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Coca-Cola remains committed to its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, saying that neglecting these efforts could do more harm than good for its business. According to Business Insider, Coca-Cola’s annual filing states that fostering an inclusive workplace culture is “critical” to its growth and success. “Our diverse, high-performing global employee base helps drive a culture of inclusion, innovation and growth,” the company stated. “We aspire to develop a global workforce with diverse perspectives, experiences and backgrounds that reflect the broad range of consumers and markets we serve around the world.” Coca-Cola warned that failing to entice and retain this specialized top-tier talent could lead to negative consequences for its growth and future success. The company added that it remained committed to “providing access to equal opportunities and fostering belonging both in our workplaces and the local communities we proudly serve,” saying the opposite could...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. Since the release of ChatGPT two years ago, everyone has been talking about how artificial intelligence would change the world. Whether it was getting any answer you needed at the drop of a hat or creating any image or video you wanted just by describing it, the hours and money that would have gone into either are no longer an issue because AI does all the work on your behalf. When techies discuss the work AI could help someone do, they always focus on those in white-collar jobs, assisting them in searching or summarizing vast amounts of unstructured data to provide the insights they need or the creations they want. That may explain why many AI companies target the same use cases and markets. However, I believe the power of AI doesn’t just lie in reimagining how we experience our digital and physical worlds. After the pandemic, a term was coined : “ revenge spending” — essentially, people getting...
Kwame Christian leverages his expertise to inspire and equip professionals with the tools to succeed. Christian’s journey can be traced back to Tiffin, OH, where he was raised as a first-generation Caribbean American, often standing out as the only Black student in his classes. A defining moment in sixth grade shaped his path: being rejected and ostracized by peers on the playground. This experience ignited a deep desire for connection and acceptance. By high school, he channeled that drive into leadership, rising to become the captain of both the basketball and tennis teams. Reflecting on his journey in an interview with AFROTECH™, Christian admitted he adopted a “people pleaser” mentality, often prioritizing others’ approval over his authentic self. “I wasn’t my authentic self in many ways,” he said. “I still had really great connections, but when it came to difficult situations and difficult conversations, I would always agree, even if I disagreed, I wouldn’t speak up if I didn’t...
The AFROTECH™ Conference is more than just a place where tech experts and enthusiasts gather. It is also a destination where creativity is fostered and new ideas are birthed. The budding social media platform SPILL emerged directly from AFROTECH™ Conference 2022. When the company’s co-founder, Alphonzo “Phonz” Terrell, was laid off during Elon Musk’s acquisition of the app formerly known as Twitter, he conceived the idea for a new platform alongside his former co-worker and friend, DeVaris Brown, during the technology event’s return to in-person programming in Austin, Texas, that same year. “We’re not strangers to AFROTECH™,” said Spill’s Global Vice President of Community & Partnerships, Kenya Parham, ahead of the Creator Unplugged discussions hosted by Speedy Morman to kick off Microsoft’s House of Black TechXcellence during this year’s conference. “Last year, we launched Tea Parties and consistently returned and done product releases at AFROTECH. In fact, I’m talking to you now,...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. President-elect Donald Trump is starting to fill out the list of people who will be closest to him during his second term in office. It was announced that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will head an organization called the Department of Government Efficiency , which aims to ensure that tax dollars are being allocated properly and to reduce bureaucracy. DOGE, as it is being called around the internet, will not be a formal body within the government but will instead operate outside of it in an advisory capacity. As Trump and Musk continue to build a closer relationship with one another, we may see Musk’s views pushed through the Trump administration’s actions, and perhaps DOGE is the first iteration of that. While many know who Musk is, Ramaswamy is a lesser-known public figure. Ramaswamy is the founder of Roivant Sciences, a life science and drug development company, and he also ran for the...
Whether you’re satisfied with the results of the 2024 presidential election or not, the only option now that the votes are in is to accept that situation and move forward with grace and confidence. Throughout their campaign for the White House, both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump had celebrities endorsing them to help persuade the public. The former relied on Megan Thee Stallion’s bodacious body and a co-sign from Barack Obama, while Trump’s support from figures like Elon Musk and Joe Rogan could be what gave him the winning edge. The South African pledged his allegiance to the Republican candidate following the assassination attempt made on his life in July; per Barrons , Musk was one of the president-elect’s biggest donors for his third campaign, spending more than $130 million supporting Trump and others in his political party. Considering he’s the richest man in the world, dishing out this money to help his friend was nothing for the Twitter CEO, who’s only stood to benefit...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s (Lisa Mae Brunson) own and not those of AFROTECH™. The power of community. For many of us, showing up at events like AFROTECH™ Conference isn’t just about collecting business cards or finding the next big career move — it’s about immersing ourselves in a space that validates and celebrates our unique experiences as Black professionals, creators, and innovators. But here’s the thing: to truly make the most out of AFROTECH™ (or any other event for that matter), we have to show up with a plan. With years of experience organizing conferences and building spaces for marginalized communities, I’ve learned that being intentional about your goals and tapping into the power of community can make the difference between a fleeting connection and a transformative experience. Here are seven ways you can create impact and community at this year’s conference. Set Your Intention Before You Arrive I can’t emphasize this enough: Before you step...
Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri explains why some content on the platform is being suppressed. In response to a user who inquired if the quality of their Stories was being compressed over time since it appeared blurry in Instagram’s highlight feature, Mosseri reveals there is truth to that statement. He also adds that the quality of a video, Reel, or photo could also be impacted depending on a couple factors, including its performance. “In general, we want to show the highest-quality video we can when someone is watching a Story or a Reel or a photo. If something isn’t watched for a long time, ’cause the vast majority of views are in the beginning, we will move to a lower-quality video and then if it’s watched again a lot, then we will re-render the higher-quality video,” Mosseri explained in an Instagram video, according to The Verge. “We also, if we are serving a video to someone on a slow internet connection, we’ll serve a lower-quality video, so that it will load quickly as...
