Greetings ITSMF Family!

Let’s recruit, inspire, and grow 300 black technology leaders of the future! I recently received an exciting new connection from a long-time well respected ITSMF member. A Silicon Valley company is looking for a CTO to lead a company heavily involved in autonomous vehicle automation. How intriguing! The connection was made because they are looking for a diverse technologist to take this critical role. I am happy to say that I frequently receive connections like this. I could not help but reflect on the caliber of ITSMF’s network and positive reputation in the community and the importance of funneling the pipeline. There is so much growth in technology today that we must ensure that we are inspiring, cultivating, and growing black technology leaders of the future to feed into ever-growing opportunities.

According to the Pew Institute, overall, 69% of Black college graduates working in a STEM job say that someone made them feel excited about their abilities in STEM subjects.

• Sixty-eight percent say that someone helped them see the relevance of these fields for their job or career, in their most recent school experiences.
• Fifty-nine percent say that someone encouraged them to keep taking more classes in these subjects.
• Eighty-one percent of Black college graduates working in STEM fields say they had at least one of these positive experiences.

ITSMF’s College Mentoring program is designed to remove barriers for Black collegiate students majoring in IT. The Program, funded by the ReBoot Foundation, supports students through rigorous course work, connects them with mentors, and assists with securing internships during school and employment upon graduation. The program also offers multi-year scholarships.

We have a goal of mentoring three hundred students by the end of 2023, and we will get there with your assistance. Send us students and sign up to be a mentor.

I hope that one day you get a call about an opening for a technology leadership role leading futuristic, innovative work that will change and improve the way we live or work. I hope that when you receive this call you think of ITSMF and make the connection and know that you have done your part to ensure that a black technology leader is ready for such an opportunity.

President and CEO, ITSMF

About Information Technology Senior Management Forum

Since 1996, Information Technology Senior Management Forum (ITSMF) has been dedicated to increasing the representation of Black professionals at senior levels in technology to impact organizational innovation and growth. We do this by developing and nurturing these dynamic leaders through enrichment of the mind, body and soul. At its inception, only 3% of senior-level positions in the technology industry were held by Blacks. With a half-million new computer-related jobs expected by 2028, ITSMF is committed to increasing the number of qualified Black professionals for these positions. For more information about ITSMF, visit www.itsmfleaders.org.