Tuning into “Real Talk” for Powerful Lessons for Blacks in Tech

Maya Angelou, the iconic, American poet and civil rights activist famously said: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

For Black professionals in technology (and those considering tech as a career) the path to leadership roles, the C-suite and board membership, historically has neither been clear nor welcoming. From hiring, recruiting, mentoring, corporate cultures through to representation, the biggest growth engine in human history – technology – is a world not designed with Black professionals in mind.

I recently had the distinct pleasure of joining an esteemed group of Black leaders for an F5-hosted virtual event titled “Real Talk: Black Leaders in Tech ” that featured:

1.??????Aicha Evans, CEO, Zoox

2.?????Celia Edwards Karam, Chief Audit Officer, Capital One

3.?????Christopher Young, EVP of Business Development, Strategy and Ventures, Microsoft

4.?????Dwana Franklin-Davis, CEO, Reboot Representation

5.?????Ime Archibong, Head of New Product Experimentation, Facebook

6.?????Jamila Conley, VP of Business Transformation, F5

7.?????Lanaya Irvin, CEO, Coqual

8.?????Ellen McGirt (moderator), Senior Editor, Fortune Magazine

9.?????Trevor Noah (special guest), “The Daily Show” host, writer, producer, political commentator

We set out to give Black professionals, and allies committed to driving change, practical guidance on how to thrive in technology careers. The lack of representation of Black professionals in technology, is not due to a lack of talent, ambition, or available positions – it is due to a lack of community, inclusion, and corporate-culture practices.

Black professionals – and our allies – to quote Maya Angelou, have "done the best we can" absent knowing what to "do better." My most personal hope is that after learning the struggles, strategies and stories from seven Black leaders in tech, and Trevor Noah himself, who have all helped paved the way – we all know better, and will do better.?

The following are some of my favorite takeaways from the event.?

Actions for Black professionals:

1.??????Do it - even if you are certain it will fail. Taking big assignments or pursuing something that comes with a high risk of failure is a very good thing. Failure isn’t fatal. If you succeed, you’ve achieved the impossible and the next stage of growth awaits. Keep moving, reaching out and pushing yourself. Stagnation and inertia compound over time, and will hold back even the brightest minds.

2.??????Have clarity on your destination. Write a personal mission statement that serves as your personal, light-on-the-hill. Revisit that same statement each year, and use it to guide your decisions through tough times. It will help you accelerate your career and provide the clarity you need.

3.??????Ensure ROI of your time directs career choices. When deciding which opportunities to take (or not take) heavily consider how much you will learn or grow from the experience.?Regularly reflect on how things are going – the good and the bad. It not only supports good mental health, but gives you the space to learn, grow and feel centered to make decisions.

Actions for allies:

1.??????Sponsorship matters.?Lack of advocacy for Black professionals leads to fewer opportunities.?Sponsorship and mentorship are essential components to drive change. As an ally, you can take the initiative to be that mentor and sponsor who plays an important role in building the career of your Black colleagues who you see as rising stars. Whether it’s for Black professional who are in the early stages of their career, or those who are more experienced and looking to take on bigger roles. Make cultivating these relationships a priority.

2.??????Help Black professionals stand out. What role can you play in elevating Black talent on your team and organization? Ask yourself: with the right visibility, who are the Black professionals you work with who could go well beyond their current role, exceed all expectations, and not only become an indispensable asset to the team, but could accelerate into leadership roles?

The world has changed for Black professionals.

Corporations have begun to publicly recognize the massive imbalance in hiring, promoting, mentorship, recruiting and corporate cultures.?Meanwhile, every single sector of human life is being driven by technology – from sports, consumer product goods, climate change through to space exploration. Wonderfully, this unstoppable swell of technology has been met by a new momentum in hiring, developing, and supporting Black professionals.

This is the time to elevate the Black community in tech – to bring your voice, ambitions, talents and allyship into technology careers and thrive from within. This is our time to become not only Black professionals, but Black leaders in tech.

To experience the full conversation from “Real Talk: Black Leaders in Tech ” tune in for the replay. #BeF5 #BlackinTech #Leadership #Innovation