As governments, civil society, and companies deploy more and more technology to address the challenges we face, we need experts who have the skills and perspectives to consider tech not simply as a tech solution but as a solution that has wide-ranging consequences, positive and negative for people, communities, and the environment. While the rapid growth of technology is radically transforming how we live, work, and engage with the world, the workforce creating these tools does not reflect the diversity of people using them. The lived experiences and expertise of communities marginalized on the basis of race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, immigration status, and class are crucial to the ethical development and deployment of innovative tech-based solutions. It’s time to disrupt the status quo.

In this session, we will hear from leading technologists and changemakers about the investment that will be necessary to build the ground force of diverse talent across all technology sectors—and why it’s vital to do so.

Arabella Advisors will co-host this session with the Ford Foundation and will feature leading funders and changemakers in the public interest technology field.