About Catalyze Tech: A Paradigm Shift for DEI in Tech
Catalyze Tech is a new initiative to align the tech industry around collective action for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This challenge will not be solved by any one leader or company alone. The ACT report provides CEOs and tech companies (indeed all companies) with a rigorous framework of action.
The ACT recommendations were developed over the course of a year by a cross-industry working group of academics, DEI experts, think tanks, and tech companies. We call for an approach that inspires people—and, in particular, majority groups—to motivate themselves to find innovative DEI tech solutions. The goal is to bring a new urgency to this work while creating a paradigm shift in our approach to DEI. We hope you will join us.
To read more about our well-researched recommendations and the actions associated with each one, please visit our Recommendations page.
OUR GOAL
If the tech industry wants to stop failing at DEI, it must change its own culture. We hope to reduce high attrition rates of underrepresented groups who leave more quickly than they arrive. In addition, we seek to collectively tackle the underlying root causes that lock underrepresented groups out of the industry at an early age.
This diversity report sets out four recommendations, supported by 10 actions, that tech companies can take. We recognize that it’s hard work for businesses to create a level playing field, and a wealth of data implies no one’s yet succeeded. Companies should join forces to make a difference, and corporate systems must be redesigned to root out bias and drive equity. This report explains in detail what that means.
Paradigm Shift
A true paradigm shift first requires a mindset shift. Tech’s current paradigm is often dispersed, individual, and short-term. Put simply, tech companies often poach each other’s diverse talent. Individual companies must take action to root out systemic bias in their own hiring practices, but that alone won’t move the needle on representation. We ask CEOs and tech leaders across the industry to create a new paradigm shift that’s holistic, collective, and long-term. Data alone is not enough. Accountability alone is not enough. Leadership alone is not enough.
Above all, diversity alone is not enough. It doesn’t work to just “add diversity and stir.” A paradigm shift must combine multiple elements, including leadership, values, accountability, diversity, empowerment of underrepresented groups, long-term commitment by majority groups, and a mindset shift when it comes to DEI tech. If a company can successfully achieve that combination, the resulting paradigm shift has a high chance of success.
Meet the Catalyze Tech Working Group
If DEI tech is a journey, the ACT Report aims to sit where the rubber hits the road. The good news is that there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Instead, we build on findings from dozens of experts and organizations to create a rigorous framework of action. Our Working Group met biweekly for a year to aggregate relevant evidence-based approaches that businesses can take to help improve DEI outcomes. The research findings here have been extensively peer-reviewed.
We know that DEI represents an extraordinary opportunity. This report is a call to action during a transformational moment for business ethics and leadership. Real change requires a paradigm shift and newfound courage to alter systems and mindsets. We invite people from across the tech sector and beyond to use this diversity report and these tools to act boldly and collaboratively on the defining issue of our day: equity.
CATALYZE TECH WORKING GROUP MEMBERS
CHAIR
Oona King
Snap Inc.
VICE CHAIR
PwC
Sean Arian
LA-Tech.org
Catherine Ashcraft, Ph.D.
National Center for Women & Information Technology
Lecia Barker, Ph.D.
National Center for Women & Information Technology
Kamau Bobb, Ph.D.
Constellations Center for Equity in Computing at Georgia Institute of Technology
Iris Bohnet, Ph.D.
Women and Public Policy Program, Harvard Kennedy School
Maarten Bos, Ph.D.
Snap Inc.
Siri Chilazi
Women and Public Policy Program, Harvard Kennedy School
Nilanjana Dasgupta, Ph.D.
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Harold Edwards
Scholastic Education Solutions
Joanne Esch
National Center for Women & Information Technology
Ruthe Farmer
IncluSTEM, CSforAll
Michelle Florendo
Powered By Decisions, LLC, Management Leadership for Tomorrow
Dwana Franklin-Davis
Reboot Representation
Ann Quiroz Gates, Ph.D.
The University of Texas at El Paso, Computing Alliance of Hispanic-Serving Institutions
James Heighington
Google
Makada Henry-Nickie, Ph.D.
The Brookings Institution
Jude Higdon, Ed.D
QSIDE Institute, Bennington College
Nien-hê Hsieh, Ph.D.
Harvard Business School
Lanaya Irvin
Coqual
Alyssa Jarvis
Anthony J. Mayo
Harvard Business School
Mike McGee
AnitaB.org
Saheema Rawat
Kara Sammet, Ph.D.
Expanding Diversity and Gender Equity in Tech (EDGE in Tech)™ Initiative at University of California
Vivian Schiller
Aspen Digital, a program of the Aspen Institute
Allison Scott, Ph.D.
Kapor Center
Lisa Young
KEY PARTNERS
ASPEN DIGITAL, A PROGRAM OF THE ASPEN INSTITUTE
Zaki Barzinji; Jennifer Bradley; Carner Derron; Dominique Harrison Ph.D.; Tricia Kelly; Vivian Schiller
NATIONAL CENTER FOR WOMEN & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Catherine Ashcraft, Ph.D.; Lecia Barker, Ph.D.; Joanne Esch; Teresa Hogan; Lucinda Sanders
PwC
Joshua Cooper
SNAP INC.
Jessica Harvie; Oona King; Marian Trâm Pho; Natasha Weinstein
CONTRIBUTORS
BSR
Disability:IN
Mylene Padolin, Becky Kekula
Diversity Lab
GLAAD
Ross Murray, Gwendolyn Pointer, Alex Schmider, DaShawn Usher
Perrine Farque
Kresnicka Research & Insights
Susan Kresnicka
Laura Maechtlen
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Natives Rising
Danielle Forward
Jordan Naylor
Matt Nusbaum
Biddle Consulting Group, Inc.
Othering & Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley
john a. powell, Karen Bouris
Project Basta
Sheila Sarem
UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, Center for Equity, Gender & Leadership
Genevieve Macfarlane Smith, Ishita Rustagi
The Unstereotype Alliance
CONTACT
When it comes to innovative DEI tech strategies, look to The ACT Report for excellent recommendations. We base all of our work on peer-reviewed research that can ultimately change the way that the tech industry operates in terms of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We seek to draw awareness to the issue as well as develop strategies that can truly change the face of the tech industry. To learn more about The ACT Report and our goals, contact us today. You can email us at info@actreport.com.
Contributing Organizations
These organizations contributed to the content of the ACT Report.
FOUNDING SIGNATORIES
Airbnb
Apple
Ariel Investment
Cisco
Deliveroo
DoorDash
Dropbox
Etsy
Justworks
Headspace Health
Maven
Netflix
Nextdoor
PwC
Ro
Salesforce
Snap Inc.
Spotify
Uber
Vimeo
Warby Parker
Wipro
Alliance for Global Inclusion
PledgeLA
ENDORSERS
Annenberg Foundation
Color of Change
NAACP
FOUNDING SIGNATORIES
Airbnb
Apple
Ariel Investment
Cisco
Deliveroo
DoorDash
Dropbox
Etsy
Justworks
Headspace Health
Maven
Netflix
Nextdoor
PwC
Ro
Salesforce
Snap Inc.
Spotify
Uber
Vimeo
Warby Parker
Wipro
Alliance for Global Inclusion
PledgeLA
ENDORSERS
Annenberg Foundation
Color of Change
NAACP