[Applause] on November 9 2016 I think the majority
on November 9 2016 I think the majority
on November 9 2016 I think the majority of America woke up saw the results of
of America woke up saw the results of
of America woke up saw the results of the presidential election and looked
the presidential election and looked
the presidential election and looked something like this
something like this
something like this I mean whether you are Republican
I mean whether you are Republican
I mean whether you are Republican Democrat or independent everyone was
Democrat or independent everyone was
Democrat or independent everyone was surprised by the presidential election
surprised by the presidential election
surprised by the presidential election every poll had Hillary Clinton in the
every poll had Hillary Clinton in the
every poll had Hillary Clinton in the lead the New York Times at one point
lead the New York Times at one point
lead the New York Times at one point gave her a 93 percent chance of winning
gave her a 93 percent chance of winning
gave her a 93 percent chance of winning but instead it was Trump who won with
but instead it was Trump who won with
but instead it was Trump who won with 47% of the vote Trump selection was met
47% of the vote Trump selection was met
47% of the vote Trump selection was met with both celebratory rallies and
with both celebratory rallies and
with both celebratory rallies and peaceful protests but in the month
peaceful protests but in the month
peaceful protests but in the month immediately following the election the
immediately following the election the
immediately following the election the Southern Poverty Law Center recorded
Southern Poverty Law Center recorded
Southern Poverty Law Center recorded over 1,000 incidents of hateful
over 1,000 incidents of hateful
over 1,000 incidents of hateful harassment this compared to 5860
harassment this compared to 5860
harassment this compared to 5860 incidents that were recorded by the FBI
incidents that were recorded by the FBI
incidents that were recorded by the FBI in all of 2015 the nation seems more
in all of 2015 the nation seems more
in all of 2015 the nation seems more divided than ever not just along
divided than ever not just along
divided than ever not just along political lines but also along racial
political lines but also along racial
political lines but also along racial gender religious and nationalist lines
gender religious and nationalist lines
gender religious and nationalist lines issues of diversity and inclusion are
issues of diversity and inclusion are
issues of diversity and inclusion are now at the forefront of the conversation
debates are raging protests seem to be
debates are raging protests seem to be happening on a weekly basis over new
happening on a weekly basis over new
happening on a weekly basis over new immigration policies women in LGBT
immigration policies women in LGBT
immigration policies women in LGBT rights whether or not our federal
rights whether or not our federal
rights whether or not our federal government should be tracking Muslims
government should be tracking Muslims
government should be tracking Muslims I’ve had so many conversations with my
I’ve had so many conversations with my
I’ve had so many conversations with my colleagues who are also driving
colleagues who are also driving
colleagues who are also driving diversity inclusion within their
diversity inclusion within their
diversity inclusion within their technology companies who are wondering
technology companies who are wondering
technology companies who are wondering how do we handle these issues and where
how do we handle these issues and where
how do we handle these issues and where do we go from here but before we can ask
do we go from here but before we can ask
do we go from here but before we can ask ourselves that question I think we also
ourselves that question I think we also
ourselves that question I think we also have to ask ourselves how do we get here
have to ask ourselves how do we get here
have to ask ourselves how do we get here in the first place let’s start by
in the first place let’s start by
in the first place let’s start by defining what I mean when I say
defining what I mean when I say
defining what I mean when I say diversity an inclusion it within the
diversity an inclusion it within the
diversity an inclusion it within the context of the technology industry
context of the technology industry
context of the technology industry diversity in its broadest form refers to
diversity in its broadest form refers to
diversity in its broadest form refers to all the differences and similarities
all the differences and similarities
all the differences and similarities that make each person unique but when we
that make each person unique but when we
that make each person unique but when we talk about diversity in tech what we’re
talk about diversity in tech what we’re
talk about diversity in tech what we’re referring to primarily is those groups
referring to primarily is those groups
referring to primarily is those groups that are underrepresented within the
that are underrepresented within the
that are underrepresented within the industry typical
industry typical
industry typical eight blacks Latinos and women on the
eight blacks Latinos and women on the
eight blacks Latinos and women on the other hand inclusion means leveraging
other hand inclusion means leveraging
other hand inclusion means leveraging taking all of that diversity and
taking all of that diversity and
taking all of that diversity and leveraging it to its fullest potential
leveraging it to its fullest potential
leveraging it to its fullest potential so that everyone can have a sense of
so that everyone can have a sense of
so that everyone can have a sense of belonging no matter what your background
belonging no matter what your background
belonging no matter what your background because there have been so much so many
because there have been so much so many
because there have been so much so many research studies done on the benefits of
research studies done on the benefits of