Being drafted into a professional sports league like the NBA or NFL is far from easy, and while the money certainly makes the hard work worth it, there are risks that come from engaging in such high-level athleticism . From avoiding overzealous fans to sustaining career-changing injuries on the clock, professional basketball players are all too familiar with the ups and downs that come with life in the fast lane. Since was drafted ninth overall by the Utah Jazz in 2023, Taylor Hendricks has been making his presence felt on the team and keeping himself laser-focused on helping his team achieve success. While his positive reputation and attitude is well known amongst coaches and contemporaries, fans will sadly be seeing a lot less of the Florida native this season after he sustained a gruesome injury during a game on Oct. 28. What Is Taylor Hendricks’ Net Worth? (Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) Taylor Hendricks was born on Nov. 22, 2003 in Florida, where he attended Windermere...
A movement that was birthed out of the COVID-19 quarantine has raised millions of dollars to support Kamala Harris’ quest as the first Black woman president of the United States. “Win With Black Women” (WWBW) is a mantra and group conceptualized by Jotaka Eaddy, a social impact consultant in politics and technology who founded Full Circle Strategies. She understood the importance of community early on as a high school student looking to attend a conference geared towards those seeking law careers, Fortune reports. Raised in a humble environment in South Carolina, the $3,000 cost for the conference was out of reach for her parents. However, through the support of Black women church-goers she was able to attend. “Black women in my church and in my community sold chicken dinners and held bake sales to raise money to send me to that conference and to put me on an airplane that many of them have still never been on,” Eaddy said, according to Fortune. She went on to make history as the...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. When one thinks about interest rates, the first thing that comes to mind could be credit cards, car loans, and mortgages, but did you know that they also have materially shaped the tech industry over the past 20 years? That’s because the federal interest rate that the Federal Reserve Board sets also informs the industry on whether money will be cheap or expensive, and that changes the way the industry seeks to operate. Below, we will touch on all of the players impacted by the increases and decreases in the federal interest rates. The startup ecosystem players that are affected in different ways by lower or higher interest rates are limited partners, venture capital firms, founders, and employees. The first one is limited partners, or LPs as they are called in the industry. LPs are the institutions or people that invest in venture capital firms. Examples of institutional LPs can be pension funds...
Private equity law expert Joe Tillman has a passion for creating opportunities for others. It is what has carried the California native’s career more than a decade and even led to him walking away from a stable career as a lawyer. Tillman’s initial exposure into law was not engraved in his upbringing. He admits to growing up in humble beginnings in Perris, CA, and not having access to people who worked in law or other professional spaces. It was not until his final year at California State University San Bernardino, where he would obtain a bachelor’s degree in finance, that his professor introduced to him the idea of pursuing law. “At this time, I did not have the $1,500 that it took to take an LSAT prep course. And he basically got the College of Finance to write me an impromptu scholarship so they could pay to get my LSAT prep course paid for,” Tillman told AFROTECH™ in an interview. “So, he was one of the few people that was willing to put his money where his mouth is. I took the...
There has been a quick turn of events that will impact millions of borrowers. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan was given the green light to be put into action on Oct. 2, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Randall Hall, who represents the Southern District of Georgia. NBC News reports the plan had been under a temporary restraining order that was a result of a lawsuit against Biden and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. It was brought forward by the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, North Dakota, and Ohio. Hall was willing to allow the temporary restraining order to expire, and this was based on his belief that the Southern District of Georgia order “failed to show an injury that is concrete, particularized, actual, or imminent.” “Without standing, the Court finds it proper to dismiss Georgia as a party to the suit for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and turns to Defendants’ arguments related to venue,” he...
Levi’s is capitalizing on its feature on Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter.” The clothing company recognized for its denim jeans was a listed track on her country album, which was released on March 29, 2024, by Parkwood Entertainment and Colombia Records and featured artists like Post Malone and Miley Cyrus. While the iron was hot, Levi’s took the opportunity to change its Instagram handle by inserting an additional I, aligned with the spelling of the song on the album, “Levii’s Jeans.” However, Kenny Mitchell, chief marketing officer at Levi Strauss & Co., believed the company could push the brand even further if they partnered with the Houston, TX-born artist. “Once that album came out, it was obviously a moment where we said, ‘Hey, maybe we can start to have some conversations about whether a deeper partnership makes sense,’” Mitchell told The New York Times. Having already planted a seed of familiarity with Beyoncé in the past, as she sported the jeans as a Destiny’s Child member and has...
Business coach Precious Azuree is helping Black-led organizations measure their impact. Precious Azuree Group The Houston, TX, native has been leading her own coaching business for more than a decade. The pathway nearly fell into her lap upon graduating from high school as a self-taught web and graphic designer and blogger. Quickly gaining a reputation for social media marketing, many began to reach out to Azuree for her services, which evolved into the launch of the Precious Azuree Group, originally established as a project management and branding agency. “I was working with influencers, helping small business owners develop their brand identity, monetize their brand, build out their teams,” she told AFROTECH™ in an interview. Through her business, she worked with a myriad of clients which included Stacy Ike Inc., earning them over $100,000 in brand deals, as well as Essence Festival, AT&T, Pantene, and Regal Cinemas, on social media strategics that enhanced their brand engagement...