Franklin County Commissioners Invest $4.5 Million To Help Women of Color Join the Tech Sector

Columbus, OH – Franklin County was in the headlines last week when President Joe Biden touted local technology investments in his State of the Union speech. On Tuesday, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners committed to developing the county workforce to meet a growing demand for technology jobs, while placing equity at the forefront of their approach.

The Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a more than $4.5 million COVID-19 recovery grant to support the new Tech Women of Color workforce training initiative. This innovative partnership between the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services and the nationally recognized tech training nonprofit Per Scholas will help train and place 200 low-income women of color on the path to self-sufficiency through good-paying jobs.

“When I was 23 coming out of the military with two young daughters, I had an IT background and credentials from the Navy, but I still couldn’t find a job. I was one of those women who just needed a chance,” Commissioner Erica C. Crawley said. “What we’re doing here isn’t a handout. It’s about helping people who are willing and ready to work. They just need a chance.”

While the economy has rebounded over the past year, job growth especially among women of color, has not kept pace with the overall rate. In January, the nationwide unemployment rates for Black women (5.8 percent) and LatinX women (4.9 percent) were higher than the overall unemployment rate for women. Employment disparities in the technology field predate the pandemic but are even more stark today. Nationwide, Black women only make up 3 percent of the technology workforce while LatinX women account for only 1 percent.

“This was never just going to be about meeting workforce demands. It’s about equitable access, equitable growth and equitable opportunity,” Commissioner John O’Grady said. “If Ohio’s going to become the ‘Silicon Heartland,’ we’re going to do it by giving people who’ve been overlooked and underrepresented in tech the fair shot they deserve.”

The Tech Women of Color initiative is a 15-week program that will offer technical skills training, executive mentoring, financial coaching, and more. Participants will receive paid internships and graduate with industry-recognized credentials – ready to compete for high-paying, in-demand technology jobs.

“The best social service is a good-paying job, but a job alone isn’t going to move you up the economic ladder if the ground beneath can’t support it,” Commissioner Kevin L. Boyce said.  “We’re providing ongoing support so women can finish the program on stable ground and ready to begin that climb.”

In addition to employment placement and retention services, graduates will receive ongoing supportive services to help navigate the “benefits cliff,” which occurs when a small increase in earnings leads to loss of public assistance benefits like food assistance or Publicly Funded Child Care.

“We can’t ask a mom to embark on new career path and then say, ‘but by the way, you won’t be able to drop your baby off at child care.’ This program can’t work if that’s a choice she has to make,” Deputy County Administrator Joy Bivens said. “We’re facing the reality of the benefits cliff and saying, ‘we’re going to walk this path with you and make sure you have the tools to succeed.’”

The initiative is funded with American Rescue Plan Act dollars and will run for two years, through August of 2024.

“Since launching our evidence-based technology training here in Columbus 10 years ago, Per Scholas Columbus has trained and prepared more than 800 learners for in-demand technology jobs across our region. Increasing equity and closing the opportunity gap is core to our work, and I’m looking forward to affecting change right here in Franklin County,” said Noah Mitchell, Managing Director of Per Scholas Columbus. “We are incredibly grateful to the Franklin County Board of Commissioners for this transformational investment and are looking forward to teaming up with the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services to bring this intentional Tech Women of Color training to life.”

Women who are interested in learning more can visit www.PerScholas.org/Columbus.

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The Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services provides timely public assistance benefits and builds community partnership through inclusion, responsiveness and innovation. Learn more at https://jfs.franklincountyohio.gov and follow FCDJFS on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Per Scholas is a national organization that has been advancing economic mobility for 25 years. Through rigorous training, professional development, and robust employer connections, we prepare individuals traditionally underrepresented in technology for high-growth careers in the industry. We partner with leading employers to build more diverse talent pools, directly connecting our graduates to new career opportunities at businesses ranging from Fortune 500 companies to innovative startups. With campuses in 17 cities, Per Scholas has trained more than 16,000 individuals in tech skills, building bridges to careers in technology. To learn more, visit PerScholas.org.

In this brief from MDRC, a company committed to finding solutions to some of the most difficult problems facing the nation, it is shown that investigating lived experiences for data is crucial for Per Scholas’s admissions process.

