Sisters, it’s time we take our rightful place in tech. According to Built In, Asian and Pacific Islander women make up 7 percent, Black women make up 3 percent, and Latina and Hispanic women make up 2 percent of the tech industry. Women of color in tech…we exist or aim to…time to take center stage.

As a Black woman, I know firsthand how hard it can be for women of color to break into the tech industry. The obstacles seem endless – unfair hiring practices, lack of mentorship opportunities, and work cultures that just don’t understand our experiences or value our voices. But the data shows that women of color belong in tech and companies need to prioritize recruiting us.

What The Data Tells Us About Women of Color in Tech

Exploding Topics reports that of 141,038 women in technology-related jobs, 79,163 (56%) are women of color. However, the National Centre for Women & Information Technology states that of the 25% of all women working in tech, just 3% of them are Black.

This disparity is even more pronounced for women of color, who only represent a small fraction of tech positions according to Zippia. Furthermore, a study highlighted by VentureBeat found that women of color in tech were 39.3 percentage points more likely than white women to spend more time than colleagues do on diversity, equity, and inclusion work.

Clearly, we have a long way to go in taking our rightful place in the industry. But the more of us that push through those barriers, speak up for each other, and excel in our work, the more doors will open for those who come behind us. As Stasia Mitchell, Chief Culture Officer at LifeCents states…

“The question is no longer, should we hire more women of color in tech? The question is, how quickly can it be done?”

The Women of Color in Tech That Have Blazed Notable Trails

Our community has a rich history of barrier-breaking women of color in tech who paved the way in business, science, and technology. Heroes like Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson who worked at NASA and were immortalized in the film Hidden Figures.

Mae Jemison, the first Black woman in space.

Lisa Gelobter, who is credited for developing the animation used to create GIFs. I could go on and on about the contributions of phenomenal Black women in STEM fields over decades. Their brilliance and determination opened doors that are now ours to walk through.

As women of color in tech, we bring immense value to the tech industry through our unique perspectives.

As Nita Sanger, Head of Marketing at Airtime Media, writes, diverse teams are “smarter, more innovative and deliver better returns” for companies. Our lived experiences give us insights that others overlook. We ask important questions, challenge assumptions, and imagine solutions that serve overlooked communities. We bring nuance and depth that can only make technology better.

And while past discrimination and injustice created barriers to entering this field, today there are more programs than ever focused on correcting the imbalance for women of color in tech roles.

Top companies like Google, Apple, and Microsoft have diversity initiatives aimed to improve representation through extensive hiring and retention programs. There has never been a better time for us to pursue tech careers.

I won’t deny it’s still an uphill battle. As women of color in tech, we frequently have to work twice as hard to be given half the credit. But the more we empower each other, the more doors will open for future generations.

Practical Steps to Grow Your Tech Career as a Woman of Color

So where do we start? Here are some practical steps I recommend if you’re looking to begin or grow your tech career as a woman of color:

• Seek out mentors and sponsors who will advocate for you. Don’t be shy in asking for help from those who can share valuable insider advice.
• Look for internships and apprenticeships that give hands-on experience. Many companies are prioritizing diverse candidate pipelines for women of color.
• Get certified in high-demand skills like software engineering, data science, cybersecurity, and UX/UI design through online courses and bootcamps. Many offer scholarships for women of color in tech.
• Attend conferences and networking events to meet peers & executives where you can make an impression as a woman of color in tech. Great ones to start with are AfroTech, Black is Tech Conference, and Grace Hopper Celebration.
• Check job postings at companies making diversity, equity and inclusion a priority. Many have dedicated programs to increase representation including Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and Apple.
• Explore tech through the lens of starting your own company. Get experimental, and take advantage of low and node capabilities to raise up tech products even if you don’t have the skillset in a given technology.
• Don’t be discouraged by setbacks. Persistence is key. With hard work and the right opportunities, you will find the right role as a woman of color in tech.

Once you’ve landed that coveted role or created it for yourself, excelling and moving up the ladder as a woman of color in tech brings its own challenges. You may feel isolated, struggling to fit into a culture that doesn’t reflect your experience.

Tips to Thrive as Women of Color in Tech

Imposter syndrome can sneak in, making you question your abilities. You may exhaust yourself trying to shatter limiting expectations.

Here are some tips on how to thrive:

• Find employee resource groups that provide community, mentorship, and professional development for women of color in tech roles. If your company doesn’t have one, seek out colleagues interested in starting one.
• Get in a mastermind group with like-minded entrepreneurs if that’s your path, so you have a community that understands both the business aspects and the women of color pieces holistically.
• Don’t be afraid to speak up in meetings and assert your perspective as a woman of color in tech. Bringing diverse voices to the table is why companies seek to hire minorities. Own your seat at the table.
• Set boundaries around working hours. Avoid burnout from over-performing. Take time to recharge. Don’t let work overtake self-care.

• Seek out leadership training opportunities. Acquire the skills to move into management where you can effect change for women of color in tech.
• Get a mentor higher up in the organization or that is farther along than you are that can give visibility to your work and advocate for new opportunities.
• Know your worth and negotiate salary increases and promotions. Pay yourself what you deserve if you’re an entrepreneur. Don’t accept inequities or wait to be noticed as a woman of color in tech.
• Make targeted networking connections with other women of color in tech. Reach out to executives and colleagues that can open doors. Attend affinity conferences and events.
• Be a mentor to those women of color coming up behind you in tech. There is power in building community.
• Don’t stay at a company that doesn’t recognize your value. With in-demand skills, you can find the right workplace culture as a woman of color in tech.

Conclusion

Sisters, I encourage you to uplift each other as we change the face of tech together. Share job and business opportunities. Retweet each other’s accomplishments. Collaborate on projects. Celebrate wins, big and small. Cheer each other across the finish line. The more we empower each other, the more doors will open for future generations of women of color in tech.

Sometimes the journey feels lonely, but you are never alone. We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. Our daughters are counting on us to lead by example. Our community is stronger when we empower each other.

So be relentless in pursuing your passions. Be unapologetic in sharing your brilliance. Be defiant in the face of obstacles. You represent the best of us. Let no one dim your light. Tech awaits the unique force we bring. Let’s go!

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