Honoring Veterans: Recognizing Their Unique Contributions to the Tech Industry

As November comes to a close and we reflect on another Veterans Day, our hearts are with the numerous NPower Veteran Alumni whose sacrifices and unwavering dedication to our nation fuel the meaningful work we undertake. In this month of gratitude, we extend our sincere appreciation to all service members and veterans for their unwavering courage and dedication.

Veterans bring unique skills to any workplace, including tech positions. Their experience might include working with new technology like drones, GPS and sophisticated radios. They are trustworthy, with many holding active Secret or Top-Secret clearances. They are mission-driven and know how to communicate vertically and horizontally in the workplace.

Military personnel also are team players and have likely held leadership positions where they were accountable for people, equipment, and mission accomplishment. When we consider diversity, we can look to the Armed Forces as a pioneer in the field, integrating races, genders, ethnicities and more into successful teams.   

NPower is proud to be a SkillBridge training partner, a Department of Defense program that trains military personnel for tech skills and certifications while they are still on active duty, helping to prepare them for high-growth civilian careers in tech. Read more about this partnership from our CEO, Bertina Ceccarelli and Colonel Chris Starling , USMC (Ret.).

Diversity Directive Insight: Shift Towards Transformational Investment

In the modern global economy, every company is a tech company. No matter the size or industry, just about every business requires employees with digital skills and technology expertise.

In our continuing series on Command Shift’s Diversity Directive, we are focusing on the Shift Towards Transformational Investment, developed to empower employers and philanthropists help tear down one of the biggest barriers for women of color pursuing technology careers: the lack of access to opportunities for technology training and education. A survey of 32 tech companies found that while many would like to increase the number of women of color in their organizations, they invest less than 0.1 percent of their philanthropic investment towards removing the barriers keeping Black, Latina, and women of color from pursing careers in tech. 

Successful initiatives that support training and skills development are characterized by a community of supportive peers, building up the confidence of young girls and women in their abilities, ongoing and consistent access to technology and computing experiences, among others. 

Its time to build women of color for strategic success in the tech industry. Discover the different ways your organization can take to invest in and develop programs that support girls and women of color in developing the skills they need to enter careers in technology by reading The Diversity Directive linked here. 

NPower & Command Shift across the USA

Command Shift’s Exectuive Director Candice Dixon was honored to attend the AfroTech Conference this year, where she connected with employers that are committed to fueling the Black talent pipeline in the tech industry.

We extend our gratitude to Fund II Foundation for sponsoring the attendance of the NPower team.

NPower Alumni Spotlight

Jacqueline Bragg

NPower Texas

Tech Fundamentals Spring 2019

Information Security Analyst, Citi

Jacqueline Bragg has a strong military background, with her father serving in the United States Air Force for 31 years and her being married to a U.S. Marine.

After working in transportation and healthcare, Jacqueline decided to enroll in cybersecurity courses at a community college. Despite facing some challenges, she persevered and eventually applied for NPower's free IT training program.

Jacqueline excelled in the program and was offered an internship with Citi after graduation. Today, she works as an Information Security Analyst at Citi, having become a successful IT professional.

“I am the proud spouse of a Marine and daughter of an Air Force man. I am a proud student of NPower, looking forward to a career in information technology and cybersecurity. ”

NPower & Command Shift in the News 

“For innovation to meet the demands of the future, there needs to be a meeting of diverse minds to design products and solutions. For tech companies, how better to understand their audiences than to hire employees who represent them?”

Recently, Candice Dixon and NPower Alumna and Senior Tech Analyst Daney Forbes connected with Forbes to share their journeys to NPower and the current challenges facing women of color to not only join but also thrive in the tech industry. 

With a myriad of companies committing to diversity and inclusion, Candice discusses two powerful approaches to fuel women of color in the tech industry: fostering self-belief through organizational encouragement, and how key employer partnerships open the door for women of color to enter the tech workforce. 

Read the full profile piece here.

Support Command Shift & NPower this Giving Season

As we embrace the holiday spirit of giving, we invite you to join us in making a difference in the lives of women of color pursuing careers in technology. This season, consider donating to Command Shift through a contribution to NPower here.

Your contribution will directly impact the lives of aspiring tech professionals, providing them with access to education, skills training, financial stability, psychological support, and industry connections. Together, we can create opportunities and empower women of color to thrive in the ever-evolving tech landscape.