kathelinejeanpierre
MAKE ROOM(?) FOR WOMEN IN TECH (part 1)
I can tell you: it really takes something to be a women in tech... a Black person and a Black women in tech. It takes everything. Everything you've got.
“Make more room for women in tech.” -Michelle Obama
Former First Lady Michelle Obama suggested that we "Make more room for women in tech." Current situation shows that it will be hard to succeed as we are building on top of a broken foundation of prevalent sexism and racism. We will need to break things. Hit hard. Destroy some of the foundations first, then build on new foundational principles. The reality is that even if we get more women in tech in our current conditions, they will likely run away seeking greener pastures.
I have been in the Valley for 4 years and every week I wonder “Where am I going next? Should I stay.”
As a French Canadian Black women in the Valley, I can tell you: it really takes something to be a women in tech... a Black person and a Black women in tech. It takes everything. Everything you've got.
Systemic sexism and racism are everywhere. The mythical technology & innovation hub “Silicon Valley” is hearing women’s voices loud and clear. Will companies and individuals have the will to carry on with the necessary transformation? Same for the race challenge by the way.
Let’s look in different places.
#1 The Tech Media:the only black women (and the only Black “lead” role) in HBO’s Silicon Valley is a stripper called Mochachino. “Mocha” just in case you didn’t see the color of her skin, it is mocha. “Chino” because in Silicon Valley we drink a lot of coffee. For those of you who don't remember Mocchacino - see her below - Silicon Valley Season 1 - Trailer.
“Writers about Silicon Valley, you DO NOT make me proud...”
Who are these black leaders in Tech?
There are thousands of black leaders in tech - believe it or not. In case you don't know them, here are a few:
A few High Profile Blacks in Tech:
Stacey Brown-Philpot, CEO of TaskRabbit
Tristan Walker, Founder, Walker and Company Brands
Kimberly Bryant, Founder of Black Girls Code
Wayne Sutton, Co-founder of Change Catalys
Rodney Williams, Founder of Lisnr
Frederick Hutson, Founder of Pigeonly
Jessica Matthews, Co-Founder of Uncharted Powerl
Edwin Broni-Mensah, Founder of Give Me Tap
David Drummond, Chief Legal Officer for Alphabet Inc. Google
High profiles - focused in the Bay Area:
Clayton Bryan — Venture Partner, 500 Startups
David ibnAle — Founder & Managing Partner, Advance Venture Partners
Chris Lyons — Chief of Staff, Andreessen Horowitz
Ken Coleman — Special Advisor, Andreessen Horowitz
LJ Erwin — Partner, Andreessen Horowitz
Naithan Jones — Partner, Andreessen Horowitz
Kamil Saeid — Investor, Aspect Ventures
Lindsay Lee — Managing Partner, Authentic Ventures
Jamison Hill — Principal, Bain Capital Ventures
Erik Moore — Managing Director, Base Ventures
Kirby Harris — Partner, Base Ventures
Obi Ugwanali — Cofounder & Managing Partner, Black Angel Tech Fund
Ken Grimes — Managing Director, Black Angel Tech Fund
Kwame Anku — Cofounder & Principal, Black Angel Tech Fund
Marc Mitchell — Cofounder & Senior Advisor, Black Angel Tech Fund
Ron Berry — Founding Principal, Black Angel Tech Fund
Vincent Diallo — Partner, Bleu Capital
Stephen DeBerry — Founder & Managing Partner, Bronze Investments
Marlon Nichols — General Partner, Cross Culture Ventures
Rashad Drakeford — Marketer in Residence, Cross Culture Ventures
Trevor Thomas-Uribe — Partner, Cross Culture Ventures
Troy Carter — General Partner, Cross Culture Ventures
Nicholas Pianim — Managing Director, DAG Ventures
Kevin Durant — Founder, Durant Company
Eghosa Omoigui — Managing Partner, EchoVC Partners
Javaughn Lawrence — Investor, Eniac Ventures
Abdul Ly — Special Projects, First Round Capital
KJ Sidberry — Investor, Forerunner Ventures
Darryl Finkton — Managing Partner, FundRx
Ralph Taylor-Smith — Managing Director, GE Ventures
Brian Hollins — Growth Equity Investor, Goldman Sachs
Kwasi Ohene-Adu — VP of Engineering and Operating Partner, Goodwater Capital
Twum Djin — CTO, Goodwater Capital
Jason Towns — Managing Partner, Groundwork Ventures
Tyson Clark — Partner, GV
Mark Crawford — Investor, Intel Capital
Larry Cook — Finance Director, Intel Capital
Brian Dixon — Partner, Kapor Capital
Luke Thompson — Investor, Maschmeyer Group Ventures
Elliott Robinson — Partner, Microsoft Ventures
Michael Madison — Director-General & Founding Partner, Orogenesis
Earnest Sweat — Investor, PLD Ventures
Lo Toney — Partner, Plexo Capital
Charles Hudson — Managing Partner, Precursor Ventures
Frederik Groce — Analyst, Storm Ventures
Adrian Walker — Managing Partner, Telescopic Ventures
Garth Timoll, Sr. — Managing Director, Top Tier Capital Partners
Arthur Johnson — Managing Partner, TwilioFund
Anthony Heckman — EIR, XSeed Capital
Kobie Fuller — General Partner, Upfront Ventures
Michael Seibel — Partner, Y Combinator
High profiles in Los Angeles:
Troy Carter — Founder & CEO, Atom Factory
Vaughn Blake — Founder & Managing Partner, Autochrome
Walter Delph — Partner & Managing Director, BCG Digital Ventures
Kobe Bryant — General Partner, Bryant Stibel
Adam Demuyakor — Technology Investor, Fifth Wall Ventures
Brentt Baltimore — Investor (MBA Intern), Greycroft Partners
Ryan L. Smith — Director of Venture Capital & Private Equity, Magic Johnson Enterprises
Rashaun Williams — General Partner (The All-Star Fund), Manhattan Venture Partners
Austin Clements — Senior Associate, TenOneTen Ventures
Anthony Tucker — Principal, Troy Capital Partners
Hamet Watt — Venture Partner, Upfront Ventures
Anthony Saleh — Partner, WndrCo
Shane Kelly — Founder & Managing Partner — Wolverine Angels
Articles:
13 leaders aiming to increase African Americans in tech
28 black founders and investors making an impact in tech,
The 25 Most Influential African-Americans In Technology,
15 Black Startup Founders Making Great Strides in Tech,
The List of Black Women in VC,