Culture Shifting in Silicon Valley: 300+ Black Business Leaders Set Sights on Increasing Racial Diversity in Tech at Weekend Summit April 20-22Culture Shifting in Silicon
Palo Alto & San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) April 13, 2018 -- Now in its fourth year in Silicon Valley, Culture Shifting: A Weekend of Technology, Innovation and Social Impact (April 20-22) has emerged as the preeminent forum for discussion and action around diversity and inclusion in tech. Recognized as the “Davos of Diversity,” Culture Shifting Weekend brings together 300+ leaders of color in venture capital, finance, technology, bio-tech, healthcare, media and entertainment. Culture Shift Labs CEO Andrea Hoffman and business partner Denmark West of Connectivity Ventures curate the largest invite-only forum of Black and Latinx decision-makers to enable deals and collaborations that impact business and society.
Underwriting partners such as Morgan Stanley, Vista Equity Partners, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Dignity Health, eBay, Oracle and Gilead participate to meet fellow leaders tackling the tough issues of building a diverse C-Suite and board and to connect with highly accomplished but under the radar technology and innovation stars.
Hosted in Silicon Valley in the spring and New York City in the fall, Culture Shifting Weekends are signature events of Culture Shift Labs, a consultancy to companies across industry, venture and private equity funds and large nonprofits seeking to diversify their leadership, boards, investments, portfolio companies and partners.
Guests consist of a curated group of influential and accomplished C-Suite executives, entrepreneurs, investors and thought leaders of color who are carefully selected to attend in order to perfect and produce quantifiable results.
Spanning three days and venues in Silicon Valley and San Francisco, the 4th Annual Culture Shifting Weekend guests include:
• Danny Allen, VP, Tech Diversity & Inclusion, SAP
• Keith L. Black, MD, Head of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai
• Samuel Bright, Sr. Director, GM of Art & Collectibles, eBay
• Michael Carter, Co-Head & Managing Director of Technology Investment Banking, RBC Capital Markets
• Anddria Clack-Rogers Varnado, VP, Head of Strategy & Business Development, William Sonoma
• Lloyd Dean, CEO, Dignity Health
• John Dokes, CMO, Accuweather
• Carla Harris, Vice Chair of Wealth Management, Morgan Stanley
• David Ibnale, Managing Partner, Advance Venture Partners
• Moses Ike, Director of Investments & Corporate Development, Blue Shield of CA
• Maci Peterson, Co-Founder & CEO, On Second Thought
• Robin Washington, EVP and CFO, Gilead
A complete list of distinguished hosts, speakers and sponsors may be found here.
“Our event defies the assumption of ‘we can’t find any,’” said Andrea Hoffman. “Culture Shifting Weekends are proof positive that the diverse talent, deals and business opportunities exist in vast numbers. We bring leaders together during this weekend to make them more visible and deals more actionable.”
Andrea continued, “We put the right people in the room—individuals who can write checks, do deals, open doors. Before they’re on the cover of Forbes, like Robert F. Smith, they’re here at Culture Shifting Weekends, making lifelong connections in an atmosphere of trust and generosity.”
“Andrea has the ability to convene thought leaders around essential issues and get them to put intentions and actions in motion,” said Robert F. Smith, Chairman & CEO of Vista Equity Partners.
Andrea’s #MakeShiftHappen ethos results in many measurable outcomes. A few examples: Laura Weidman-Powers, CEO and Co-Founder of Code2040, secured millions in funding stemming from a connection made at Culture Shifting Weekend; Maci Peterson, Founder of On Second Thought, secured investments money for her company; and 645 Ventures met an individual who became a meaningful LP in their fund shortly after meeting him at the New York Culture Shifting Weekend.
The weekend program includes:
Friday, April 20th
Millennial Tech Influencers & Entrepreneurs of Color Breakfast
Black and Latinx influencers and founders discuss how established companies can leverage the talents, resources and insights of millennials. CSL curates over 20 speakers who are next generation rockstars for companies to also consider investing in or becoming customers. Among the speakers is Maci Peterson, CEO of On Second Thought.
Sponsored by Vista Equity Partners and Morgan Stanley.
Location: LinkedIn, 599 N Mathilda Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
Timing: 8:30 – 10:30 am
Friday, April 20th
Fireside Chat & Networking Reception
The Networking and Fireside Chat will be in partnership with SAP, with additional support by StubHub. It will feature a conversation with Dr. Mae C. Jemison, engineer, physician and former NASA astronaut, with an emphasis on entrepreneurship and diversity in tech.
Sponsored by Sap.io and StubHub.
Location: SAP.io, 334 Brannan St, San Francisco, CA 94107
Timing 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Saturday, April 21st
Think/Action Tank
CSL showcases, amplifies and helps scale companies and leaders who are breaking molds and succeeding. This Think/Action Tank is themed Inclusive Health & Wellness Innovation.
Sponsored in part by Dignity Healthy and Babson Social Innovation Lab.
Location: LinkedIn, 599 N Mathilda Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
Timing: 12:00 – 4:30 pm
Sunday, April 22nd
Culture Shifting Awards
The Culture Shifting Awards recognizes leaders and pioneers of diversity and those who care about growth and innovation through diversity and inclusion. This year actor/comedian Chris Spencer will emcee a program honoring Peggy Abkemier Alford, CFO of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative; Ime Archibong, VP of Partnerships, Facebook; Lloyd Dean, CEO of Dignity Health; and Denise Young Smith, Executive in Residence at Cornell Tech. The Culture Shifting Awards has honored more than 40 leaders to date across business, tech, the arts and sciences.
Location: Rosewood Sand Hill, 2825 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Timing: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
About Andrea Hoffman and Culture Shift Labs
Andrea Hoffman is an advisor, dealmaker, strategist, 2x author, and the founder and CEO of the management consulting firm Culture Shift Labs (CSL). CSL advises senior leaders, cities, large nonprofits and philanthropists on growth and innovation through diversity and inclusion. Andrea consults with C-suite executives across a wide range of industries on finding new growth opportunities. CSL has offices in New Jersey and San Francisco (where she expanded the business in 2015).
Andrea is also the founder of Culture Shifting Weekends, the largest bi-coastal annual gathering of Black leaders in technology, innovation and social impact to enable deals and collaborations (think Davos but for Black decision makers). She's been producing this gathering of her knowledge and network for 9 years in NYC and 4 years in Silicon Valley. In addition, Andrea is developing SaaS platform called Katapult which will help companies with 1,000+ employees assess, measure and improve their diversity efforts including impact on business and society.
Please note: Media attendance is invite-only and all media must be credentialed.
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Andy Morris, Code Morris for Culture Shift Labs, +1 (917) 710-1802, [email protected]
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