As the brief states, “People with lived expertise can include individuals or families enrolled in or eligible for a program of interest, service practitioners who work directly with these individuals and families, and community leaders. Such people have a wealth of knowledge about the social issues and programs that are studied, derived from their own experiences.”

Learn how Per Scholas has worked closely with MDRC research to provide a better admissions process experience to drive more completed applications in this brief and read the full document.

Following Black History Month in February, we are thrilled to spotlight Per Scholas Executive Vice President of Social Ventures, Damien Howard, and his feature as a Workforce Trailblazer with New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals (NYATEP).

Among the collection of trailblazers, Damien’s experience of over 20 years at Per Scholas and being a champion for diversity and economic equity among the tech community is commended. To read his full profile with NYATEP and to learn more about Damien Howard, click here.

Per Scholas Welcomes New Regional Advisory Board Members

Leaders from Technology, Professional Services, E-Commerce, 

Contribute to Transform America’s Tech Workforce

BRONX, N.Y. (February 23, 2021) – Today, leading national tech training nonprofit advancing economic equity Per Scholas welcomed nine new Advisory Board Members in three cities across the U.S. New Advisory Board Members include:

Atlanta, Georgia

• Winford Williams, AVP Technology, Insurance, LexisNexis Risk Solutions

“I’m delighted to welcome Winford to our Per Scholas Atlanta Advisory Board. He joins a passionate and committed group of leaders working diligently to increase opportunity for future technologists right here at home,” said Sherri Sims, Per Scholas Atlanta Managing Director. 

National Capital Region

• Abenaa Addei, Account Director, Google
• Keith Barclay, Worldwide IGF Ecosystems Operation Leader, IBM
• Marialina Bello, Managing Architect, Microsoft
• Felicia Jones, Program Director, designDATA
• Heidi Richards, Managing Director, EY

Per Scholas National Capital Region Managing Director Diane Duff reflected, “Greater Washington, which stretches across Washington, D.C. and outward to suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia – continues to be recognized as one of the most prominent tech hubs on the East Coast, and it’s still growing. I’m very grateful to Abenaa, Keith, Lina, Felicia, and Heidi for contributing their time and talent to support Per Scholas’s mission to increase access and opportunity for technologists across our region.” 

New York, New York

• Erez Barkai, Director of Engineering, Wayfair
• George Okrah, Senior Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion, Lazard
• Silva Stewart, Digital Strategy Consultant, Accenture

“Our New York Advisory Board Members play a crucial role in supporting our strategy and growth in New York City,” said Abe Mendez, Per Scholas New York Managing Director. “I’m excited to welcome Erez, George, and Silva to the Per Scholas’s New York Advisory Board and thank them for their commitment to strengthen and diversify the tech sector.” 

To learn more about Per Scholas’s work, our National Board, and regional Advisory Boards, visit PerScholas.org. 

About Per Scholas

Per Scholas is a national organization that has been advancing economic mobility for 25 years. Through rigorous training, professional development, and robust employer connections, we prepare individuals traditionally underrepresented in technology for high-growth careers in the industry. We partner with leading employers to build more diverse talent pools, directly connecting our graduates to new career opportunities at businesses ranging from Fortune 500 companies to innovative startups. With campuses in 17 cities, Per Scholas has trained more than 15,000 individuals in tech skills, building bridges to careers in technology. To learn more, visit PerScholas.org.

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In general, setting goals is an integral part of life. Creating individual goals can help you outline a path to obtaining a long-term vision and provide motivation and guidance throughout the process. Goal-setting is one of the many exercises in which a mentor’s direction can benefit. We gathered a small list of Per Scholas’ mentors’ most essential tips to help you set and accomplish your goals. 

1. Start with small goals.

Get your foot in the door by setting and accomplishing small, achievable goals. These will help you build up the habit of setting and meeting goals without feeling too overwhelming right off the bat. Regularly achieving these small goals can help you gain the momentum, motivation, and confidence you need to make the jump to bigger, more complex goals successfully. 

