Tech Confidential: Building Human-Centered Responsible Tech

Building Multicultural Institutions

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 20:30:00 +0000

The Tech We Want is on a mission to create a transformative tech ecosystem by uniting, empowering and amplifying marginalized leaders, advocates, and entrepreneurs in the tech industry. Our mission is to collectively foster a future where everyone can thrive by collaboratively experimenting with and funding innovative cultural and economic infrastructures.

Tech Confidential is a panel series that brings together tech founders, investors, operators and organizers to discuss the work of building visionary alternatives that center human thriving and responsible innovation. Drawing on three years of work of building The Tech We Want, the series examines the emergent questions and challenges of building a new economy.

*Episode 6: Building Multicultural Institutions: Insights from Inclusive Leadership and Community Organizing*

Jocelyn Macdougall hosts a panel discussion with Aniyia Williams, Xiaowei Wang, Karina Cabrera Bell, and Deldelp Medina on multicultural institution building.

The panel explores key aspects such as inclusion, resilience, power dynamics, and leadership accountability within organizations. They share personal experiences, organizational insights, and tactical strategies for fostering inclusive cultures, addressing DEI fatigue, and ensuring shared responsibility.

The conversation also touches on the challenges of navigating existing systems versus building new ones and emphasizes the importance of embedding equitable practices at the core of institutional frameworks.

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Highlights:

00:00 Introduction and Panelist Introductions

00:46 Defining Multicultural Institution Building

01:07 Personal Experiences with Multiculturalism

04:08 Challenges and Tensions in Multicultural Workplaces

06:50 Revisiting the Concept of Multiculturalism

11:20 Building Inclusive Institutions

16:57 Leadership and Institutional Change

20:18 Worker Organizing and Solidarity

22:18 Navigating Institutional Failures and Building New Models

36:02 Consumer Influence and Brand Inclusivity

37:53 On Commitment to Lifelong Learning

39:17 The Necessity of Multicultural Institutions

40:03 Challenges in DEI Advocacy

43:46 Resilience in DEI Work

52:10 Accountability and Shared Responsibility

The Art and Science of Building Community

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 20:00:00 +0000

*Episode 5: The Art and Science of Building Community*

Aniyia Williams, lead of The Tech We Want, initiates a rich conversation with key community facilitators Maxine Yeo, Heather Mason, Chloe Jackman, and Prodpran Wangcherdchuwong on the importance of in-person gatherings.

They delve into the science and human connection benefits of these face-to-face interactions, the challenges and intentionality in planning them, and the meticulous considerations required to build trust and foster impactful dialogues.

The discussion also touches on the broader implications of creating inclusive spaces, the intricacies of relationship management, and the continuous evolution of their community-building techniques.

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Highlights:

00:00 Introduction and Team Introductions

02:36 The Importance of In-Person Gatherings

08:35 Challenges and Trust in Building Communities

13:14 Lessons from Public Consultation and Engagement

17:43 Intentionality in Event Planning

23:28 The Role of Relationship Management

25:54 The Invitation to Join Us

26:18 The Beauty of Collective Growth

27:24 Creating Reciprocal Relationships

28:50 Challenges in Public Events

30:51 Navigating Power Dynamics

32:28 Facilitation and Vulnerability

37:46 The Role of Professional Facilitators

39:11 Building Inclusive Spaces

49:34 The Impact of Event Staff

51:22 Reflections and Future Goals

Driving Responsible Innovation for a New Economy

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 19:30:00 +0000

*Episode 4: Driving Responsible Innovation for a New Economy*

Aniyia Williams, lead of The Tech We Want, hosts a panel with four influential tech leaders—Susan Mac Cormac, Coraline Ada Ehmke, Christie Pitts, and Shu Dar Yao—to discuss creating tools for a new, inclusive economy and their roles in it.

The conversation dives into the challenges of current financial frameworks, the need for diversity in venture capital and tech, and innovative solutions such as Public Benefit Corporations and ethical licensing.

The panel emphasizes the importance of reshaping the capital market, fostering accountability in tech, and the pivotal role of diverse perspectives in driving sustainable progress.

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Highlights:

00:00 Introduction and Panelist Introductions

02:46 Defining the Problem Space

03:19 Challenges in the Funding Environment

04:37 Understanding Venture Capital Dynamics

09:48 The Role of Open Source in Tech

12:35 Fiduciary Duty and Broader Implications

18:00 Alternative Models and Solutions

33:18 Introduction to Ethical Technology

33:38 The Role of Open Source in Business

34:26 Hippocratic License: Ensuring Ethical Use

35:46 Licensing Models and Mission Lock

37:42 Perpetual Purpose Trust and Public Charities

39:55 Challenges in Venture Capital and Governance

41:15 Reimagining Capitalism and Funding Mechanisms

47:02 The Impact of Venture Capital on Labor Rights

51:38 Leveraging Industry Leaders for Change

55:51 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Building Alternative Tech Ecosystems

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 19:00:00 +0000

*Episode 3: Building Alternative Tech Ecosystems*

In this insightful panel discussion led by Aniyia Williams, leaders in technology and responsible innovation come together to explore the complexities of building alternative tech ecosystems centered on power sharing and accountability.

