The Diversity Drive
The Hyperledger Global Forum 2020 held from March 3-6 in sunny Phoenix, Arizona, wasn’t just about the nuts and bolts of enterprise blockchains and open source projects. Oh no, it turned into a fertile ground for discussions on diversity and inclusion, pushing these vital issues like they were the hottest new crypto on the block.
Sponsor Spotlight: Accenture
Accenture, a Fortune 500 consulting powerhouse, kicked things off with a diversity happy hour on the first night. Who would’ve thought that discussing inclusion could come with a side of cocktails? Alissa Worley, Accenture’s globetrotting marketing maestro for blockchain, expressed that her company’s commitment to diversity aligned with Hyperledger’s vision right from the start. Instead of merely tooting a horn about the issue, they hosted an actual event to foster change. “We constructed an event designed to enable people to take action,” she said, while probably mixing an incredible cocktail behind the scenes.
Statistics That Shock
They say numbers don’t lie, but they certainly can shock! The State of Diversity and Inclusion in Blockchain report discovered some jaw-dropping facts. For instance, out of 378 venture-backed crypto and blockchain companies launched globally from 2012-2018, only one featured an all-female founding team. If that doesn’t make you raise an eyebrow, check this: 31 (that’s a staggering 8.2%) had male and female co-founders. Compare that to 17.7% of tech companies with at least one female founder, and you’ll see the blockchain space clearly has some catching up to do.
Panels with Purpose
Brian Behlendorf, the executive director of Hyperledger, stated that having one or more female speakers on each panel was one of their goals for the forum. He emphasized how opening with a diversity-focused event conveyed a poignant message. “We want to help people become aware of their biases,” he explained. That’s right, folks. Even the most well-intended coders can have blind spots!
The Business Case for Diversity
As David Treat from Accenture pointed out, inclusion isn’t just a warm fuzzy feeling; it makes business sense! “If you think about being part of an innovative space, you won’t get far with new ideas if you only have a homogenous group of people,” he stated with the seriousness of someone who’s seen too many boring brainstorming sessions. The importance of this was echoed by research, showing that companies with diversity tend to outperform their competition, proving that the power of different perspectives is no mere myth.
Creating an Inclusive Environment
Keynote speaker Sheila Warren from the World Economic Forum highlighted the deliberate thought put into creating an inclusive event. From childcare options to accessibility accommodations, it’s the small things that matter. If your only takeaway from this event was the importance of a good code of conduct prominently displayed at the entrance, you’d still leave feeling enlightened and ready to tackle those biases. A huge shoutout to the thoughtful event designers for making sure everyone was welcomed!