2. Adopt some behavioral micro-habits.

Like small goals, micro-habits are small, simple tasks that allow you to break down the components of a more prominent goal behavior into tiny, achievable parts. Micro-habits never last longer than 3-5 minutes, but they are mighty! These habits aim to assimilate small, proactive behaviors into your daily life to the point where they become a habit, cumulatively achieving your overall goal. If, for example, your overall goal behavior is to become more organized, you can adopt some quick micro-habits as simple as making your bed in the morning, hanging your jacket up when you get home, rather than throwing it on that chair, planning out your next day the night before, etc. Setting micro-habits can grow the confidence and ability to achieve more necessary life goals and behaviors. Starting small instead of making drastic life changes feels much more achievable and can help you build the consistency that will help you achieve your overall goal behaviors.

3. Set your aim and get started! Remember that your goals may change and grow with you.

Setting goals that will tangibly impact your future can feel stressful and daunting. However, it is essential to understand that your goals will change and evolve with you. This does not mean that you failed to accomplish your original goals. Instead, it means that you learned enough in the process to grow and develop your plans. Coming up with your first set of goals doesn’t have to be an overly arduous process, but it is crucial to have a starting point to work from. Monitoring the growth of your goals over time will allow you to look back on your progress and set the launching pad that you can build from. As Kelsey Briggs, Per Scholas Chicago’s Senior Manager of Business Solutions put it: “as you learn more about yourself and your field, [your goals] may change. But, you can’t see where you’ve come from, where you’re going, or even know if you’re on the right track if you don’t set those first goals.” 

4. Set SMART Goals

The goals you set for yourself must be clear and achievable. Vague, overly-aggressive, or poorly-framed goals are a quick recipe for frustration and disappointment. “SMART goals” is a system designed to help you set the framework for success by crafting goals that are clear, trackable, and carefully planned. The components of SMART stand for: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely. In a nutshell, you want to ensure that your goals are realistically accomplishable, as clear and specifically-defined as possible, relevant to your overall values and interests and that your progress can be measured in some way and completed within an ideal time frame. Setting up the framework to define and achieve your goals is a foolproof first step in the process of accomplishing your goals. Plan out your goals, follow your plan, and you will set yourself up for success.

5. Be Intentional.

To achieve your goals, you have to be mindful of your actions, time, and effort. Achieving goals is a significant accomplishment, and it can be done by following the plan that has already been set. Remind yourself of the big picture, keep your goals close to you, and don’t forget to check in with yourself to make sure you are following your plan and that you are on the right track to success. It is equally crucial to be kind to yourself when you are not following your plan. Goal-achievement is not always a straight line; if you find you are slipping, remind yourself why you have chosen to follow this path and what the benefits of success will be. Everyone has off days, and it is essential not to let them overwhelm you. If achieving your goals was easy, these tips would not be necessary! Forgive yourself for slipping and identify what specifically caused you to do so. Reassess and make changes to your technique if necessary, recommit yourself to the end goal, and get back on track!

With these tips in mind, you should be ready to start setting and working towards your goals! Remember to be realistic and intentional with the goals you set and to hold yourself accountable for your progress. Everyone has to start somewhere, and even the smallest goals can be an important stepping stone to bigger things. 

Two murals have recently been completed at Per Scholas’s Bronx campus, adding a colorful and vibrant look to the learning space’s walls. The murals, which feature Per Scholas alumni rendered in different artistic styles, were completed separately by two local artists: Yazmeen Collazo and Alberto Rondon, who goes by DISTER.

The murals, funded by long-time Per Scholas partner, TEKsystems, are a creative endeavor to celebrate our learners and connect with our broader Bronx community, with an emphasis on women and diversity in tech. “We’re honored to support a lasting representation of the impact Per Scholas has had on learners in the Bronx and across the U.S.,” said Alice Zients, manager of corporate social responsibility, workforce development and foundation management at TEKsystems. “Our organizations share a similar purpose of creating opportunity through career success, and we look forward to transforming the lives of even more learners in the years to come.”  See this link for a look at how the murals were created.

DISTER’s mural features New York graduates Jadah Stone and Moja Chatman, and Dallas graduate Jordan Wofford. Yazmeen’s mural includes Pittsburgh graduate Ashwini Neelgund, New York graduate Fabiana Rodriguez-Mercado, Charlotte graduate LeClair Boone, and Chicago graduate Veronica Vergara.

