Command Shift, a Champion for Latinas beyond Hispanic Heritage Month...

From September 15 to October 15, we celebrate the many achievements, contributions, and influence of the Hispanic American community to the rich history and culture of the United States. However, we must also acknowledge the opportunities for the economic advancement Latina women can embark on through access to technology careers.

The representation of Latina women in tech is dire. Currently, Latina women only hold 2% of STEM jobs, even though they make up more than 16% of the U.S. population. We applaud organizations like Latinas In Tech, Techqueria, LatinaGeeks, Lean In Latinas , and others that champion initiatives to increase the representation of Latina women in tech and tech-adjacent industries.

It is our hope that our combined efforts continue to move the needle for Latina women and pave the way for a truly diverse tech workforce.  

Diversity Directive Insight: Shift Towards Inclusive Hiring

While women of color account for 20% of the U.S. workforce, they represent only over 6% of the tech workforce. 

Last month we shared the first section of the Diversity Directive, and now, we’re delving into the second, which empowers employers with strategies to recruit, attract, and build a diverse talent pipeline. Shift Towards Inclusive Hiring provides initiatives that build a culture of belonging to promote retention and advancement for women of color in tech and tech-enabled sectors. Our mission is to increase the representation of women of color in tech, including those from underrepresented communities, and to motivate companies to provide workplace support systems to retain and advance them into higher-level roles so they thrive. 

Internal recruitment practices outlined in this resource include revamping existing job descriptions, scrapping needless degree requirements, and prioritizing skills and certifications. Additionally, equipping staff, especially hiring managers, with unconscious bias can cultivate an inclusive and more streamlined hiring process and can entice a diverse range of talent to join an organization. 

Discover the steps your organization can take to foster diversity and inclusion in its hiring practices by reading The Diversity Directive linked here.   

Yahaira Moore

NPower New York

Tech Fundamentals Spring 2013, Cloud Computing Training Alumna 2019

Associate Managing Consultant, World Wide Technology

12 years ago, Yahaira found herself in a domestic violence shelter with her infant son, grappling with a tumultuous divorce and a forced hiatus from college. Determined to find a pathway towards a career and thus a better future for her and her son, Yahaira found NPower through her shelter. In 6 weeks, while balancing an internship, caregiving, and NPower training, she graduated from NPower’s Tech Fundamentals program.  

Today, Yahaira works as an Associate Managing Consultant at World Wide Technology. 

Read about the details of her journey into the tech industry, recently featured on INSIDER, here.

At the #InfoTechlive Research Group conference ( Info-Tech Research Group ), Candice Dixon, Executive Director of NPower and panelist, emphasized the importance of accelerating more women of color in tech.

Call for Scholarship Applications with ITSMF - Information Technology Senior Management Forum

Reboot Representation: #SystemUpgrade 

Reboot Representation recently released System Upgrade: Rebooting Corporate Policies for Impact.

This groundbreaking report features research from Reboot Representation , conducted by McKinsey & Company in partnership with Pivotal Ventures . 

By accessing the report’s free tools and resources, companies can build a workforce that endures, a workplace that excels, and an industry that innovates. Learn More

NPower & Command Shift in the News 

• NPower Maryland: The Baltimore Magazine featured NPower Maryland for Give Baltimore 2023. Read more about this honor and initiative here. 
• NPower North Carolina: NPower North Carolina was among the two nonprofits that received $1M in grants for tech workforce training from the Truist Foundation. Read more about this feature here. 

• Command Shift: Dr.Tanja M. Coleman, President of Reimagine Organization Inc., featured NPower’s recently published data in an article focused on navigating DEI in a politically charged climate. Read Dr.Coleman’s full article on Black Wall Street Times here. 

Innovating for Diversity by Bertina Ceccarelli and Sussanne Tedrick - Available Now!

☀️Bertina Ceccarelli, NPower CEO, along with☁️ Susanne Tedrick, "Women of Color in Tech" Author and Command Shift Coalition Member recently released "Innovating for Diversity". This book is centered around how the principles of innovation can be applied to build sustainable diversity, equity, and inclusion practices embraced at all levels across organizations.

Learn More Today!