Hidden Figures No More: Inspiring Black Women In Tech

I won’t lie to you guys, doing research for this post was an incredible journey. Diving into the stories of remarkable black women who continue to leave an indelible mark on the tech industry and beyond was inspiring. Not only that, it's a testament to what can come about when tech meets an innovative and determined mind.

I’ve always had a weird relationship with black history month - While it's crucial to acknowledge the struggles and pain that have characterised black history, it's equally important to celebrate the immense achievements of black individuals. So in this blog post, I've decided to focus on the latter and shine a spotlight on black women who have made significant strides in the world of technology.

Prepare to be amazed and inspired as I take you through 4 incredible UK black women in tech.

Josephine Philips: Redefining Consumer Culture With Tech

Josephine is the founder & CEO at SOJO. She also appeared on the Forbes 30 under 30 list in 2022. SOJO offers a tech-based solution to ‘fast fashion’ through its emissions-free door-to-door repair and alterations services. This service is powered by their app.

Josephine is reshaping the behaviours we have surrounding our clothes in the hopes of reducing waste and global emissions.

“Next time you buy something…ask yourself,'Do I need this? What has it taken for this item to get here to me?… Will I really, truly value it?'”

Karen Emelu: Breaking Barriers & Driving Global Tech Inclusivity

Karen has experience as a senior product designer. She is now the full-time CEO and founder of Black Girls in Tech - a global organisation encouraging the education, partnership and mentorship of black women in tech.

BGIT stands on community, by allowing black women to come together globally and encourage/motivate each other on their tech journey.

As well as this, they provide a wide range of catalysts for career progression such as boot camps, mentorship and networking events.

"My vision is to foster a future where innovation knows no bounds, where aspiring entrepreneurs find the support they need to succeed, and where diversity is not just acknowledged but celebrated as a driving force behind progress."

Sharmadean Reid MBE: Pioneering Technology For Community & Visibility

Sharmadean is a dynamic entrepreneur and the founder of WAH Nails and Beauty Stack. She uses a blend of creativity and innovation to build communities whilst empowering women and breaking glass ceilings.

She's all about using your presence in the technology industry to solve issues YOU have, providing visibility and solutions for people who look like you.

View her inspirational TED talk here

"Build what you consume.."

Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE: Driving Tech Education and Change

Anne-Marie is a versatile professional with numerous roles, including a computer scientist, CEO, author, speaker, podcaster, and presenter. She is the founder of Stemettes, an award-winning social enterprise focused on empowering girls, women, and non-binary individuals in STEM and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Maths) careers.

Her curiosity about technology sparked at a young age after breaking apart a VCR player (for the younger crowd, that's how we used to watch movies back in the day!) at the age of 7 to understand how it worked.

She's the author of the book 'She's in Ctrl,' which is a must-read, even if you're not a techie. In the book, she talks about her lifelong obsession with driving change and using tech as the catalyst to do so. She urges readers to get super specific about the change you want to make and use your own life experiences to guide you.

"Be a change pioneer"

Finally, a message to all the black individuals in the tech industry:

You don't need to wait for an extraordinary moment to be recognised or celebrated.

We deeply appreciate your willingness to step out of your comfort zones and familiar surroundings to ensure we have representation in spaces where it matters.

Your capacity to inspire young black minds and reshape the world is immeasurable.

So this month, we celebrate you too.

Happy Black History Month!,

Ruth