The conversation features Anamitra Deb of Omidyar Network, Deldelp Medina of Black & Brown Founders, Coraline Ada Ehmke of the Organization for Ethical Source, and Sherelle Dorsey, author and entrepreneur.

Key topics include defining ecosystem work, the role of philanthropy, equity in tech, and the need for a human-centric approach to innovation with an emphasis on shared agency. The panelists discuss challenges such as ineffective programs, the overemphasis on funding rather than revenue, burnout among key players, and the lack of preparation for future jobs.

They also explore actionable steps towards creating more inclusive and resilient ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of relational trust, community support, and the willingness to imagine and build hopeful futures.

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Highlights:

00:00 Introduction and Panelist Introductions

01:07 Defining Ecosystems and Ecosystem Builders

02:50 Challenges and Realities of Ecosystem Building

04:57 The Role of Programs and Funding in Ecosystem Building

06:17 Open Source and Ecosystem Perspectives

08:12 Philanthropy and Ecosystem Support

10:33 Critiques and Future Directions for Ecosystem Work

11:55 Lifelong Learning and Educational Gaps

26:41 Intergenerational Leadership and Industry Challenges

32:12 Challenging Traditional Career Paths

34:13 Technology's Impact on Society

42:09 Trust-Based Philanthropy

44:00 The Role of Philanthropy in Social Change

56:47 Hope and Stories for a Better Future

Building Cultural Infrastructure & Governance for Equitable Tech Movements

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 18:30:00 +0000

*Episode 2: Building Cultural Infrastructure & Governance for Equitable Tech Movements*

In this episode, Jocelyn Macdougall, lead facilitator of The Tech We Want, discusses with panelists Coraline Ada Ehmke, Marco Rogers, and Aniyia Williams the essential cultural infrastructure and governance practices needed for building equitable tech communities and institutions.

They delve into their personal experiences, conflicts, and the importance of establishing relational trust and collective accountability. The panelists share insights on open source communities, the role of values and governance, and the challenges of co-creating cultural infrastructure. This episode provides a deep dive into the work of making tech spaces more inclusive and just.

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Highlights:

00:00 Introduction to The Tech We Want

00:50 Meet the Panelists

02:40 Defining Cultural Infrastructure

03:55 Open Source and Cultural Infrastructure

10:05 Personal Stories of Cultural Infrastructure

14:15 Challenges in Implementing Cultural Infrastructure

24:17 The Role of Employee Resource Groups

28:45 Facing Disappointment and Conflict in the Workplace

30:21 Navigating Corporate Values and Realities

32:01 Legal Ramifications and Corporate Culture

36:07 The Role of Governance and Accountability

41:19 Building Trust and Relationships in Tech Communities

55:12 Challenges of Co-Governance and Community Expansion

57:09 Conclusion and Future Directions

Cultivating Ethical Leadership in Technology

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 18:00:00 +0000

*Episode 1: Cultivating Ethical Leadership in Technology*

In this episode, Jocelyn Macdougall, a lead facilitator with The Tech We Want, hosts a profound discussion on nurturing the next generation of ethical leaders in the tech industry.

The panel features creators and leaders Coraline Ada Ehmke, Jasmine Sun, Ariam Mogos, Marco Rogers, and Julia Solano. They explore the importance of responsible innovation, the current state of technology leadership, and the role of mentorship and community.

The conversation delves into the potential of universal ethical codes in tech, the challenges of implementing such frameworks within entrenched organizations, and the significance of centering marginalized communities.

They reflect on their experiences working with The Tech We Want and share insights on fostering inclusive and values-driven tech environments.

Highlights:

00:00 Introduction and Panel Overview

00:53 Panelist Introductions

06:19 State of Leadership in Tech

08:04 Intergenerational Leadership and Mentorship

09:56 Redefining Success in Tech

15:36 Ethical Tech Education

23:14 Universal Code of Ethics in Tech

31:04 The Apprenticeship Model and Capitalism's Incentives

31:56 Accountability in Engineering vs. Software

33:47 Ethics and Professional Organizations in Tech

35:23 Prototyping with Ethical Implications

37:51 Peer Communities and Mentorship

43:07 Centering the Margins in Tech

46:44 Challenges of Diversity and Inclusion in Hierarchical Organizations

50:06 Building a Multicultural Institution

55:54 Reflections on Ethical Leadership

58:37 Conclusion and Future Conversations