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TikTok is aiming to diversify the cybersecurity industry with its latest initiative. To make it happen, the social media giant has teamed up with Cyversity — a platform that connects minorities and underrepresented individuals to opportunities — for #SeeYourselfinCyber, according to a blog post. Cybersecurity Ventures revealed that there are more than 3.5 million cybersecurity jobs unfilled. With the new initiative, TikTok will work to not only help bring representation but also will educate and empower. “TikTok is helping us tackle the need for more cybersecurity professionals, specifically in the disproportionate underrepresentation of women and minority populations,” said Beverly Benson, Executive Director at Cyversity , according to the blog post. “Individuals from underserved communities will be able to receive training for in-demand security roles through this innovative program.” The program is set to award 50 students with a scholarship that represents “part of the...
Since its launch, Greenwood has prioritized Black and Latinx individuals and business owners through its banking services. Now, the biggest and Black-owned digital banking platform is looking to further support the community with its latest acquisition. According to a press release, Greenwood has acquired The Gathering Spot — a private members-only club for Black professionals.
This consultant leveled up his career to tap into cybersecurity and wants to kick open the door for more to follow suit. Demond Cook transformed his finances shifting from corporate security at the National Basketball Association (NBA) to cybersecurity. Finding his footing took time and Demond Cook relied on self-study, networking, and trial and error before securing his first green light. While venturing into the field, Cook recognized a striking disconnect between hiring managers and recruiters in the cybersecurity space. This led to the creation of Cook Consulting Group (CCG) in June of 2020 to address the knowledge gaps. Now, Demond Cook operates as a beacon of hope for others, opening the doors for more minorities looking to venture into the field. “I noticed the disconnect between hiring managers and recruiters in cyber security,” Cook told AfroTech. “Most recruiters have no idea what cyber security professionals do for a living, so I started CCG to bridge the gap. This would...
To support minority researchers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), Purdue University, the U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval Research (0NR), and a coalition of other schools have launched the Blue Integrated Partnerships. A Pew Research study supports data that minorities are underrepresented in STEM citing limited access to quality education, discriminatory hiring and promotion practices — and a lack of support to thrive in the field. Many Black and brown students may be less inclined to complete their studies due to not having equal opportunities like their white counterparts. “We call this a quiet crisis,” said L uciano Castillo , Purdue’s Kenninger Professor of Renewable Energy and Power Systems in Mechanical Engineering , the program’s principal investigator, according to a press release from Purdue University. “It’s not just a matter of trying to raise numbers. Minority students feel that they don’t have the tools to succeed in science and engineering...
Facebook is cashing out on small businesses owned by women and minorities! According to CNBC, the social media network has announced that it will purchase $100 million worth of unpaid invoices from 30,000 small businesses through the Facebook Invoice Fast Track program. It’s the company’s latest effort to build relationships with the businesses that look to the platform as a place to help their businesses thrive. Facebook first launched a version of the program in 2020. After learning the hardships businesses were facing, they wanted to do more than just feature them on the platform. “We just heard first-hand the financial hardships that these suppliers were facing, and it was created really quickly and brought up as an idea and pitched to our CFO to say, ‘Hey, would we be able to help our suppliers with this?” said Rich Rao, Facebook’s vice president of small business. “It was a very small pilot, but we did see that be very successful.” Today, they have expanded that original...
Method Man is now a businessman in the pot industry. According to Westword, the legendary Wu-Tang rapper and actor has launched a new cannabis line called TICAL, which is named after his first solo album. In collaboration with Boulder marijuana grower Vera, TICAL will begin a limited release of products to Denver dispensaries beginning on Aug. 13, and the line includes various strains of popular marijuana plants. The first strains include Sweet Grease, Free Mac and Orange Cookie Kush which will make their debut at Simply Pure and WolfPac Cannabis stores. “I’m absolutely thrilled at the prospect of bringing TICAL to Colorado’s mature and sophisticated adult-use market,” Method Man says in a statement to the outlet announcing the launch. “Our team has worked long and hard to bring the same energy, creativity, and equity to this brand that I have to everything I have done throughout my career.” Additionally, TICAL took the extra step to partner with Simply Pure and WolfPac, two...
Code Fellows — an organization on a mission to help minorities find careers in coding — has partnered with Memphis-based CodeCrew School to help underrepresented minorities obtain skills in cybersecurity, ops, and software development. People of all skill levels and backgrounds will be able to receive industry-relevant vocational training to gain meaningful and financially rewarding employment which in turn will strengthen the local economy in Memphis. “As part of the CodeCrew Code School mission, we seek to increase diversity in the tech ecosystem,” said Eric Johnson, CodeCrew Code School Program Director. “The Code Fellows and CodeCrew partnership will allow us to provide a flexible coding curriculum and increase course offerings to our community. This will give more individuals exposure and knowledge to be confident we have the skills to gain employment in the tech industry.” Mentors and those underrepresented in tech are encouraged and educated by CodeCrew to be tech innovators...
In 1980, media moguls Bob Johnson and John Malone partnered together to launch prominent cable network, BET (Black Entertainment Television). Now 40 years later, they’ve reconnected to team up for a new business venture. According to Black Enterprise, serial entrepreneur Johnson started RLJ Cos., his portfolio of businesses that include the Retirement Clearinghouse L.L.C. — a company in which businessman Malone is now an investor in. Citing this renewed partnership as a “meeting of like minds,” both Johnson and Malone announced the latter party has purchased a minority stake in Retirement Clearinghouse to help shrink the wealth and retirement savings gap for minorities, a news release reports. “I invested alongside Bob when he launched Black Entertainment Television. When Bob approached me to talk about his work with 401(k) auto portability, I recognized an opportunity to extend that work into practical ways to achieve inclusive capitalism,” Malone shared in a statement . He also...
