The lack of diversity in the tech space continues to be a critical, prevailing issue, yet organizations are realizing this challenge extends beyond corporate responsibility, social justice or even regulatory compliance. A lack of diversity undermines good business practices. Widely reported evidence demonstrates that workplace diversity enables organizations to evolve, innovate, problem solve and become more efficient. Diverse workplaces provide employees a better sense of community, increased worker engagement and a more positive enterprise culture. A 2018 study published in the Harvard Business Review revealed that organizations with above-average diversity had 19% points higher innovation revenues and 9% points higher earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) margins, on average. Despite evidence-based indications of this, a persistent disparity gap remains in the IT sector. Recent reports from the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) show:
- Minorities account for only 31% of the tech sector in the US
- Women account for only 36% of the tech sector in the US
A host of contributing factors create these and other underrepresentation, including a range of inequities based on gender, race, culture and socioeconomics. Unfortunately, these inequities start well before the hiring phase. Systemic inequity starts early and continually chips away at opportunities for disadvantaged populations, including women and minorities, who seek to enter and succeed in the technology fields.
ISACA’s new philanthropic nonprofit, ISACA Foundation, addresses these issues. ISACA Foundation has developed a trifecta of programs designed to create an “opportunity pipeline” for under-served and under-represented populations beginning in early childhood and extending through to secondary school, higher education, and into adult learning and career placement and achievement.
ISACA Foundation’s system of programs—SheLeadsTech (SLT), WeLeadTech (WLT) and Young Leaders In Tech (YLT)—are designed to build lifelong career opportunities that ultimately elevate diversity within the tech workforce. The foundation has built an ecosystem that integrates its programs, first by providing career pipelines and resources for participants in the gender-specific SLT and minority-focused WLT. In turn, the SLT and WLT participants serve as volunteers and resource providers to support primary education initiatives in YLT. The foundation also collaborates with educational institutes and corporations to ensure strong implementation into the systems and institutions that build the pipelines of diversity in technology.
ISACA Foundation leverages the professionals of ISACA®, its chapters, enterprises, educational institutions and the public to help achieve equity and diversity in IT. ISACA invites all to engage with ISACA Foundation’s early, mid- and later education and career stages to shape a diverse and inclusive workforce. To help create a better future in tech, ISACA Foundation.