research studies done on the benefits of diversity where companies that have that
diversity where companies that have that
diversity where companies that have that are more racially and gender diverse
are more racially and gender diverse
are more racially and gender diverse perform better financially where you see
perform better financially where you see
perform better financially where you see more diverse teams generating more
more diverse teams generating more
more diverse teams generating more innovative ideas understandably the tech
innovative ideas understandably the tech
innovative ideas understandably the tech industry has really tried to embrace
industry has really tried to embrace
industry has really tried to embrace more diversity and inclusion in its
more diversity and inclusion in its
more diversity and inclusion in its ranks but unfortunately with less than
ranks but unfortunately with less than
ranks but unfortunately with less than stellar results
stellar results
stellar results case in point just 1% of employees at
case in point just 1% of employees at
case in point just 1% of employees at tech giant’s Airbnb Facebook Google and
tech giant’s Airbnb Facebook Google and
tech giant’s Airbnb Facebook Google and Yahoo are black and this number hasn’t
Yahoo are black and this number hasn’t
Yahoo are black and this number hasn’t changed since 2014 when these companies
changed since 2014 when these companies
changed since 2014 when these companies first started reporting their
first started reporting their
first started reporting their demographics and this in spite of the
demographics and this in spite of the
demographics and this in spite of the fact that they are pouring millions of
fact that they are pouring millions of
fact that they are pouring millions of dollars into their diversity programs
dollars into their diversity programs
dollars into their diversity programs and publicly pledging to do better why
and publicly pledging to do better why
and publicly pledging to do better why has there been so little progress on
has there been so little progress on
has there been so little progress on diversity and inclusion in tech I think
diversity and inclusion in tech I think
diversity and inclusion in tech I think it’s because Silicon Valley lives in a
it’s because Silicon Valley lives in a
it’s because Silicon Valley lives in a bubble that has been created primarily
bubble that has been created primarily
bubble that has been created primarily by white straight males from elite
by white straight males from elite
by white straight males from elite educational backgrounds that means that
educational backgrounds that means that
educational backgrounds that means that they find it very difficult to relate to
they find it very difficult to relate to
they find it very difficult to relate to other marginalized experiences that are
other marginalized experiences that are
other marginalized experiences that are not their own the other major reason why
not their own the other major reason why
not their own the other major reason why tech was so surprised by the results of
tech was so surprised by the results of
tech was so surprised by the results of the election is because they have a very
the election is because they have a very
the election is because they have a very narrow definition of diversity that I
narrow definition of diversity that I
narrow definition of diversity that I referred to earlier this almost singular
referred to earlier this almost singular
referred to earlier this almost singular focus on race and gender means we don’t
focus on race and gender means we don’t
focus on race and gender means we don’t tend to consider other marginalized
tend to consider other marginalized
tend to consider other marginalized experiences like those communities in
experiences like those communities in
experiences like those communities in middle America that really helped to
middle America that really helped to
middle America that really helped to drive that election result we’ve
drive that election result we’ve
drive that election result we’ve traditionally defined the digital divide
traditionally defined the digital divide
traditionally defined the digital divide as an issue of access to technology
as an issue of access to technology
as an issue of access to technology those who have it versus those who don’t
those who have it versus those who don’t
those who have it versus those who don’t I think we actually need to expand that
I think we actually need to expand that
I think we actually need to expand that definition to include those who can
definition to include those who can
definition to include those who can fully participate in and directly
fully participate in and directly
fully participate in and directly benefit from
benefit from
benefit from the technology revolution versus those
the technology revolution versus those
the technology revolution versus those who can’t I’m not talking about whether
who can’t I’m not talking about whether
who can’t I’m not talking about whether or not you have the ability to download
or not you have the ability to download
or not you have the ability to download the latest Netflix show or Skype with
the latest Netflix show or Skype with
the latest Netflix show or Skype with your friends I’m really talking about
your friends I’m really talking about
your friends I’m really talking about whether or not people feel like their
whether or not people feel like their
whether or not people feel like their lives are better off as a direct result
lives are better off as a direct result
lives are better off as a direct result of advancements in technology and
of advancements in technology and
of advancements in technology and clearly that is not true for everyone in
clearly that is not true for everyone in
clearly that is not true for everyone in the country the working class in
the country the working class in
the country the working class in particular have been disrupted displaced
particular have been disrupted displaced
particular have been disrupted displaced and disenfranchised because technology
