June is #PRIDE Month, and we’re recognizing and celebrating just a few of the LGBTQ+ stars within the tech community. They each contribute to the efforts of inclusion and innovation in their own way! Check them out and give them a follow, if you’re not already!
Megan Smith, CEO and Co-Founder of shift7 | LinkedIn
Megan Smith sure has a story to tell! She is an incredibly talented engineer and technologist. After graduating MIT, she moved through a variety of corporations and impressive projects. To highlight a few, Megan has held previous titles including:
COO of Planet Out (an online media company concentrated on the LGBTQ+ community)
Vice President of New Business Development at Google
First Female U.S. Government’s Chief Technology Officer
CEO and Co-founder of shift7
While her career path is impressive, her legacy and impact are in her evangelistic message according to Forbes.com. Megan uses her networking capabilities and connections to be a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in technology. She continues to work towards bridging the gender and minority gaps in the industry through her work with TechHire and their initiative, which is to build access to tech training and increase diversity in the industry!
Tim Cook, CEO of Apple | Twitter
Another influential figure in the LGBTQ+ and tech communities is Tim Cook, CEO of Apple Inc. Since becoming the CEO in 2011, Cook has reshaped Apple’s business and expanded the company with improvements made to many product lines including the launch of the Apple Watch. Not only has Cook made giant leaps in tech, but he has also made significant impacts on corporate culture movements nationwide.
In 2014, Cook paved the way for so many as the first CEO of a Fortune 500 company to publicly express his sexuality. His leadership and confidence continue to inspire others to build diversity! Cook told the BBC, "Technology’s a great thing that will accomplish many things, but unless you have diverse views at the table that are working on it, you don’t wind up with great solutions."
Sarah Kate Ellis, CEO and President of GLAAD | LinkedIn
Sarah Kate Ellis is the President and CEO of GLAAD, a non-profit organization that focuses on promoting LGBTQ+ representation and equality in the media. Under her leadership, GLAAD has evolved to become one of the most powerful cultural change agents across industries, including tech. MetroWeekly.com notes that Sarah launched the GLAAD Media Institute to train employees of Fortune 500 companies including Google, Netflix, Delta, and more on LGBQ+ terminology and issues. She leverages her leadership skills by entering corporations and educating C-suite leaders to make an impact on the level of inclusivity in their organizations. She was named one of the 100 Most Influential People of 2023 by Time.com. IMDB.com shares a few of her additional honors including:
Adweek & ADCOLOR’s 2020 Champions of Diversity and Inclusion
Crain New York Business' 2020 Notable LGBTQ Leaders & Executives
Stevie Awards for Women in Business
Webby Awards
Variety's Power of New York
OUT100
Guardian's World Power Pride List
Her work has had a significant impact on fostering LGBTQ+ inclusion through her recognition of leadership!
Megan Rose Dickey, Reporter of Axios | LinkedIn
Megan Rose Dickey uses her writing skills to share her message and call for change. Megan is a journalist and reporter who covers diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. At TechCrunch, she has covered topics including “the biggest challenges facing an industry that prides itself in innovation: diversity.” Before TechCrunch, Megan covered tech startups at Business Insider, and she focused on IoT. In her current role at Axios, she is a reporter who covers San Francisco news. Her extensive writing covers topics such as racial and gender disparities, and her advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights in the workplace. These leaders use their public platforms to share the message of inclusivity. Follow their profiles to see the change and learn more about how you can make an impact in the DEI movement!
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How are you celebrating Pride Month this June? Share with us! We’d love to hear!