The Tech Industry Today
The tech industry is one of the biggest and most impactful industries in the United States today. Constant technological advancements have made communication easier and resources more accessible, offering a high level of convenience to everyday life. Recently, these advancements have inspired other industries to adjust their work life in response to COVID-19 pandemic by switching to remote work, or working from home. Without technology, many would not have the opportunity to connect and communicate with their communities, coworkers, and loved ones during these troubling times.
Problem in the Tech Industry
Although tech is ranking near the top of the list of industries driving the U.S. economy, the industry is falling behind when it comes to diverse leadership. When leadership is not diverse, it can affect the company as a whole. Big tech companies who released their diversity reports in recent years have made little progress hiring minorities, especially Black employees.
Let’s look at Apple, a prominent tech company. The last time Apple published their diversity report in 2017, Black technical workers made up only 6% of the workforce. This data does not include leadership roles, where only 3% is claimed by Black employees. Making up 13.4% of the U.S. population, Black people in tech are being represented at a lower rate than their U.S. population.
For an industry that serves a great number of people, it is vital to take into account all walks of life to offer a more inclusive experience. In addition to the Black community, women and the Latinx community are also underwhelmingly represented in the tech field.
Reshma Saujani, the first female Indian-American candidate for Congress, noticed the gender gap in computer science. She said that although women make up nearly half of America’s workforce, they remain underrepresented in fields like electrical engineering and computer science.
“Just 10,000 girls graduated with computer science degrees in 2017,” Saujani said. “And only a fraction of that consisted of Black or Latina women.”
Why Tech Companies Should Implement Change
The lack of diversity in tech companies should not be taken lightly. Things can get overlooked if team members move and think alike. At MIT, a computer scientist and graduate student, Joy Buolamwini, noticed that the facial analysis software she was working on could not detect her face. Building software and tech products that are not inclusive can do more harm than good. “Algorithmic bias can also lead to exclusionary experiences and discriminatory practices,” Buolamwini said.
This drawback can lead to something miniscule like tagging the wrong people in photos, to something detrimental like misidentifying a suspected criminal. Diversity is key when it comes to making more innovative products that will serve all customers equally.
How Can Tech Companies Increase Diversity in Their Workforce?
Luckily, there’s always room for improvement and it’s never too late for tech companies to prioritize expanding diversity.
1. Start the Conversation
The first step to building a diverse team is to be aware of it.
Freada Kapor Klein, a founding partner of the venture capital firm Kapor Capital stressed the importance of first addressing problems within a company.
“…Tech companies still haven’t addressed biases in their cultures,” Klein said. “Those biases led to unfair hiring practices that created relatively homogenous workforces… and they’ll keep companies from achieving their diversity goals.”
Companies need to break down the walls and confront these challenges by starting a discussion. Ask for volunteers to share their stories and listen attentively. Take this time to seek out the different perspectives of others and to reassure them that they are being heard and their feedback will be wholeheartedly implemented within the company. Cultivating these practices into a daily routine will build understanding and empathy among others and set a welcoming tone for the workplace.
2. Hiring Candidates
Hiring candidates from a variety of backgrounds ranging from socioeconomic status to ethnicity can provide new perspectives and experiences to build platforms and audit existing software.
“It really starts with people,” Buolamwini said about creating more inclusive coding systems that don’t carry intense biases.
What managers say in the job posting also matters, too.
The job description is what ultimately influences the candidate to apply. In order to entice more applicants, clearly explain what the must-have skills are for the position instead of skills that are not so necessary. Candidates can hesitate to apply if they see a certain requirement that they do not feel 100% qualified for, only to have it not be essential in the job.
Embracing Diversity is a Catalyst for Technological Advancement
In a world that is constantly evolving, the tech industry and its innovations so far have helped make our lives easier and more comfortable. However, that does not mean there isn’t room for improvement.
As technology has changed our lives, we should urge for internal change in the industry. Tech companies, big and small, should invest in better hiring practices and prioritize inclusive workforces.
Taylor McClasin, an event organizer at HackOut, an Austin-based startup hackathon that supports LGBTQ+ tech entrepreneurs, said prioritizing diversity can help create a firm foundation for companies just getting started and hoping to have greater success down the road.
“As you’re starting a company, if you start it with a more diverse viewpoint and with a more diverse founding team, you just build better products and better companies” he said.
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