and disenfranchised because technology
and disenfranchised because technology has not benefited them factories have
has not benefited them factories have
has not benefited them factories have closed because technology has enabled
closed because technology has enabled
closed because technology has enabled globalization jobs have literally been
globalization jobs have literally been
globalization jobs have literally been taken over by robots and towns have been
taken over by robots and towns have been
taken over by robots and towns have been neglected because their best and
neglected because their best and
neglected because their best and brightest leave and never come back
brightest leave and never come back
brightest leave and never come back then Trump came along and promised to
then Trump came along and promised to
then Trump came along and promised to change all of that so almost half of
change all of that so almost half of
change all of that so almost half of America voted for that change now what
America voted for that change now what
America voted for that change now what role did tech play in achieving that
role did tech play in achieving that
role did tech play in achieving that result technology is defined as the
result technology is defined as the
result technology is defined as the application of science to invent useful
application of science to invent useful
application of science to invent useful things or to solve problems but you
things or to solve problems but you
things or to solve problems but you often the Technic the problems that are
often the Technic the problems that are
often the Technic the problems that are being solved by the tech industry are at
being solved by the tech industry are at
being solved by the tech industry are at the top of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
the top of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
the top of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in a lot of cases we tend to categorize
in a lot of cases we tend to categorize
in a lot of cases we tend to categorize ourselves as solving problems even
ourselves as solving problems even
ourselves as solving problems even beyond self-actualization
beyond self-actualization
beyond self-actualization and ignoring those basic needs at the
and ignoring those basic needs at the
and ignoring those basic needs at the bottom for food water and safety in text
bottom for food water and safety in text
bottom for food water and safety in text hubris people often lament the fact the
hubris people often lament the fact the
hubris people often lament the fact the this perception that there aren’t enough
this perception that there aren’t enough
this perception that there aren’t enough there isn’t enough diverse talent that’s
there isn’t enough diverse talent that’s
there isn’t enough diverse talent that’s qualified to fill tech roles but I
qualified to fill tech roles but I
qualified to fill tech roles but I haven’t really seen a lot of tech
haven’t really seen a lot of tech
haven’t really seen a lot of tech companies going to middle America and
companies going to middle America and
companies going to middle America and training people to learn how to code nor
training people to learn how to code nor
training people to learn how to code nor are they hiring for roles outside of
are they hiring for roles outside of
are they hiring for roles outside of their tech hubs on the coasts or opening
their tech hubs on the coasts or opening
their tech hubs on the coasts or opening offices in more depressed areas of the
offices in more depressed areas of the
offices in more depressed areas of the United States to help revitalize them I
United States to help revitalize them I
United States to help revitalize them I was once talking to a tech company that
was once talking to a tech company that
was once talking to a tech company that wanted to hire more diverse talent in
wanted to hire more diverse talent in
wanted to hire more diverse talent in its engineering organization but
its engineering organization but
its engineering organization but required that they all be co-located in
required that they all be co-located in
required that they all be co-located in Santa Clara California and they wouldn’t
Santa Clara California and they wouldn’t
Santa Clara California and they wouldn’t budge on that and so I had to very
budge on that and so I had to very
budge on that and so I had to very politely tell them that they needed to
politely tell them that they needed to
politely tell them that they needed to re-examine their commitment to diversity
re-examine their commitment to diversity
re-examine their commitment to diversity and inclusion thank you
Tech should really enable people at all
Tech should really enable people at all levels of Maslow’s hierarchy to meet
levels of Maslow’s hierarchy to meet
levels of Maslow’s hierarchy to meet their needs through jobs education and
their needs through jobs education and
their needs through jobs education and investments and by expanding this
investments and by expanding this
investments and by expanding this definition of diversity to include all
definition of diversity to include all
definition of diversity to include all marginalized communities Tech might
marginalized communities Tech might
marginalized communities Tech might actually have a shot at increasing their
actually have a shot at increasing their
actually have a shot at increasing their demographic diversity beyond that 1% so
demographic diversity beyond that 1% so
demographic diversity beyond that 1% so how do we make this real in an era where
how do we make this real in an era where
how do we make this real in an era where diversity and inclusion is not likely to
diversity and inclusion is not likely to
diversity and inclusion is not likely to be prioritized by our federal government
be prioritized by our federal government
be prioritized by our federal government tech companies have a choice to make
tech companies have a choice to make
