Explore how diverse teams build dynamic products with Dev Bootcamp

Talking about diversity and inclusion in tech is great. Actually creating diversity and inclusion in tech is the goal. For some companies, taking action is also the hard part.

Coding bootcamp Dev Bootcamp, an organization dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusion in tech, wants to help local companies figure out how to do it right by highlighting how diverse tech teams can create a competitive advantage for companies and a help them build better product for customers.

On June 22 at Prolific Interactive, Dev Bootcamp will host the second edition of Culture + Code, an event series produced in partnership with Digital DUMBO that aims to highlight how brands such as BuzzFeed, Viacom, Haute Hijab and Prolific Interactive have put diverse perspectives into practice to create competitive advantage.

A panel of experts from those brands will be moderated by Mali M., partner and creative Director at Pixod and Partner at The Bklyn Combine.

“Discussions around diversity and inclusion are only important if they effectively include the voices and concerns of the marginalized,” said M. “These discussions can play a critical role in establishing the accountability and empathy needed to ensure outcomes that reflect our collective desires.”

He gave three examples of best practices for firms and agencies looking to take first steps toward creating diverse teams:

• “Embrace a hiring process and engineering pipeline that focuses more on a baseline of technical skills and peer learning capacity, rather than traditional and familiar hiring practices.”
• “Partner with emerging and nontraditional STEM development organizations to create communal bridges between the communities they represent and your company.”
• “As you embrace talent from diverse backgrounds, focus more on creating greater equity than trying to eliminate inequality.”

Rob Kleiman, community marketing manager at Dev Bootcamp, said the organization believes most problems in software are caused by interpersonal conflicts rather than a lack of technical expertise.

“The most successful products are built by engaged and creative teams that can integrate a diverse set of voices into the development process,” said Kleiman. “We believe that empathy in the workplace is a driver of meaningful connection, and a key component in creating inclusive, open and collaborative cultures.”

Kleiman noted that the panelists will dive deep into how the diversity of thought, perspective, and life experiences can influence teams — and those who lead them — to create products, experiences, and businesses that can make an impact by welcoming differences into the workplace.

“Attendees should leave with a better understanding of the opportunities to expand career opportunities for themselves or others, and contribute to a more diverse and inclusive tech industry,” said M.

Interested? RSVP here.

This article is sponsored by Dev Bootcamp and was reviewed before publication.