My thoughts from Bowie State’s Panel Discussion entitled “Blockchain the Road Ahead: Challenges & Benefits in Advocating for Diversity & Inclusion.”
My name is Mario Beckles Jr., and I operate a cryptocurrency mining operation in Baltimore, MD that focuses on education & awareness. I create and post content on LinkedIn to help spread knowledge about the latest news and trends in the cryptocurrency, cryptocurrency mining and Blockchain space. I am currently consulting and executing one-on-one sessions in the Baltimore area. Follow me on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mario-beckles-jr-1aa60015b/
Topic 1: Blockchain Overview:
- Help us demystify “what is Blockchain?” in 2–3 sentences.
Blockchain technology is a decentralized database that holds a registry of transactions and assets in a peer-to-peer network. Through the use of cryptography the data is grouped together to form blocks which are linked and secured. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block with a timestamp and transaction data.
2. How is this technology helping people at the ground level (unbankable. P2P payments, Investment management and supply chain as examples)? Is Blockchain going to solve all the world technology problems and make people obsolete in the future work force?
People that live in countries where banks are not easily accessible, or if they feel they cannot trust the government will be able to connect with people in their network to exchange assets of value and have the registry updated reflecting the transaction. Today, we send money via centralized organizations like Western Union, whereas with Blockchain technology and cryptocurrency, we send monetary funds to one another by exchanging software wallet addresses and sending funds in real time; similar to the way we use the email IMAP and POP3 protocol today.
Regarding supply chain management, food safety will be positively impacted. For example, it will reduce the time it takes to pinpoint and eradicate the source of foodborne illness. The technology will enable companies to trace the source of contaminated products to its source quickly, and ensure safe removal from store shelves and restaurants.
The process to update an educational transcript would improve because we do not own our own information; the centralized educational institutions do. Education can be self-taught, however, we cannot calculate or itemize what we learned, and have it serve as credentials on our resume for career opportunities. With Blockchain technology, what we learned, and how and when we learned, could be validated on the Blockchain.
Blockchain technology will be able to help people completely control their online fingerprint and their PII (Personal Identifiable, Information). This way, the centralized institutions cannot misuse it for their own gain without your consent, or get hacked, lose your information, and sell you products to keep it safe later.
Blockchain will not solve all the worlds technology problems but it will have an impact on the redundant processes and systems that will have a negative outcome on the human work force.
3. Cryptocurrency is still what many think when they hear blockchain but we know they can be separated. How do we help people understand this concept?
Blockchain technology is a decentralized database of many kinds of assets, or a record of financial transactions, like Bitcoin. Other assets could be intellectual property, music, votes, or even stocks. Cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin, falls into an asset class that is in a database and on the registry that is stored on millions of computers (or nodes) around the world within the Bitcoin peer-to-peer network. Think of Bitcoin as a decentralized currency and payment system, and blockchain as the platform with scripting language using cryptography for secure immutable record keeping. Just like email was the first application of the internet, Bitcoin or cryptocurrency was the first major application of blockchain.
Topic 2: Diversity & Inclusion in Blockchain: The Blockchain and cryptocurrency space has the reputation of an “all boys club” (aka “bitcoin bros”)
1. Why should the technology and investment sectors include more diversity? Is the Blockchain world opening up for people of color? Why are minorities seemingly always the last to the economic and technology table?
The technology and investment sectors should include more diversity because diversity breeds innovation and creativity. Plus, diversity is profitable; pure talent and ideas come from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. Companies whose employees reflect their consumers are generally more profitable. Unleashing creativity to provide lasting solutions comes from all employees participating from diverse backgrounds.
The Blockchain world is widening for people of color. It is growing at a slow pace, but overall people of color around the world are becoming more involved, although they are still underrepresented in the tech industry. Atlassian conducted a survey in January of 2018 of 1,500 tech workers in the United States, and 400 tech workers in Silicon Valley. The respondents were drawn from a diverse range of geographies and job roles at companies of 20 employees or more. The key findings from the survey were; more than 40% believe their company’s inclusion of people from underrepresented groups needs no improvement and less than 30% of underrepresented groups have representation, retention and sense of belonging.