tech companies have a choice to make ahead of them and if you’re familiar
ahead of them and if you’re familiar
ahead of them and if you’re familiar with the matrix you know the analogy I’m
with the matrix you know the analogy I’m
with the matrix you know the analogy I’m about to do do they take the red pill
about to do do they take the red pill
about to do do they take the red pill and put more resources and action behind
and put more resources and action behind
and put more resources and action behind diversity inclusion efforts as
diversity inclusion efforts as
diversity inclusion efforts as immigration religion and other diversity
immigration religion and other diversity
immigration religion and other diversity issues become flashpoints in our
issues become flashpoints in our
issues become flashpoints in our national debate or do they take the blue
national debate or do they take the blue
national debate or do they take the blue pill and ignore it all to maintain the
pill and ignore it all to maintain the
pill and ignore it all to maintain the status quo all in the name of what’s
status quo all in the name of what’s
status quo all in the name of what’s best for the business
best for the business
best for the business some people will double down and take
some people will double down and take
some people will double down and take the red pill there’s a sense of urgency
the red pill there’s a sense of urgency
the red pill there’s a sense of urgency and
and
and some that is driving people together
some that is driving people together
some that is driving people together around these issues that I haven’t seen
around these issues that I haven’t seen
around these issues that I haven’t seen in my 15 years of doing this work people
in my 15 years of doing this work people
in my 15 years of doing this work people who have never supported the versity and
who have never supported the versity and
who have never supported the versity and inclusion actively in some way in the
inclusion actively in some way in the
inclusion actively in some way in the past are now picking up the phone
past are now picking up the phone
past are now picking up the phone calling their legislators signing
calling their legislators signing
calling their legislators signing petitions participating in protests
petitions participating in protests
petitions participating in protests companies that have been apolitical in
companies that have been apolitical in
companies that have been apolitical in the past are now abandoning those
the past are now abandoning those
the past are now abandoning those stances and taking very clear stands and
stances and taking very clear stands and
stances and taking very clear stands and saying more diversity and more inclusion
saying more diversity and more inclusion
saying more diversity and more inclusion which is really wonderful to see others
which is really wonderful to see others
which is really wonderful to see others will choose the blue pill and get
will choose the blue pill and get
will choose the blue pill and get pressured by their shareholders to focus
pressured by their shareholders to focus
pressured by their shareholders to focus on other important business issues like
on other important business issues like
on other important business issues like new immigration policies that will
new immigration policies that will
new immigration policies that will tighten labor availability or new trade
tighten labor availability or new trade
tighten labor availability or new trade policies that may make doing business on
policies that may make doing business on
policies that may make doing business on a global scale more difficult these
a global scale more difficult these
a global scale more difficult these companies will still say that they are
companies will still say that they are
companies will still say that they are truly committed to diversity and
truly committed to diversity and
truly committed to diversity and inclusion but taking action on it will
inclusion but taking action on it will
inclusion but taking action on it will fall lower and lower on the priority
fall lower and lower on the priority
fall lower and lower on the priority list until it quietly falls off the edge
list until it quietly falls off the edge
list until it quietly falls off the edge for those of you who choose to take the
for those of you who choose to take the
for those of you who choose to take the red pill I urge you to make focusing on
red pill I urge you to make focusing on
red pill I urge you to make focusing on diversity inclusion your number one
diversity inclusion your number one
diversity inclusion your number one priority because without voices from all
priority because without voices from all
priority because without voices from all walks of life at the table the tech
walks of life at the table the tech
walks of life at the table the tech industry will continue to be surprised
industry will continue to be surprised
industry will continue to be surprised in the same way that we were surprised
in the same way that we were surprised
in the same way that we were surprised last November so what’s the game plan
last November so what’s the game plan
last November so what’s the game plan first develop your empathy for all
first develop your empathy for all
first develop your empathy for all marginalized communities visit them talk
marginalized communities visit them talk
marginalized communities visit them talk to them understand what is going on in
to them understand what is going on in
to them understand what is going on in those communities and then work with
those communities and then work with
those communities and then work with them to make a plan to fix it in Van
them to make a plan to fix it in Van
them to make a plan to fix it in Van Jones series the messy truth he visits
Jones series the messy truth he visits
Jones series the messy truth he visits Gettysburg Pennsylvania to talk to
Gettysburg Pennsylvania to talk to
Gettysburg Pennsylvania to talk to people from all sides of the political
people from all sides of the political
