Image by: Christina Morillo
As technology continues to shape our world, it’s important that the people creating it represent the diverse audiences that use it. However, the tech industry has historically struggled with diversity and inclusion. So, how can we envision the future of tech evolving to be more inclusive and representative of diverse voices and backgrounds?
The Importance of Diversity in Tech
Diversity in tech is crucial for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the customer base is changing to be increasingly diverse. You can’t create products, software, and tools for audiences you don’t understand. The talent creating new products must be diversified so they can walk in the shoes and speak the same language as the audiences consuming them
Secondly, diverse teams lead to better products and services. Products and services designed by the people who will be using them will reflect the true needs of that group. This leads to more innovative solutions and better outcomes
Bringing More Diverse Backgrounds into Tech
Creating awareness of the different fields and functions in the tech space is one way to bring more diverse backgrounds into tech. Tech is not a standalone thing anymore. Almost every product and service touches and leverages tech. Because of this, there are other ways to touch tech without being an engineer. You can be in tech and never have to know how to code. Maybe you’re creative and can build experiences and interfaces that attract people to a product. Maybe you’re an SME that can provide business perspectives to the product development process. Communicating and promoting these other options can help attract more diverse voices and perspectives into the tech ecosystem
Bootcamps are another way to encourage diversity in tech. The tech industry has started to even out in terms of gender and race, but there is still a long way to go. Bootcamps can help bridge the gap by providing training and education to people who may not have had access to traditional computer science programs. This can help bring more diverse voices and perspectives into the industry
Conclusion
The future of tech must be more inclusive and representative of diverse voices and backgrounds. This can be achieved by creating awareness of the different fields and functions in the tech space, promoting boot camps, and diversifying talent by creating new products. By doing so, we can create better products and services that truly serve the public and reflect the true needs of diverse audiences.