Hack.Diversity welcomes its most competitive Fellowship Cohort and increases its commitment to equity for all
In 2024, Hack.Diversity will break down barriers for 100+ Fellows and partner with 25+ companies across Boston and New York City
BOSTON, MA and New York City, NY — February 15, 2024 — Hack.Diversity enters its eighth program cycle in Boston and second year in New York City, welcoming 100+ Fellows and partnering with Host Companies, ranging from hypergrowth startups to industry pillars. Since its inception, Hack.Diversity has connected over 500 technologists to their first internship in tech. Hack.Alumni have been retained and/or promoted at Host Companies, including but not limited to: athenahealth, Amazon Web Services (AWS), ezCater, and Liberty Mutual — and have also gone on to contribute to other pillars of the innovation economy.
For the 2024 Fellowship, Hack.Diversity received 1,000+ applications — making this its most selective year to date with a 10% acceptance rate. Within this year’s Cohort, 52% are trailblazers being the first in their family to attend college, 32% have pursued education through community college, and 29% have participated in a bootcamp. In addition, 73% are pursuing their first internships in software engineering, data analytics, or mechanical engineering.
“I realize that the tech industry has a certain image of what a software engineer looks like, and I feel proud of being someone who differs from that image but has the ambition to rise above these preconceived notions and succeed as a young professional in one of the most important sectors in the global economy.”
— Kevin Gonzales, 2024 Hack.Diversity Fellow
Hack.Diversity is on a mission to transform the economy by breaking down barriers into tech for underresourced and underestimated communities. “Our commitment is centered on breaking down barriers so that we might build generational wealth and truly achieve equity for all,” says Michelle De La Isla, Chief Executive Officer of Hack.Diversity. Highlighting the impact of the program, De La Isla shares that Fellows and Alumni have opportunities to not only elevate their careers but also shape the future of tech. The work is done in collaboration with companies that share a commitment to disrupt existing systems, structures, and practices to effectively hire, retain, and elevate all talent profiles. The economic return on investment is clear — more inclusive teams, especially at the senior leadership level, return more profit for the organization.
In 2024, 25+ companies have committed to the nine-month talent matching, equity action, and performance review cycle. First-year partners include: Bloomberg, Flywire, Geode Capital Management, MongoDB, and WHOOP.
“Bloomberg’s recruiting team is excited to partner with organizations with similar values to Bloomberg in creating inclusive and safe spaces for underrepresented talent. When our Corporate Philanthropy team introduced us to Hack.Diversity, we immediately saw the alignment in its focus on breaking down barriers for Black and Latinx talent. We look forward to hosting Hack.Diversity Fellows in New York City this summer, where our engineers will showcase the possibilities of careers in tech. We know they will help inspire the next generation of engineering talent right here in our local community, while showcasing all Bloomberg has to offer: technology, mentorship, community, and philanthropy.”
— Chevonne Ortiz, D&I Engineering Recruiting Team Lead at Bloomberg“The partnership between WHOOP and Hack.Diversity aligns seamlessly with our commitment to fostering an inclusive work environment and, more broadly, contributing to a tech ecosystem that reflects the diverse world we live in. We are thrilled to welcome two Hack.Diversity fellows this summer who we know will enrich our company culture with fresh insights and unique skill sets.”
— Jaclyn Calovine, Associate Vice President of People & Culture at WHOOP
Companies recommitting include: athenahealth, AWS, Bain Capital, Bain & Company, Bitsight, BookBub, CarGurus, Curriculum Associates, Cushman & Wakefield, ezCater, Formlabs, Hometap, Kyruus Health, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Mainstay, Moderna, Opensignal, Rapid7, Sensata Technologies, Vertex, and Wayfair.
“Hack.Diversity’s mission and fellowship program supports CarGurus’ objective to cultivate and foster a culture where inclusiveness is a reflex, not an initiative. Our work with the Hack.Diversity team over the past two years has provided invaluable insights that, we believe, will make a lasting impact on the success of our early career programs. The individuals hired through this program have brought unique experiences and perspectives that positively contribute to our collaborative culture.”
— Matt Quinn, Chief Technology Officer at CarGurus
Hack.Diversity continues to bridge the tech talent gap, evolve systemic hiring practices, and break down barriers to entry in tech.
Hack.Diversity partners with companies for systems and process change to hire, retain, and promote remarkable talent. Founded in Boston in 2016 as a project of the New England Venture Capital Association, “Hack” has grown into an independent nonprofit organization and a movement of belonging in the tech workplace, achieving generational wealth-building impact with regional recognition.
