Building Community & Career Development Opportunities for Our Black Employees
Thumbtackers share their experiences at this year’s AFROTECH™ Conference
At Thumbtack, we’re dedicated to making sure our Black employees feel valued and supported in all aspects of their career development at the company. This month, as part of our efforts around diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, we sponsored employees from our NOBLEtacks Employee Resource Group (ERG) and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) team to attend the leading conference for Black people in tech. During the AFROTECH™ Conference, Thumbtackers had the opportunity to connect with more than 20,000 Black tech innovators over a packed five days of professional development sessions, networking events with industry leaders, and conversations with top tech recruiters.
We chatted with Thumbtackers who attended, some for the first time. Here they share their experience, how the conference impacted them, and how it reinforced a sense of connection to one another and the company.
Tavon Barnswell (she/her), Senior DEI Program Manager & NOBLEtacks ERG member
How did Thumbtack’s participation in AfroTech support the company’s philosophy of diversity, equity, and inclusion?
Tavon: AfroTech is the leading conference for Black professionals in tech, and Thumbtack felt that it was important to offer this as an experience for both our DEI team and NOBLEtacks members. Thumbtack sponsored 8 employees. The conference was a great opportunity for employees to have access to professional and personal development sessions and also to be part of something that was for us, by us. It was very powerful to be at a conference geared towards not just our culture, but also the topics that are foremost in mind for our community. The event felt exhilarating and the energy was palpable.
How does the NOBLEtacks ERG support Thumbtack’s ability to create a culture of belonging?
Tavon: We have nine ERGs at Thumbtack, which all represent different, underrepresented groups in tech. Because Thumbtack is virtual-first, we’re always looking for ways to connect in person, especially for those who share a common identity. Our ERGs are a way of bringing people together, and instead of feeling like one of many, it’s feeling like you’re part of a community.
Dre Manning (he/him), Senior Creative Producer & NOBLEtacks ERG co-lead
What kind of learning and career development opportunities did you all participate in?
Dre: This year, I decided to take a bit of a leap by attending a few talks meant for engineers, even though I’m a Senior Creative Producer. I wanted to explore how to collaborate more effectively with different teams like engineers, marketers, and other cross-functional partners. I’ve always felt that if you want to be a great collaborator, you must learn the language of those you will work with.
What was the highlight of your time at AfroTech and how has it impacted you?
Dre: My highlight at AfroTech would be connecting with people I typically wouldn’t have crossed paths with in my day-to-day life. I met senior developers while singing our favorite artists’ greatest hits and connected with software sales reps while enjoying Texas BBQ. I met award-winning music producers because we admired each other’s attire. AfroTech was a great event, but being around people who look like me and are dedicated to their career growth was incredibly moving.
NOBLEtacks stands for Network of Black Leaders and Employees and is our Black employee resource group. The mission of NOBLEtacks is to foster an environment that supports and empowers Black employees at Thumbtack.
Interested in a career at Thumbtack? View our open roles at thumbtack.com/careers.