In addition to their artistic accomplishments as street artists and muralists, DISTER and Yazmeen were selected from over 100 submissions who competed to paint the murals at our Bronx campus.  These two local artists were chosen as finalists and received a financial award for their paintings thanks to the generous support of TEKsystems. Their selection as winners of the Per Scholas Bronx campus mural contest was based on their artistic proposals and past commitments to engaging the community in public art projects and nonprofit engagements, their alignment with the mission and values of Per Scholas and TEKsystems, their inclusion of the personality of Per Scholas learners and graduates, and their integration of the tone and mood of the Bronx in their completed pieces.

DISTER is a New York City-based artist with roots in Graffiti spray painting, writing and dance. “[My style] is predominantly influenced by Graffiti,” DISTER explained. “By definition, true Graffiti has to be illegal. Words are important in how we describe things, especially when it comes to culture. So I’d say I am influenced by Graffiti style, but [the mural] is not necessarily a Graffiti piece.” In a bow to the Graffiti style, DISTER added a unique “South Bronx” tag to his mural, making a connection to the neighborhood in the Bronx where the Per Scholas Bronx campus is located.

As for his inspiration for the mural’s content, DISTER says he sought to inject color and human touch into the Bronx campus’s walls. “I specifically wanted to humanize the building,” he reflected. “It’s really easy to think of school as just a place, so why not highlight the people of that area to represent more of the actual human experience?”

Yazmeen, hailing from the Bronx herself, attributes her inspiration largely to nature and what she felt Per Scholas brought to the South Bronx neighborhood. 

“The original inspiration [for the mural] was the nature that is often lacking in urban neighborhoods,” Yazmeen recalled. “I included some leaves and branches, which to me symbolize growth, change, and how Per Scholas plays a part in that for so many of the underrepresented individuals in the tech industry. In this case, the four women who were featured are women of color, which is an underrepresented population when it comes to technology.”

“I was thinking about what Per Scholas represents, not only in the neighborhood but in the tech industry in general. As a nonprofit, it speaks to the students in the neighborhoods it trains as something free that’s offering all these opportunities that wouldn’t otherwise be presented to certain individuals in certain areas; so that was a big inspiration. I had to think about what would symbolize growth and change. The inclusion of pixels exploding out also adds motion, which speaks to me of Per Scholas providing motion and a career trajectory for its graduates.”  Also, images of birds flying and the rising sun reflect energy and the dawn of new horizons and opportunities for Per Scholas graduates.

Thanks to TEKsystems’s generosity and the hard work of our artists, the two murals were completed as of mid-January. Their bright colors and bold styles bring an exciting element to the Bronx campus, which will provide a warm welcome for our learners and returning staff when the Per Scholas flagship Bronx campus reopens to in-person learning early in 2022. 

Not surprisingly, the artists, too, were touched by their experience working with Per Scholas. “It was really great to collaborate with Per Scholas and to know that a program like this exists in the South Bronx.” DISTER said. “I have actually sent the program information to a few of my family who might be interested in attending!”  Which is exactly what we were hoping these murals would do, connecting Per Scholas more closely with the Bronx and its community.

There were many moments and happenings in 2021 which built on Per Scholas’ mission, closing out with our End of Year fundraising campaign which raised more than $4 million to support learners. Per Scholas is proud to have enrolled nearly 3,000 individuals to our cost-free tech training to advance economic equity.  

The past year, we expanded across the nation and opened three new campuses in partnership with TEKsystems!  In February, Per Scholas launched a Full Stack Java Developer course in Pittsburgh, graduating 20 Java Developers in its inaugural cohort.  In May, we expanded our presence to the West Coast and successfully launched our first cohorts in Seattle and Phoenix, bringing our campus count to 17! Full-stack technology service provider TEKsystems fueled these customized training tracks, with initial cohorts also focused on Java Development.  In Phoenix, 19 graduates mastered specific technical skills employers seek in entry and mid-level Java Developers. Seattle also hosted 19 Java Developer graduates. 

