Serena Seeks To Add 100K+ New Black Engineers To Tech In Next Decade

NYSJ Sports-Entertainment Business News Service

April 19, 2022: Serena Williams has taken on many challenges in her life, both on and off the tennis courts. Now, she is challenging others to achieve a monumental goal.

Calling it a “movement to double the number of Black software tech engineers,” Karat interviewing company today unveiled what it called a “strategic investment” from Williams to “significantly scale Brilliant Black Minds, a program that improves access and inclusion across the technology industry.”

Karat said that by opening the program to all current and aspiring Black software engineers and serving as Karat’s “Champion of Brilliance,” Serena would support “Karat’s call on the industry to help add more than 100,000 new Black engineers to tech in the next decade.”

“There has never been a shortage of brilliance in Black America; only limits to the access and opportunities extended to our community,” Williams said via Seattle-based Karat. “That is why I am proud to team up with companies like Karat, who are taking actionable steps to bring more diversity and equity to the industry, as well as call on others to be part of the change.

“I have joined with Karat to build a movement — a movement to double the number of Black software tech engineers. So, if you are a Black software engineer, let’s go!"

According to Karat, “Many Black software engineers face multiple barriers to entry for jobs in the tech industry, from structural inequities that delay early exposure to computer science to limited information about how the industry hires, fewer connections in their professional networks, and less opportunities to practice technical interviews.”

As a result, just 5% of all software engineers in the U.S. are Black.

“We’re living in a world where engineering time grows more valuable every day, yet organizations are grappling with a multi-decade shortage of software engineers,” Mohit Bhende, co-founder and CEO of Karat, said via the company.

“The current approach is to source talent from the same talent pool over and over again, which reinforces the industry’s lack of diversity and makes it harder to find technical talent.

“The Brilliant Black Minds program helps solve this major business challenge by giving organizations access to a deeper, interview-ready talent pool. More engineers ultimately unlocks more engineering time, driving diverse and powerful innovations.”

According to Williams, “The technology industry is focused on solving some of the world’s biggest challenges. My focus is ensuring the solutions to those challenges are developed by all of us.”

Photo: Karat

Back to Home Page