The Command Center: Women of Color in Tech Day Edition, featuring voices from The Command Shift Alumni Council

"Don't let the skeptic win. There are going to be a lot of people who doubt you on the way. Work on your confidence, and know that you can get to where you want to go" - Karla Medina, NPower Graduate and Command Shift Alumni Council Member

Elevated Voices: Real Conversations - Celebrating Women of Color in Tech Day

Command Shift was shaped by the women it seeks to support, and we wanted to keep that in mind as we prepared to celebrate Women of Color in Tech Day. The theme -- Elevated Voices, Real Conversations -- embodies the Command Shift Coalition's commitment to uplift the voices of women pursuing tech careers while building a stronger, more equitable tech industry with and for them.

This week, I’ve been immensely inspired by speaking with NPower graduates, policymakers, employers, colleagues, and peers across the country who have taken the time to celebrate Women of Color in Tech Day with us. Highlights of this celebration include:

• 3/22 - A vibrant panel discussion hosted by Hewlett Packard Enterprise | HPE Financial Services focused on 'Equation for Equality and Equity'.

• 3/24 - Senator Jacky Rosen introduces a resolution designating March 24th as National Women of Color in Tech Day to recognize and emphasize the importance of women of color in the tech fields in the United States.

“Increasing access to tech careers and digital skills is critical for women of color to succeed in the 21st century economy. “National Women of Color in Tech Day" encourages providing access for women from diverse backgrounds to pursue in-demand tech jobs. We commend Senator Rosen for her leadership in introducing this resolution.” - ☀️Bertina Ceccarelli, CEO of NPower.

View the resolution.

• 3/27 - A Congressional Briefing on Capitol Hill with Venable LLP highlighting the powerful role of NPower in accelerating economic mobility for young adults, veterans, and especially women of color.

• 3/28 - #CommandShift Coalition member, Workday, hosted Command Shift members to discuss strategies to fuel our movement to double the number of women of color in tech by 2030 with 1,000 Workday hiring managers.

• 3/28 - Grateful to Mayor London Breed and the City and County of San Francisco for designating March 12th as Women of Color in Tech Day in San Francisco and raising awareness for the need to increase the number of women of color in high-quality tech careers.

• 3/29 In celebration of Women of Color in Tech Day, we witnessed several members of the Command Shift Alumni Council in action at the Commanding Conversations: Real Talk from Women of Color Inside of Tech LinkedIn Live event moderated by Timicka Anderson, Global Head of Consumer Products & Retail, Citi Commercial Bank and Command Shift Co-Chair. 

Women of Color in Tech Day 2023 was a great success. Thanks to everyone who posted, shared, or participated in this special day. Our journey to elevate and recognize women of color in tech does not stop here. Follow, learn more, and support us at www.commandshift.org. 

Q&A with Sierra Bentley and Candice Dixon

This month, I took a moment to speak to Command Shift Alumni Council member Sierra Bentley to discuss her journey into the tech industry.

CD: Can you share your journey into the tech industry?

SB: “It dawned on me one day when I was working my dead-end call center job that I needed to open the door for myself. During slow call times, I searched for paid tech internships that would also help me learn the IT basics and gain experience. One day, I saw that the NPower Tech Fundamentals training program was accepting applicants.

With NPower as my support, I quit my call center job and got an internship working as a tech intern at a school district. Being in school and attending NPower while working was challenging, but fast forward to 2023, where I sit comfortably in my newfound knowledge as a full-time IT specialist with plans to return to NPower and obtain my Security+ and Cloud certification this year. I know where I was, and I now know where I’m going. Thanks to NPower.”

CD: What do you wish hiring managers in tech knew about hiring women of color?

SB: “I wish they knew that Black women are more than just a diversity and inclusion token for their non-existent company culture and DEI efforts. We hold a lot of value because of our tech knowledge and other skills and also because of our diverse experiences and perspectives outside of work, including our resilience.”

CD: What is your advice for women of color who want to enter the tech industry?

SB: “Connect with people and organizations who understand your story. People in organizations who are not afraid to put you in places and spaces where you will be successful. Tech can accommodate everybody from all backgrounds and knowledge levels, and just because one employer may say no does not mean it's not for you.”

New Data: Slow progress for Women of Color  

NPower, along with our research partner, Lightcast, recently unveiled the Equation for Equality Index, an update on data and trends from our 2022 research, The Equation for Equality. This year, our research found:  

• Over a 10-year period (2011 to 2021), the number of women of color working in tech jobs across the U.S. increased only 1 percentage point (from 5% to 6.25%).
• Women of color with tech-similar skills (those working in sectors like healthcare, supply chain, and others that regularly work with tech) increased by 100K to 2.7M– meaning there is a talent pool of 2.7M women of color in the U.S. right now, that with additional training, could transition into tech jobs and accelerate their economic mobility.
• In order for women of color to achieve equity in the industry, Command Shift and Lightcast estimate that women of color must increase their share of positions in tech by 1% every 2-3 years versus every 10 years.

We invite you to read the report here and share it with your networks to continue proving that Tech must create space for women of color in their workforce at all levels - from entry-level, middle-management, executive, and C-Suite.

NPower Alum Spotlight: Brashanda Walker 

Infrastructure Tech Lead, VP, Citi, Command Shift, Alumni Council Member, U.S. Air Force Veteran

With tech training skills, women of color have an opportunity to step into tech positions that offer a higher income than minimum-wage jobs, as well as opportunities for advancement and economic empowerment. Brashanda Walker, Infrastructure Tech Lead, United States Air Force Veteran,  part of the Command Shift Alumni Council, briefly shares her journey into tech:

“My journey into IT began by following advice from a friend who was also enrolled in NPower’s Tech Fundamentals Program. I wanted to gain technical technology skills that added to my Supply Chain degree so I could provide a better future for my family and I. NPower gave me the opportunity and flexibility to participate and implement my class instruction through an internship with Deloitte in downtown Dallas, TX. 

While interning, I learned about IT and how to adjust to a corporate environment as a Black woman fresh into her career. I was mesmerized by the professional attire and how women of color interacted with such confidence and intellect. This was highly influential to me. I did experience imposter syndrome sunk deeply as I was often the only woman of color in such a professional environment, and I must admit I placed pressure on myself to continuously perform at high levels. 

As my career progressed, I joined ERG (Employment relationship group) groups specifically catered to women employees. This was helpful and, over time, beneficial to my career. I developed a network of mentors. Although grateful for my mentorship, they often did not look like me or share similar backgrounds; hence why I value Command Shift’s work to advocate prioritizing hiring, retaining, and advancing women of color to increase representation in Tech. 

The opportunities I’ve been given have allowed me to improve my family’s quality of life,  including purchasing my own home. I now am perceived as a success story for individuals in my community - but this blossomed from one individual taking a chance by hiring me. I invite anyone reading this to bet on women of color daily.”

“The ball is always in the women of color’s court. It starts with her believing in herself, finding the right community, learning the skill, and telling the company when, where, and how much.” - Sierra Bentley, NPower Graduate and Command Shift Alumni Council Member