Diversity is crucial to helping tech companies stay on the cutting edge of innovation. Black technologists and leaders are more important than ever in helping create more inclusivity in the way we use data, but very few companies are actively creating a culture that makes diverse tech employees feel like they truly belong. But that’s not the case with Capital One. Capital One is attracting, retaining and promoting diverse tech talent to do better work, solve innovative problems and build better financial technology products. Not only is Capital One passionate about bringing diverse perspectives to data solutions, but also aspires to serve as an example of equitable, welcoming tech workplaces. With its Make Today initiative, Capital One is calling all Black technologists to action by reminding us that we are makers. Every technologist can create solutions and improve products, and on a larger scale, have the potential to pave a better future. Led by Kimberly Hall, Vice President of...

The time is now to bring more diverse ideas, perspectives and experiences to the technology we use. As technology becomes an even more fundamental part of financial information and access, Capital One is taking diversity and inclusion to the next level with its Make Today campaign. The campaign encourages Black technologists to contribute to innovation, prioritize data and pay homage to our past to create a more inclusive industry. AfroTech spoke with Capital One’s Vice President of Software Engineering, Kimberly Hall, about her path to Capital One and the importance of Make Today’s call to action for more Black technologists to pave a better path towards the future of technology.

You walked across the stage with your degree in hand and were fortunate enough to land a job right away. Now what? Or maybe you have several years’ worth of industry experience and you’re thinking about changing things up. Whether you’re new to the game or looking to level up, setting new career goals can be overwhelming, and it’s a lot easier when you have some help. The Blacks in Tech (BIT) employee resource group at Capital One wants to help all its members think through and navigate career elevation. In 2021, the group launched the Rise Up mentorship program. For six months, participants are paired with mentors based on mutual career interests, current job positions and professional goals, such as leadership or exploring another role. Eloise Hudgins, Chief of Staff, Budget and Labor at Capital One, was drawn to the program as a mentor and mentee. After two years with the company, she was looking for insight on the obstacles she was dealing with at work, and wanted to help others...

Sometimes work can be a lot. Even if we love what we do, we need to take time to reflect on our responsibilities within an organization and how to move forward in ways that align with our professional and personal goals. The Blacks in Tech (BIT) business resource group at Capital One makes space for that re-up through its annual BIT Summit. Thirty employee volunteers planned and hosted the 2021 virtual event held in October 2021. The four-day summit had a record-breaking attendance of about 1,300 employees who logged in to experience programming around the theme “Tech Out LOUD: Leadership, Opportunity, Unity and Diversity.” Lead event organizer Devon Rollins says the summit is a convening to celebrate, acknowledge, train and reward the work, resilience and incredible contributions of Black technologists at Capital One. “We intend for people to walk away with their ‘Aha!’ moment, where either they learn about new capabilities or platforms or tools available for them to do their jobs,...

Lisa Collins talks STEM education, her contribution to the Capital One Coders program, and her journey in the technology industry as a Black woman. Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) studies are often portrayed as areas with high barriers of entry and low retention, especially for Black students. But Lisa Collins, director of data engineering at Capital One, does not subscribe to that worn-out stereotype. The Richmond, VA native believes her career passion now lies within the field of tech and data. She has served in many roles at Capital One over the last 15 years, but now she actively volunteers in her community with the Capital One Coders program finding ways to help spark young student’s passion for all things STEM. AfroTech spoke with Collins to learn more about the Capital One Coders program and her role as a volunteer, mentor, and lead co-sponsor in the initiative to bring STEM into every classroom. From an early age, Collins knew education would be the bedrock...