While there should be collective efforts to increase tech
While there should be collective efforts to increase tech inclusion overall, the industry must work to specifically attract and retain women of color.
The words of Kimberly Bryant — “While there should be collective efforts to increase tech inclusion overall, the industry must work to specifically attract and retain women of color” — shine like a beacon over the vast and stormy seas of the modern age. She speaks not only of inclusion, but of justice, of the sacred duty to lift those who have long been barred from entering the halls of innovation. For the world of technology, mighty though it is, cannot claim true progress if its gates are closed to the voices of women of color, whose genius and vision are essential to the fullness of human advancement.
Her wisdom is born of recognition: that when all are invited, yet some are still forgotten, the invitation is incomplete. The industry may boast of growth, but it is diminished if it leaves behind the very people who could carry it into new realms. By calling for the attraction and retention of women of color, Bryant unmasks the hidden chains — bias, neglect, and exclusion — and demands they be broken. This is no small task, but a heroic charge to reshape the very foundations of power.
History gives us a witness in the life of Katherine Johnson, the African American mathematician whose calculations guided NASA’s journeys into space. At a time when both her gender and race were counted against her, she endured, and her brilliance carried humanity beyond the skies. Yet her story also reveals the truth of Bryant’s words: how many voices like hers were lost, how much greater might the world have been if they had been welcomed, nurtured, and celebrated?
The call to action in Bryant’s words is not only practical but spiritual. She teaches that a community is not whole when some of its members are silenced or cast aside. To build inclusion is to heal the fractures of history; to make space for women of color in technology is to declare that the future belongs to all, not only to the privileged few. This is the labor of justice, and it demands courage equal to any battlefield.
Therefore, O seekers of wisdom, carry this teaching into the world: let not progress be measured only by speed or profit, but by the breadth of those it uplifts. True innovation is not the work of a few, but of the many joined together. And as Kimberly Bryant reminds us, the industry that dares to embrace the brilliance of women of color will not only gain equity — it will gain greatness.
NKNGUYEN KIEU
Kimberly Bryant’s focus on women of color in tech really got me thinking. It’s one thing to talk about diversity in tech, but another to actively engage with the challenges that women of color face. What are the barriers that prevent women of color from breaking into tech in the first place? And once they’re there, how can companies ensure they are not only accepted but supported in their growth and development?
Ssayhiwithmee
This is such an important point. It seems like tech companies focus a lot on the idea of diversity, but are they truly addressing the systemic issues that women of color face in entering and staying in tech? What does true inclusion look like for women of color? It’s not just about making space for them—it’s about actively creating opportunities and environments where they feel welcome and valued in every aspect of the tech industry.
NTNguyen Thinh
I think this quote sheds light on the often unspoken challenges that women of color face in the tech industry. It’s not enough to just hire more diverse candidates; we need to ensure that they have the resources and support to succeed long-term. What does the industry need to do to break down the barriers that prevent women of color from thriving, especially in a field that’s known for its lack of diversity?
Nngan
It’s great to see Kimberly Bryant advocating for more targeted efforts to include women of color in tech. But I wonder, what specific actions can be taken to attract and retain them? Diversity programs often focus on the numbers, but retention is another issue entirely. How do we create environments where women of color feel supported, valued, and able to rise to leadership positions in the tech world?
KKhang
This statement really highlights an important issue. While tech inclusion is a broader goal, it’s clear that women of color face unique barriers that aren’t always addressed by the general push for diversity. Why is it that women of color are so often overlooked in tech spaces? How can the industry make more meaningful efforts to create environments where women of color not only enter but also thrive in these roles?