Often in tech, individuals from underrepresented groups face a persistent challenge: a scarcity of access to crucial career resources, job openings, networks, and mentorship pathways.

Directly tackle this issue by applying real-world techniques that Ant Blair and Christina Aldan honed in community-building, even in the most unlikely circumstances.

Individual developers and organization leaders will walk away with skills to become a part of the solution.

Engage in a dynamic session featuring a group discussion on structuring mentorship models tailored for organizations and individuals, learn from successful case studies demonstrating ways to give access to underrepresented communities, and discover how to plug into resources that will propel your career forward.

Key Takeaways:

Importance of Networking and Access: Understand how access to resources, people, and opportunities is crucial for technological career advancement.

Role of Mentorship: Gain insights into how effective mentorship can drive personal growth, community impact, and break down barriers in tech.

Skills and Structure for Mentors and Mentees: Acquire practical skills and strategies for establishing productive and empowering mentor-mentee relationships.

Emotional Intelligence: Develop awareness of the unique challenges faced by underrepresented groups in technology, fostering a community of individuals who feel heard, understood, and included. That doesn't mean you are a pushover; it means listening respectfully to diverse perspectives before the community decides to proceed.

Applying Core Values: Equip participants to identify their core values and understand how these values can guide their personal and professional decisions in tech.

Community Building Skills: Learn techniques to contribute to and nurture a supportive, diverse, and inclusive technology environment, fostering broader societal change

What I Teach:

Understanding Access and Networking: Educate on the significance of access in the tech industry, demystifying networking and highlighting its role in career advancement.

Mentorship Skills: Train participants in effective mentorship strategies, focusing on how mentors can access networks, training, and tools.

Empowerment of Underrepresented Groups: Discuss the challenges underrepresented communities face in tech and how mentorship can help overcome these barriers.

Identifying and Living Core Values: Guide participants in recognizing their core values and how these values can influence their professional paths and mentorship roles.

Real-World Applications: Share success stories and case studies where mentorship and access have significantly impacted individuals and communities.

Building a Supportive Community: Techniques for creating and nurturing a supportive tech community that values diversity, inclusion, and shared growth.