We kicked off The Right Career Changes Everything, our End of Year fundraising campaign, to ensure that the right career is accessible to everyone. Shortly after we began our fundraising, Per Scholas was selected as a winner of the 2021 Holiday Impact Prize, presented by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and former New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, and supported by Focusing Philanthropy.  The award also opened up visibility for Per Scholas’ campaign for additional funding.  Donations received through the Holiday Impact Prize will support Per Scholas’s Career Access Fund, which provides learners with everything they need to participate in the tuition-free tech training including laptops, Wi-Fi, textbooks, learning kits, lab supplies, certification exam costs, learner support services, and more. 

In all, we raised more than $4 million in large thanks to a generous match contribution from individuals at Jane Street as well as gifts from 1,200 supporters nationwide. This remarkable result will go directly toward advancing economic equity for our learners.  

Overall, 2021 was a momentous year for Per Scholas with immense growth internally and with our campuses. For over 26 years, we have advanced economic equity through access to technology careers, and our growth and development in 2021 will propel us to continue to do so through 2022, where we plan to train 30 percent more learners and open at least three more campuses. 

A career mentor’s role in a student’s life is highly significant. A mentor is someone who guides a learner throughout their journey to break the barriers that might stand in their way to success. 

Per Scholas offers supplemental mentorship to all its learners in addition to their training. Our mentors are career coaches, financial coaches, and instructors, all of whom believe that maintaining an open line of communication with our learners is essential to their success. But how exactly are mentors influencing our learners’ experiences not only during their time at Per Scholas but also after graduating? How are our learners prepared to navigate a job market that grows continuously and becomes more demanding every day? Hear from some of our Per Scholas’ mentors about the benefits, activities, and advice for career success.

How Mentors Help Learners

One of the many ways a career mentor can help our learners is by ensuring that they are equipped with proper knowledge and skills necessary to be marketable in the workforce, as well as enhance confidence in areas that learners might feel incompetent in, and accommodate time outside traditional class to provide a more personal learning experience.

Mentorship can be as broad or as specific as learners need it to be. One way Kelsey Briggs (Senior Manager, Career Solutions, Chicago) provides mentorship is by sharing information about job market opportunities in the area and also offering feedback to learners about their job search materials, networking, and communication skills.

“We guide them through their next career move, salary negotiation, and even when the right time is to move on to a new opportunity.” 

It is also important to remember that the relationship between mentor and mentee, in this case, our learners, is a safe, free of judgment space, and encourages learners to share their personal challenges and create an effective plan of action. “I focus on mentoring my learners with my life expertise and best professional practices. I also hold one on one meetings with my learners, and together we create an effective plan to address them,” shares Jose Jurado (Senior Manager, Career Advancement, New York).

What to do as a Mentor

It is essential to understand what activities learners can participate in with their job mentors during the mentoring process. Our mentors in Boston and Detroit agree that having a set time to connect and check in regularly is fundamental to building a fruitful relationship between mentor and learner. Equally important is to talk openly. Honest feedback is one of the many benefits of mentorship. However, this can only be effective if there is an open communication line between the career mentor and the learner. As Kelsey Briggs explains: “As we get to know each other, we can offer information on how others might perceive us, how we could get ahead, or how we can reach our goals. The mentor/mentee relationship isn’t fixed, either. A strong relationship will have you sometimes offering advice and sometimes receiving it.” 

Other suggested activities include role-playing, which can be beneficial during the interview process when looking for a job, setting reasonable expectations, providing career focus direction, and networking activities. Many other activities can be part of your job mentor’s relationship; these will depend on what you need, what you are looking for, and where you stand in your career at the time. 

The Center for an Urban Future named Per Scholas as an exemplary training program in New York that supports New York City Mayor, Eric Adams, with his workforce development plan.

“We are going to launch an unprecedented job program to link out-of-work New Yorkers not just with jobs, but with skills and training,” Adams mentioned during his campaign run.  Per Scholas, as a tech workforce training program based in the Bronx and Brooklyn, works with employers to design programs geared to the demands of hiring companies as we plan to train more individuals for a thriving tech career in New York.

Read the full article and feature here.

In a competitive job market with many shifting gears from The Great Resignation, there is more focus on employees to upskill and reskill in their industry to become greater experts in the field. 

When it comes to technology, Per Scholas not only trains our learners to become skilled technologists, but we also offer digital upskilling and reskilling opportunities that support our corporate partners with top-tier candidates for their organizations.

