In Tech ….the Negative Lead …Why?
I get it and so does everyone else. There’s a lack of diversity. The question is why do media concerns continue to draft articles on the subject using the tone of the defeated?
Truth told, this lack of diversity impacts quite a few industries outside of tech. Arts, Education, Entertainment, Healthcare, Public Policy, Politics, and so many others.
For whatever reason, since 2012/13, the bastion of emphasis has been tech. Fine. And in that time the professional landscape has all but waited to pounce on the next dismal diversity report.
Yet, when you talk to me, my friends and their friends, we move with aspirational confidence. Idealists seen as warriors that take action to win. Present at all times.
We are not interested in a fourth year narrative of having faced defeat. Nor are we interested in being quoted in another “lack of diversity” article by any publication. Period.
However, we are interested in solutions. Discussing best practices, highlighting challenges, socializing the conversation towards inclusive progress. That’s important.
We know the internal pipeline lacks depth. We know that schools might better align their academic syllabus and that students need to rigor up. Got that.
We also know that more than coders are required. Which is why I focus on Finance, Sales, and Tech when speaking on college campuses about Rip The Resume.
We know that recruiting team schedules must enlarge their footprint, that biases must be checked, and that time will show favor. I know, they need more time. At least we hope so.
Most of all, we know that LEADERSHIP must execute. Repeat: we know that leadership MUST lead the charge and allocate the resources. Not that fluffy PR type take charge.
Leadership requires active participation. It requires commitment beyond a check. It requires a not so sensitive evaluation of internal meeting and travel schedules. Important data point.
To focus on the tone of defeat, when the battle is still being fought, is demoralizing for many. It pierces my spirit, especially in light of current socio economic conditions.
Instead of another year of negative leading stories, let’s plan for a better 2017. Marketing, media, and recruiting teams need to provide markers of progress that move the industry forward.
Keeping in mind that the readers, recipients, and recruits of this messaging are among the very peoplewe are trying to attract. Remember, potential minus interferance equals results.
Some of us are willing to work them. Because in the end they matter most. Let’s stamp out mediocrity and bootleg story tellers that drag down the narrative. The fourth wave depends on our getting this right.
Word up.
