Tech Companies May Be Approaching Diversity Issue From the Wrong Angle
Orlando, FL (PRWEB) August 12, 2014 -- As U.S. Civil Rights leader, Rev. Jesse Jackson turns up the heat on tech companies over their poor records on diversity in the workplace, all of the major players in the industry are coming forward with a promise to do more. However, successful African American entrepreneur, Jay Jackson - who is celebrating the national launch of the new professional online networking platform RYSE Connected - says that these companies may be looking at the problem from the wrong perspective.
Jay Jackson, a Florida native who built RYSE Connected from the ground up, as a new, leading-edge platform for minority interaction, growth and development, says "While there seems to be a growing movement to barrage these companies on the moral benefits of having a diverse workforce, a point that is seldom discussed is the fact that having a less than diverse workforce causes money to be left on the table by these tech giants."
"Technology companies are built on innovation. The very core of entrepreneurship and innovation is simply solving problems and developing solutions that meet a need. The reality is that diverse ethnicities and genders share many similarities, but also share many differences; different interests, different concerns, different experiences, different perspectives and therefore have different needs."
"When companies lack diversity, they are not able to capitalize on blind spots and as a result miss out on economic opportunities to develop innovative solutions and solve problems that are relevant to different ethnicities and gender groups."
In responding to Rev. Jesse Jackson's criticisms of the lack of ethnic diversity in Silicon Valley some have suggested that the problem exists simply because the talent is not there. However that argument is invalidated by companies like eBay, one of the few major players in the tech industry who have demonstrated that maintaining a diverse workforce - and a high quality, engaging platform that appeals to a wide audience is indeed both profitable and sustainable. They also have a work force that is 19% black; in comparison to the diversity report from Twitter, who despite having a 30% black user demographic currently has a workforce that is only 2% black.
There are plenty of female, African American and Hispanic technology based entrepreneurs out there, as people like Jay Jackson prove, so the real issue may be connecting these companies - who may not even know where to begin looking for such talent - with these skilled individuals. This is something that Jackson's RYSE Connected social media platform has strived for since day one of its operation.
In addition to providing a new and unique online networking platform for young professionals of color to connect and share ideas, RYSE Connected also offers a recruiting tool for organizations seeking to recruit top diverse talent. Says Jackson, "Lack of exposure and not a lack of talent is a major factor affecting the diversity issue in the technology industry."
"Opportunities within these industries are invisible to those who are not connected to them already. It is virtually impossible to strive to achieve something that you have not seen. One of the goals at RYSE Connected is to work with tech companies to connect this 'hidden workforce' with their recruiting departments so that the wealth of knowledge and the different experiences they bring to the table can be put to good use, expanding the horizons of both the employees and the companies they work for."
About RYSE Connected:
RYSE Connected is a unique interactive online network and mobile platform that connects, empowers and celebrates young professionals of color across the nation, while also providing a recruiting platform that allows employers in all niches to connect with the experienced and diverse talent they need. Visit http://www.ryseconnected.com for more information.
William Colvard, Now What? Studio, http://www.nowwhatstudio.com, +1 678-404-9428, [email protected]
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