusive workplace.
Expand recruiting efforts: Companies should consider expanding their recruiting efforts to reach a wider pool of candidates, including those from underrepresented communities. This can be done by partnering with community organizations, attending job fairs that focus on diversity, and using job boards that cater to diverse candidates.
Encourage diversity in leadership: Companies should strive to have a diverse leadership team that reflects the organization’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. This can be achieved by creating leadership development programs that provide opportunities for underrepresented groups to develop their skills and advance their careers.
Foster an inclusive culture: Creating an inclusive culture requires a sustained effort from everyone in the organization. This includes creating an environment where diverse perspectives are valued, providing opportunities for employees to engage with each other, and ensuring that everyone feels welcome and supported.
Steps to be taken by Individuals.
Advocate for diversity and inclusion initiatives: Advocacy for diversity and inclusion initiatives within their organization. This includes supporting initiatives to recruit and retain underrepresented groups and pushing for leadership to take action to create a more inclusive workplace.
Join or support diversity-focused tech groups: Individuals should endeavor to join and support diversity-focused tech groups by attending events and volunteering for initiatives that focus on promoting diversity and inclusion in the tech industry.
Contributing to Open-Source Technologies: Open-source software contributes to inclusion and representation in the tech industry by providing an avenue for collaboration, learning, and empowerment. It provides a safe platform for individuals from diverse backgrounds to participate in the development of technology and helps to ensure that technology is more accessible and inclusive for all users.
Mentor and sponsor underrepresented groups: Individuals who have attained a level of success in their careers can mentor and sponsor underrepresented groups in the tech industry. This includes providing guidance and support to help individuals who are just starting, to advance their careers.
Be open to learning and growth: Individuals can learn and grow around diversity and inclusion issues. This includes being willing to receive feedback and making changes to improve one’s behaviour and actions.
Inclusion and representation are critical for the tech industry to reach its full potential. We can create a more representative tech industry by expanding recruitment efforts, contributing to open-source technologies, mentoring and sponsoring underrepresented groups, providing diversity and inclusion training, fostering an inclusive culture, and advocating for diversity and inclusion initiatives. It requires a collective effort from all stakeholders, but the benefits of a more diverse and inclusive industry are worth the investment.