people from all sides of the political spectrum he doesn’t necessarily agree
spectrum he doesn’t necessarily agree
spectrum he doesn’t necessarily agree with their positions or their logic but
with their positions or their logic but
with their positions or their logic but he comes away with a better
he comes away with a better
he comes away with a better understanding of what drives them and
understanding of what drives them and
understanding of what drives them and what unites them in their humanity if
what unites them in their humanity if
what unites them in their humanity if tech does its own version of this tech
tech does its own version of this tech
tech does its own version of this tech leaders will be much better positioned
leaders will be much better positioned
leaders will be much better positioned to make business decisions that take
to make business decisions that take
to make business decisions that take into account all marginalized community
into account all marginalized community
into account all marginalized community I’d be more capable of creating
I’d be more capable of creating
I’d be more capable of creating inclusive environments within their
inclusive environments within their
inclusive environments within their companies that embrace people from all
companies that embrace people from all
companies that embrace people from all different backgrounds next support
different backgrounds next support
different backgrounds next support organizations that will provide
organizations that will provide
organizations that will provide technology access and job training to
technology access and job training to
technology access and job training to underserved communities that doesn’t
underserved communities that doesn’t
underserved communities that doesn’t just mean urban communities but rural
just mean urban communities but rural
just mean urban communities but rural America as well in Oakland there’s an
America as well in Oakland there’s an
America as well in Oakland there’s an organization called yes we code that
organization called yes we code that
organization called yes we code that provides technology access training and
provides technology access training and
provides technology access training and resources to 100,000 underrepresented
resources to 100,000 underrepresented
resources to 100,000 underrepresented minorities connecting them to careers in
minorities connecting them to careers in
minorities connecting them to careers in technology
technology
technology what if tech companies got together and
what if tech companies got together and
what if tech companies got together and created a coalition to do something
created a coalition to do something
created a coalition to do something similar in middle and small-town America
similar in middle and small-town America
similar in middle and small-town America imagine if we could connect all of these
imagine if we could connect all of these
imagine if we could connect all of these different organizations together the
different organizations together the
different organizations together the talent pipeline would become so much
talent pipeline would become so much
talent pipeline would become so much more diverse and robust last invest in
more diverse and robust last invest in
more diverse and robust last invest in areas Tech has disrupted poor your
areas Tech has disrupted poor your
areas Tech has disrupted poor your capital into places like Detroit
capital into places like Detroit
capital into places like Detroit Scranton and South Bend Indiana probably
Scranton and South Bend Indiana probably
Scranton and South Bend Indiana probably one of the best examples of a city that
one of the best examples of a city that
one of the best examples of a city that has transformed itself reimagined itself
has transformed itself reimagined itself
has transformed itself reimagined itself as a technology hub where they’ve taken
as a technology hub where they’ve taken
as a technology hub where they’ve taken blighted industrial land and turned it
blighted industrial land and turned it
blighted industrial land and turned it into thriving technology data centers
into thriving technology data centers
into thriving technology data centers healing this new digital divide will
healing this new digital divide will
healing this new digital divide will take time attention and hard work Tech
take time attention and hard work Tech
take time attention and hard work Tech cannot sit back on its laurels at this
cannot sit back on its laurels at this
cannot sit back on its laurels at this critical inflection point in the history
critical inflection point in the history
critical inflection point in the history of progress for diversity and inclusion
of progress for diversity and inclusion
of progress for diversity and inclusion we must all take action if we’re truly
we must all take action if we’re truly
we must all take action if we’re truly going to move the needle around
going to move the needle around
going to move the needle around diversity in tech whether you are on the
diversity in tech whether you are on the
diversity in tech whether you are on the left or the right a Hillary or a trump
left or the right a Hillary or a trump
left or the right a Hillary or a trump supporter a white middle-class
supporter a white middle-class
supporter a white middle-class working-class farmer or a Syrian refugee
working-class farmer or a Syrian refugee
working-class farmer or a Syrian refugee I ask you to please meet in the middle
I ask you to please meet in the middle
I ask you to please meet in the middle find a way to connect with each other
find a way to connect with each other
find a way to connect with each other and respect each other’s diversity and
and respect each other’s diversity and
and respect each other’s diversity and include everyone in your hopes for a
include everyone in your hopes for a
include everyone in your hopes for a brighter stronger future thank you
brighter stronger future thank you
brighter stronger future thank you you
you
you [Applause]
”
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