In this article, we will cover what digital upskilling and reskilling is, why it is important in the tech industry, and what courses Per Scholas provides for such skills. Read on to find out how Per Scholas can help you navigate the great resignation and move your career forward. 

What is Digital Upskilling?

Digital upskilling refers to the process of acquiring new digital skills to enhance one’s existing skill set.

For example, if a technologist has basic coding skills, they may want to upskill by learning a new programming language like Python or JavaScript, or they may want to acquire new skills in web development, cloud computing, or data analytics. Digital upskilling can help individuals stay up-to-date with emerging trends and technologies, increase their marketability, and boost their career growth. Per Scholas offers advanced technology courses in cybersecurity and IT Support for learners and alumni.

Upskilling vs Reskilling: What’s the Difference?

Digital upskilling refers to the process of acquiring new digital skills to enhance your current expertise, such as learning a new programming language or mastering a new software tool that builds on your current experience. For example, a marketer might upskill by learning how to use data analytics tools to better understand customer behavior.

On the other hand, reskilling involves learning an entirely new set of skills to switch to a different job or career. For example, a factory worker might need to reskill to become a software developer.

In short, upskilling is about enhancing your current skills, while reskilling is about acquiring new skills for a new job or career.

Why is Digital Upskilling Important in the Tech Industry?

The industry is ever-evolving and simply put; the more you know, the more you grow. From a business perspective, it is alluring to hire individuals who are eager to learn more or have previously done so to further their careers. 

Luckily, Per Scholas prepares our learners for thriving tech careers with these opportunities. 

Per Scholas Digital Upskilling Opportunities

Navigating the Great Resignation with Customized Training

Throughout The Great Resignation, Per Scholas has been able to navigate the new industry challenge and help our enterprise clients through our customized digital upskilling training and reskilling courses. 

Our Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer Damien Howard was recently invited to serve on a panel at The Big Exit Conference and spoke on how Per Scholas is helping companies win the War on Tech Talent:

“We’re all facing a war on talent amid the Great Resignation, so the opportunity is right in front of us to make diverse, equitable, and inclusive hiring decisions that will push business — and bottom lines — forward,” Damien mentioned during his panel discussion. 

Not only are we providing strong tech talent for our partners, but a diverse group of technologists that will bolster Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts for corporations. 

The IT industry is struggling with diversity, where only 40% of the IT workforce is diverse today and only 26% is women. There is limited supply and high demand for diverse candidates, which is what Per Scholas has worked to bridge a gap in the workforce.  

A study conducted by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) identified diversity as a key driver of innovation, finding that diverse teams produce a minimum of 19% more revenue

A Digital Upskilling Success Story: Maria Patokina

Per Scholas graduate Maria Patokina took advantage of one of our upskilling courses that advanced her coding capabilities. After successfully completing her initial course in March 2021, Maria did not have a job lined up, so she felt it was important for her to continue learning and gain certifications. 

Maria enrolled in the Google IT Automation with Python Alumni training course. “The Python certification helped a lot in several ways,”  she reflected. “Taking this certification course helped me better understand general coding principles and other languages, like Javascript.” 

After completing the course in May 2021, Maria realized that the new certification made her a standout candidate in her job search. She soon began her first tech job as a Software Engineering intern at a leading corporation. 

Maria credits the certification for improving her coding skills and creating a habit of self-studying that she feels is important in the IT field. “I learned a lot in a short period of time with Per Scholas that prepared me with a lot of practical, hands-on experience,” Maria said about her experience.

Start Your Digital Upskilling and Reskilling Journey

With so many different avenues to go down in the tech field, upskilling and reskilling opportunities are pertinent for both companies and employees. 

Per Scholas’ alumni training courses that have been customized for our partners are one way to defeat the Great Resignation we have recently faced in America and a great opportunity for organizations to strengthen their DEI ties.  

Data has shown that 87 – 90% of our learners are people of color and about 30% of that number identify as women, further proving we’re a turnkey solution for enterprises looking to diversify their technology talent immediately – with customized courses and opportunities for our graduates to continue towards success as technologists.  

For more information, visit our upskilling opportunities page.  For questions about diversifying your tech talent pipelines with our incredible talent, set up a discovery meeting to discuss how we can work together and move the needle around diversity, digital transformation, and superior tech talent within your firm.