Reflecting on 2023 and Looking Ahead to 2024
Candice L. Dixon
Command Shift: Accelerating More Women of Color in Tech| Atlanta Business Chronicle 40 Under 40| PRovoke Media Innovator 25
As we approach the close of a transformative year, we hold close the spirit of reflection and appreciation. At Command Shift, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the dedicated individuals who have actively contributed to the advancement of our mission. We appreciate the courageous young women of color who are embracing the challenges of stepping into tech positions for the first time, our Steering Committee members who are leading us toward continued success and future endeavors, and our corporate and nonprofit partners whose unwavering commitment and passion drive the progress and acceleration of our initiatives.
Reflecting on the challenges and triumphs of the past year, it is heartening to witness the life-changing impact of our work at NPower through Command Shift. We are humbled to report that more than 530 women have successfully graduated from NPower classes in 2023 with a median starting salary of $58,000. This achievement underscores the tangible difference we collectively make in empowering individuals and reshaping the landscape of opportunities in the tech industry. Here's to a promising year ahead of many more lives changed.
Last Call: Join Command Shift’s Employer Pilot
As we enter a new year, is your company considering evaluating its DEIB practices to attract, retain, and advance diverse talent? The Command Shift Coalition would like to help. In 2023, Command Shift launched the Diversity Directive, a dynamic resource with empowering and effective strategies to dismantle barriers and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion for women of color. We invite you to dive deeper and enact these strategies with fellow corporations by joining our Employer Pilot! A limited number of slots are still available.
About the Command Shift Employer Pilot:
1. Objective: The pilot aims to understand how companies can effectively utilize the Diversity Directive to reshape internal policies and foster a more inclusive workplace.
2. Benefits for Participants: Each participating company will receive personalized guidance from a DEI coach, helping them implement the Diversity Directive and attract a more equitable and diverse tech workforce.
3. Selection Process: To express your interest in joining the Command Shift Employer Pilot, send a letter of interest (no longer than one page) to project manager Candice Dixon, Candice.Dixon@npower.org and commandshift@npower.org.
Your company has the chance to be at the forefront of transformative change within the tech industry. By participating in the Command Shift Employer Pilot, you are not only contributing to a more equitable future but also positioning your company as a leader in diversity and inclusion. We look forward to receiving your letter of interest.
NPower & Command Shift across the USA
Throughout the year, NPower CEO ☀️Bertina Ceccarelli and Command Shift's Executive Director Candice L. Dixon were privileged to travel across the U.S., fostering connections and providing education on the Command Shift Coalition and the impactful initiatives led by NPower. The following highlights offer a glimpse into Candice and Bertina's experiences on the road this year.
March: Workday , a member of the Command Shift Coalition, hosted Command Shift members and NPower alumna Daney Forbes to discuss strategies for doubling the number of women of color in tech.
July: At the AstrumU® Forum for Education & Enterprise, NPower CEO ☀️Bertina Ceccarelli spoke about why companies need to move toward a more skills-based approach to hiring and the collaborative efforts leaders must make to ensure change on a larger scale. The conversation included a look into how AI can support building a skills-based economy as companies rethink how they hire and retain talent.
October: Candice was thrilled to attend Comcast NBCUniversal ’s ‘Project UP Summit’, where she convened with nonprofit leaders and Comcast executives to celebrate the collective work towards advancing digital equity.
NPower & Command Shift in the News
Over the course of this year, NPower and Command Shift have garnered notable attention in the media. We invite you to read the articles below to learn more about Command Shift’s mission and impact tailored through different voices and experiences below:
In this piece, Candice Dixon and NPower Alumna and Senior Tech Analyst Daney Forbes connected with Forbes contributor Gemma Allen 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.
Read the full article here.
In this piece of contributed content, Candice Dixon offered actionable strategies for company heads and hiring managers via the organization’s new Diversity Directive resource guide.The Diversity Directive meets companies where they’re at in their DEI journeys Read Candice’s guest post for Technical.ly here.
Business Insider: NPower Alumna Yahira Moore’s story: “We lived in a domestic violence shelter when my son was an infant, and now I make $100,000 a year. Here's how I did it”
In this "as told to" essay, NPower Alumna Yahaira Moore recounts her inspiring journey into the tech industry. Twelve years ago, Yahaira faced the challenges of a domestic violence shelter, a tumultuous divorce, and a hiatus in her college education. Fueled by determination and supported by NPower, she triumphed over adversity, ultimately achieving the position of Associate Managing Consultant at World Wide Technology.
Read about the details of her journey into the tech industry, here.
Closing Thanks and Happy Holidays
As we step into a new year, consider being a catalyst for change by donating to Command Shift through NPower here. Your support builds and sustains our crucial work and enables us to create opportunities, provide second chances, and open doors for those who need it most.
Looking ahead to 2024, we are focused on achieving key milestones and introducing new programming that amplifies the visibility and urgency of our mission. Collaborating with dedicated partners, we will continue expanding our reach to empower more women of color from non-traditional backgrounds. By doing so, we hope to contribute to broadening their opportunities for economic mobility.
Stay engaged and informed by reading this newsletter and following us across our social channels as we embark on another vibrant and successful year. Your continued support makes a lasting impact, transforms lives and shaping a more equitable future in the tech industry.