A survey of 67 workers highlighted the issues faced by people of color, women and LGBTQ people in the tech industry.
The problem, in Kapor Klein’s estimation, is not one of education but of access and support. A number of Black tech professionals agree that the industry’s reliance on personal relationships to grant access and opportunity is partly to blame, producing a network effect that militates against Black and Latino inclusion.
The large pools of money that invest in venture capital funds as limited partners will trust new venture capitalists to handle their money only if more established investors they’ve worked with in the past will vouch for them — and more established Black investors are few and far between.When a Black VC goes out to try to raise a new fund from those limited partners, Maqubela said, “They’re taking all the demographic patterns they know and applying them purely against you.
“I’ve spoken to a black VC who could run circles around me intellectually on finance, product, you name it, but didn’t know you needed strong references to go to LPs credibly,” Maqubela said. “It is a testament to the structural nature of how venture capital is broken.”This system has made for a venture capital landscape that is less diverse than more mainstream financial institutions.
Companies are reluctant to broaden the schools they recruit from to include historically Black colleges and universities, said Williams, who advocates for diversity in Silicon Valley. “It always comes down to some semblance of seeing it as lowering the bar,” she said. Williams, who used to work at StubHub and Facebook, said she’s seen candidates get passed over because they attended an HBCU.
“Tech’s approach to diversity the last few years has been like filling the bathtub with the drain open,” said Kapor Klein, who co-wrote a 2017 study on the topic. She said companies need to do the hard work of inspecting everything from hiring and investment practices to who runs the HR department to root out practices that alienate and exclude underrepresented groups. “If they’re biased, fix ‘em,” she said.
It's. Called. Networking.
BariAWilliams JMBooyah SamAugustDean I suspect the issue actually is in the pipeline. Preparation needs to begin by middle school.
BariAWilliams JMBooyah SamAugustDean That’s because it’s not up to tech to raise everyone’s kids to be “Techs” !! It’s obvious a certain demographic of parents do their job that leads to positive lifestyles for their children and some don’t. You’re noticing the rearing results of certain people. Stop using excuses.
BariAWilliams JMBooyah SamAugustDean We must also withdraw our support of these companies and the companies they provide services to as well. If our Black and Brown brothers and sisters are not welcome neither is our money!
I’m hearing the US is giving visas to tech people because apparently we don’t have enough qualified for the job. US needs to fix education!
The blacks and Latinos know more about tech than you think
They aren’t.
It must be on purpose
They're both thriving in the tech industry. Just last week I saw a black carrying a TV out of a store. Also Latino carrying a computer out of a Target store. How much more into tech would you like for them to be? Seem to be excelling if you ask me.
Because they rather set off fireworks than learn to code
H1B visas...
Los Angeles Times on the way to a propagenda rag! Experienced Black,Latinos, Indians and whoever else are in tech industry as well as experienced white people. A very tendentious headline!
Tech with corporate vibes is a dead end for minorities.. sad truth
STOP! Tech firms are DYING to hire minorities. There ls one problem: you have to be highly educated to get these jobs. So the problem lies not with the industry but with the lack of qualified applicants.
How can I make a bigger race baiting artice today? Oh I know 💡
Twitter answers your question.
Equal pay is another, I've been lucky but it's not as consistent for me as it is for my 'peers.' I took a pay cut in my current job only to be faced with the reality of corporate nepotism. So I will need to look for another job unable to go up the corporate ladder.
Once again r these ones obese coz of fucking advert or coz they eat2much?!
Education?
The same reason that white, heterosexual Christian conservatives are blacklisted from working in Hollywood.
JMBooyah SamAugustDean You two have really missed out on the core reasons there is such a disparity. Technology knowledge has to start young, not in all cases, but most. Watch this about girls. Time to open up the floodgates for all.
intellect !!