A new report issued by Bloomberg shows promise for hedge funds not governed by White males. The analysis, which was conducted over a three-year and a five-year period, showed that hedge funds managed by minority or women outperformed those managed by their White counterparts. The statistics were calculated as 6.6 percent vs. 3.9 percent over a three-year period for multiple types of hedge funds, and as 41 percent in a five-year period, for macro funds, which reflect broader trends. The Bloomberg data represents an improvement from the 2018 Diverse Asset Management Firm Assessment report , which also showed enhanced performance by women and minority-led funds, but reflected a more dismal outlook regarding management. According to Philanthropy News Digest , the 2018 report, which assesses not only hedge fund performance, but also that of mutual funds, real estate, and private equity, revealed in part, that “ firms owned by women and/or minorities manage just 1.3 percent of the $69...
Last Friday, Citi announced the Citi Impact Fund , a new initiative that uses $150 million of its own capital to support U.S.-based companies. The Fund will represent a “double bottom line” business investment, or an investment that yields dividends while also driving change. Citi’s initiative will support companies that play a major role in addressing societal issues across four key areas : workforce development, financial systems, infrastructure, and sustainability. Companies that are advancing in the four key disciplines and that have already undergone rounds of funding can receive support from Citi for as much as $10 million. A portion of the Citi Impact Fund will be allocated for seed funding that is exclusively earmarked for companies led or owned by minorities and women , which Edward Skyler, Citi’s executive vice president of Global Affairs, describes as a “pool of often overlooked, high potential entrepreneurs.” Citi, and other companies, such as Harlem Capital, a New...
Rappers Chamillionaire and E-40 are upping the ante on investing in women and minority-led startups. The duo previously shelled out $25,000 to contest winners who pitched their companies via the Convoz app and now they are giving founders the chance to win $100,000 for their startups. The rappers are also partnering with Republic and Daymond John — a “Shark Tank” investor and the founder of FUBU — to invest in underrepresented founders. Chamillionaire said that he wants to invest in more minority-led companies because of the lack of diversity in the startup space. “I don’t get pleasure when I say things like this but it’s the reality of the startup and investment world we are living in,” he said in an Instagram post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by @chamillionaire Chamillionaire is not a newbie to the investor world. The rapper put money into Lyft before the ride-hailing service went public and has invested in other tech companies. “I’ve been seeing a lot of people...
Who gets to participate in the conversation online? For a long time, the conversation has been primarily limited to rich, white families that had home computers. Even today, the racial disparity between who owns a computer with internet connection at home persists, with white families significantly more likely to own a computer and an internet connection than minority families. However, the advent of the smartphone is quickly closing that gap. These multifunctional internet-connected devices tend to be more accessible for families than an internet connection — for example, families that can’t afford both a cell phone bill and an internet bill can pick the former and essentially get the latter through their plan. Minorities are most likely to report being almost entirely dependent on their phones for internet connection. But even as minorities use their smartphones to bridge the gap between them and richer, white families, they are still hindered by websites and programs that aren’t...
With over two billion users per month, Facebook is one of the most powerful advertising mediums there is. With such broad reach, targeted advertising is a necessary tool for advertisers looking to home in on the people who might good customers for their business. No harm there, right? Wrong. Unlike traditional television marketing where audiences largely self-select into advertising sweet spots based on the specific programming, and where networks are usually frequented by specific demographic groups, Facebook’s niche marketing can be manipulated to discriminate against minority groups. According to USA Today , the social network’s “multicultural affinity marketing” can be used to totally block access for certain groups to ads in areas like housing, credit and employment, where discrimination has historically run amok. In response to concerns raised by black lawmakers, Facebook says it will temporarily block advertisers from excluding racial and ethnic groups. “Until we can better...
TJ Maxx is a popular budget store that many people have come to love. As shoppers are increasingly drawn to retailers that offer both value and variety, TJ Maxx thrives thanks to its mix of designer brands and discount prices. It’s not just about the thrill of finding a great deal for fashion enthusiasts – it’s also about the experience of uncovering hidden gems. Whether you’re looking for trendy clothing, home decor or even unique accessories, they offer an ever-changing treasure trove of options. Although the store has been a reliable favorite for years, there has been some speculation about the popular chain recently as consumers keep an eye out for their stance on diversity, equity and inclusion. In the past, TJX Companies (the parent company of TJ Maxx) has publicly stated its commitment to building a more inclusive and diverse workplace . Yet with the DEI frenzy over the last few weeks, shoppers are not entirely convinced that the budget store is fully onboard with the DEI...
A group of HBCU students were awarded during the week of Super Bowl LIX for their innovative pitch in sports technology. Diverse Representation, a company focused on increasing the number of Black agents, attorneys, managers, and publicists across sports, hosted its inaugural HBCU Sports Business Pitch Competition in New Orleans, LA, in partnership with the talent agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, during Super Bowl LIX week. According to information shared with AFROTECH™, the competition was launched to provide local HBCU student entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch sports-related concepts for a chance to receive funding and connect with decision-makers in the industry. “When I initially launched Diverse Representation, I’ve always been very, very clear about what our mission is: to help Black professionals in the sports and entertainment industry,” Diverse Representation Founder Jaia Thomas told AFROTECH™. “Not minorities, not people of color—Black...