Make a Bouquet of Software Engineers

A lot of different flowers make a bouquet.

This beautiful Islamic proverb elucidates the power and necessity of diversity in our personal lives and the tech industry. Our industry has been under fire for the last several years for its lack of diversity. Still, many well-intended people don’t recognize any issues, so let’s use this metaphor to better visualize the conversation surrounding diversity.

A bundle of any flower is beautiful and would be welcomed as a gift, but what do we recognize as a grand gesture? A bouquet. The dynamic arrangement of different flowers and plants inspires awe and wonder.

Think of the tech industry the same way. If we are to become innovative, revolutionary, ground-breaking, and our greatest potential, we must value diversity. And the way we invest in diversity is to become florists - the advocates for dynamic change.

The current state of diversity in tech.

Although the tech industry has brought a plethora of information to our fingertips and brought people together who exist worlds apart through swipes and clicks, it remains one of the least diverse industries today. With the millennial and Gen-Z demographics growing as the largest, most diverse, and demographics most concerned about diversity and inclusion, the diverse representation in technology doesn’t seem to match.

Looking at the stats of the top tech companies like Facebook, Google, Salesforce, Apple, and Twitter, Black and Latinx employees only constitute around 5% of the overall staff, with the percentage being closer to 2% once you cross the threshold to leadership. And gender has a similar disparity, with women only accounting for 20% in the top tech companies. Though there have been incredible strides to improve diversity in these companies, an apparent disconnect remains as numbers remain in the single digits.

What seems to be a continued barrier is a lack of inclusivity - environments that are welcoming and supportive of a diverse staff. Many black and indigenous people of color (BIPOC) in the tech industry comment that they don’t feel heard, included, or valued for their perspectives and opinions. Being one of the only BIPOC or women in the workplace can take a drastic toll on your mental health, stemming from issues such as:

• The stress and pressure of being “the only one.”
• Imposter syndrome. Where they don’t feel worthy or are in a constant state of self-doubt.
• The feeling of being “tokenized.”
• Overt disrespect or micro-aggressions concerning racism, sexism, homophobia, etc.
• Being silenced and unseen because of the very things that make you diverse.

By becoming advocates and allies, we can become the stewards of the values of critical non-linear thinking, challenging norms, exploring what’s unknown and undiscovered, and innovation that have come to define the tech industry as a whole. By assuming this role and harnessing this power, we will propel to new heights and break any and every plateau and paradigm.

Diversity is not a box to check. It’s an invaluable resource inextricably woven into the fabric of success and innovation. Bob Ferrell from WWT said it perfectly in this article, I want to be a part of an organization that "'Gets it!', the kind of company that 'Does it right' when it comes to diversity and inclusion”. Approaching it from this perspective and investing in it will yield an exponential harvest. Diversity and inclusion have moral and intrinsic value - and it’s profitable. 

It’s a win-win-win. 

Some of the many benefits diversity brings to the tech industry:

Innovation and creativity. The diversity from fresh and varied perspectives begets innovation. Research by Deloitte reported, “Organizations with inclusive cultures are six times more innovative and agile, eight times as likely to achieve better business results, and twice as likely to meet or exceed financial targets than organizations with less diversity in the workplace.”

Chris Grundemann of Myriad Supply encapsulates this perfectly,

Innovation happens when teams challenge the status quo, look beyond the obvious, and work creatively. If everyone on the team has the same knowledge, the same skills, the same worldview, and the same biases, they will inevitably reach the same conclusions. Diversity is the only way to avoid this trap and foster truly creative teams.

Better products and profitability. Apart from the personal, company, or financial aspect, diversity is valuable to your overall product; as Meetesh Karia of The Zebra illustrates,

“Diversity isn’t just about race or gender. It’s about background, perspective, age, education, and so much more. If you have a homogenous team, then you’re going to build a product that serves that team. To build a product that serves everyone, you need voices and input from all types of people.”

The ability to leverage and employ a wide array of perspectives allows companies to tap into new niches and demographics and increase their market share to expand their business and increase profits. A study by Boston Consulting Group showed that diverse companies produced a more significant proportion of revenue from innovation (45% of total revenue) than from companies that weren’t as diverse (26%), and there was a 19% advantage that translated into overall better financial performance due to their innovation.

Create a better world and avoid pitfalls. We don’t just use technology, but we’ve integrated technology into our lives, into our personalities, and as an intrinsic part of the human experience. And with technology carrying such a heavy responsibility, we must ensure it doesn’t contribute to societal issues.

Artificial Intelligence now operates in this capacity, and it’s been reported in many instances to perpetuate racism. Everything from motion sensors to smartwatches and autonomous vehicles has had issues recognizing darker skin tones. In addition, the documentary Coded Bias explores the more serious implications where facial recognition algorithms and AI have threatened civil liberties and people’s lives.

Let’s make a new arrangement.

Just like we don’t want a bushel of the same flowers every day, we don’t want to be an industry of the same ideas, same perspectives that will eventually make the same products that yield the same results. Since we have the potential to influence how society functions, we can also consider how we can impact it for the better, and making sure we represent the bouquet of our society, we can do just that. I'm doing my part; are you?

This is a personal opinion article. Any views or opinions represented in this blog are personal and belong solely to the author and do not represent those of people, institutions, or organizations that the author may or may not be associated with within a professional or personal capacity unless explicitly stated. Any views or opinions are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, or individual.