In years past, economic and technology education had everything to do with pure access, meaning no other way to access the information but by the means of educational institutions or someone within your network of friends and family. Now, information can be accessed by anyone with a computer. I believe it starts with planting a seed to inspire curiosity; young people are very curious but oftentimes lack the support to reach their goals.
African-Americans share of the computer & math employment falls short of their workforce share in 89 of the 97 largest metros for which there is data, with the worst representation gaps in metros like Jackson, MS -17.4% points, Memphis, Tenn. -15.9%, and in my hometown Richmond, VA -14%. For Hispanics, the underrepresentation extends to 88 of 90 large metros, with some of the worst underrepresentation in computer & math occupations occurring in Bakersfield, Calif. -27.9%, Los Angeles -27.6% and Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, Calif. -27.3%.
2. How do we attract more people of color and women to this space? Do panels like this help or hurt? Do we need more mentors? Is it the lack of financial resources?
We can attract more people of color and women to the space by educating and spreading awareness about the technology and the improvements it brings to their everyday lives.
Lectures, panels, and discussions, like those held at Bowie State University, helps to provide more dialogue on the topic for our audience and gives a real world view of who is actively working in the space. Being able to meet someone who is actively working in the space, without looking through a screen, makes the dream more real, and achievable.
3. How should businesses go about creating the right culture and visibility while:
a) delivering excellence to build the future and
b) getting their ROI/meeting their bottom line?
How do we grow our brands but also help our brothers and sisters?
I believe it starts with senior leadership keeping it simple and basic. Some of the greatest companies in the world use simple and basic guidelines to train, lead, and develop their workforce. One such company, the Walt Disney Company, uses four key basics: Safety, Courtesy, Show and Efficiency. They also use ‘Traditions’ to orient all new staff from c-suite executives to seasonal cast members on what it means to respect others’ diversity, and show courtesy to all regardless if they are the internal customer, your co-worker or the external guest, venders, or resort guests. It all starts with the basics.
To truly build a company focused on excellence, a solid future, earning the ROI, and exceeding the bottom line it should focus on continuous cross-training and development, efficiency, succession planning and sustainability.
The simple rule to follow to grow your company brand and help our sisters and brothers is to set the tone with leadership and expectations. Every customer or guest should have the same type of experience regardless of which location they arrive to, or the day of the week. Ensure the “wow” factor by making everyone feel important through recognition, appreciation, and encouragement — all the while developing them as you train.
Through access to capital, contracts and contacts, it is possible to expand the diversity of the IT talent pipeline at the high end of the skills continuum, as well as to radically expand exposure to entry-level tech skills. These efforts can take root at the local level.
Topic 3: Blockchain Education:
- Is it the University’s problem to educate and solve the lack of accessibility? Do we need to change the way we teach Science and Emerging Technologies? Are the costs and student debt loans amounts stunting the growth of Blockchain for minorities? HBCU’s- are they on par with other schools and if not what do they need to start working on?
This is a nationwide issue when it comes to African-Americans and Hispanics in computer and math occupations. African-Americans make up to 11.9% of all workers but only 7.9 percent of computer & math workers. Hispanics make up 16.7% of all workers but only 6.8% of computer & math workers. One area specifically, information security analysts African-Americans make up 9.20% & Hispanics make up 8.90% as of 2016. African-Americans & Hispanics remain underrepresented in tech jobs by nearly 50 percent, nationwide. Only 4.4% and 2.9% of database administrators were black and Hispanic irrespectively as of 2016.
We do need to change the way we teach Science and Emerging Technologies by providing programs that will allow on-the-job training, or have the local Fortune 500 companies assist with the curriculum. We have a labor shortage in America of skilled workers, but do not provide support to our schools, teachers, or students. Also, student loan debt does indeed stunt the growth for everyone, not just people of color. HBCU’s in particular need to start working on …
Muro, Mark. Berube, Alan. Whiton, Jacob. (2018). Black and Hispanic underrepresentation in tech: It’s time to change the equation. Retrieved July 2, 2018, from https://www.brookings.edu/research/black-and-hispanic-underrepresentation-in-tech-its-time-to-change-the-equation/
2018 State of Diversity Report in U.S. Tech. Retrieved July 5, 2018, from https://www.atlassian.com/diversity/survey/2018