Empowering Black, Hispanic & Latinos in Technology

• Mashia Tate & Jeree Spicer
• Nov 7, 2024
• 4 min read

The tech industry continues to face significant challenges in fostering diversity and inclusion. While White and Asian employees tend to be well-represented in technology organizations, Black/African American, Hispanic and Latino employees tend to be underrepresented in these fields. Organizations like Ally Financial are taking action to address this imbalance. Through internal initiatives like the Black, Hispanic and Latinos in Technology (BHLiT) community, Ally is working to create a more inclusive environment designed to help individuals from all backgrounds thrive and contribute to the success of our technology space.  

BHLiT is dedicated to ensuring equity in our development, retention, and hiring practices, fostering a culture that drives innovation through a rich tapestry of perspectives, experiences, and talents. The community is open to all employees and is focused on several key actions to drive representation in technology:

• Attract: Engages in recruitment events and initiatives that promote inclusive hiring practices to attract top talent across all levels of Technology. 

• Retain: Develops initiatives and events aimed at enhancing overall employee satisfaction. 

• Growth and Development: Generates scalable initiatives that support the professional growth and development of our members. Raises awareness of career development tools and shares best practice for personal development.

• Advocacy: Empowers and amplifies the voices of Black, Hispanic and Latino tech professionals through advocacy, education and collaboration, fostering a diverse and equitable environment.  

In parallel, technology conferences like Diversitech, powered by Tribaja, play a critical role in fostering a more inclusive tech landscape by bringing together a diverse range of professionals. The recent Diversitech conference in Philadelphia, themed "Diversitech 2024: Where Innovation Meets Inclusion!" showcased how external events can complement internal efforts like those of BHLiT. Tribaja, founded by Shannon Morales—Philly Tech's "Culture Builder of the Year"—is driven by a social impact mission to increase diversity in tech and innovation hubs nationwide. The mission of Tribaja aligns closely with the goals of BHLiT at Ally, demonstrating the power of both internal and external initiatives working in harmony to drive meaningful change in the tech industry. 

Two of BHLiT's earliest leaders, Mashia Tate and Jeree Spicer, had the opportunity to contribute to this important dialogue by being featured in panel discussions at Diversitech. Mashia spoke on a panel titled "Agile in Action: Aligning Product, Program, and Scrum Master Roles," where she provided attendees with a comprehensive understanding of Agile methodologies and their intersection with delivery-focused roles in the tech industry. Jeree's panel, "Data Privacy Essentials: What Every Internet User Needs to Know," focused on empowering everyday internet users with essential cybersecurity knowledge, preparing them to navigate the digital space safely.

Participating in conferences like Diversitech is just one of the many ways that BHLiT works both externally and internally to elevate the technology space through diversity. This internal community has spearheaded numerous initiatives that offer opportunities for advancement and growth, including events like Black Tech Week and Hispanics & Latinos in Technology Week. These events are designed to connect tech professionals, highlight advanced technologies, and provide a platform for showcasing talent.

Working toward a more diverse and inclusive tech industry benefits everyone. It fosters innovation, unlocks new perspectives. By providing a platform for connection, learning, and inspiration, conferences like Diversitech and internal initiatives like BHLIT play a critical role in achieving this goal. The BHLIT Tech Community offers a valuable approach for organizations to drive representation, and Diversitech serves as a prime example of how external events can complement these internal efforts.