2023 Strava AfroTech Reflections

By: Shalon Ani and Camille Tate

The Black at Strava Employee Resource Group (ERG) recently attended the 2023 AfroTech Conference in Austin, Texas. The co-leads of the Black at Strava ERG, Shalon Ani and Camille Tate took some time to reflect on their experiences and what this year’s conference meant to them. Read on to hear their reflections.

A time was had at AfroTech 2023! This was our second year attending AfroTech as the Black at Strava ERG, and it did not disappoint. More than the conference itself, connecting with black teammates you work within a fun learning environment was top-tier. AfroTech came through with high levels of black excellence, camaraderie, insight, and genuine connection amongst not only our fellow Black at Strava colleagues but also with other amazing black professionals in the tech industry from around the world.

This experience is unmatched and creates a sense of belonging like nothing else can! Strava providing its Black teammates with the opportunity to attend AfroTech every year just speaks to one of the ways Strava continues to prove its value of antiracism and commitment to DEI.

“As a co-lead for the Black@Strava ERG with the phenomenal Camille Tate, it was fun and rewarding to bring our members together and build stronger connections. We were able to meet new members of our ERG in person and re-acquaint ourselves with seasoned members over a delectable dinner kick-off to the week,”

• Shalon, Executive Assistant II, Black@Strava Co-Lead

“Attending AfroTech was a positive experience for me, personally. I was eager to immerse myself in a community of like-minded individuals who shared their passion for technology and innovation, along with my amazing ERG Co-Lead, Shalon Ani. It provided a unique opportunity for learning and growth, where members of the Black at Strava ERG could participate in workshops, panel discussions, and networking sessions focused on empowering and advancing Black professionals in the tech industry.”

• Camille, Director, Talent, Black@Strava Co-Lead

AfroTech provided the opportunity to gain insights from successful Black entrepreneurs and tech leaders. It fostered a sense of camaraderie, where connections could be forged, ideas exchanged, and a strong network of support developed. It was a chance to celebrate achievements, break down barriers, and inspire future generations, creating a powerful and uplifting atmosphere.

Everyone started each day dressed to impress with the kicks to match and ended each day connecting over great food and music. Information and training from the black lens is hard to come by in many of our day-to-days so attending sessions with talks led by people who look like me gave us a sense of pride to be Black in Tech.

A few of the highlights from a session standpoint were, “You can’t put KPIs on Culture” (Daylon Goff, Lori Hall McKissic, & Sharonda Britton), “The New Rules of Leadership in a Remote World” (Bernard Coleman), and “How to Build Inclusivity into Your Company’s Identity” (Denise Thomas).

“These sessions really encouraged us to keep pushing and building on the commitments Strava has made, from an individual perspective and to encourage others to turn words into action,” said Camille.

The resources didn’t stop there! Offerings such as networking events, and complimentary professional headshots were just a couple of the resources for the Culture that had us walking away feeling more confident and equipped to navigate within our careers.

It brought us all joy and a sense of relief to show up truly authentic, no filter, engaging in deep conversations and encouraging one another.

“I myself walked away feeling blessed, prepared, encouraged and revitalized! It is a beautiful thing to see all the professional melanin killin’ the game, proving we are not alone or the ‘only’. AfroTech 2023 filled my cup up and I can’t wait for next year,” said Shalon.

There were no titles, no levels, just a group of black teammates eager to be together and celebrate being in tech at Strava, learning more than we knew when we came through the door, and excited to take back all the fun stories to last us until we meet again.