Washington – On Wednesday, March 13, the Center for Digital Business at the Howard University School of Business hosted its inaugural Tech Titans Talk.
Created in collaboration with Maximus, the panel brought together prominent Black chief information officers (CIOs) from across the technology industry for a discussion at the Armor J. Blackburn Center. According to cio.com, only 3.7% of CIOs in this country are Black, but the panel provided valuable insight into the experiences, obstacles, and accomplishments of these pioneers. .
Hosted by Howard alum and host of the podcast “The Black Futurist” bryndan moore (BS, '96.), panel special feature derrick pleasure Maximus, a global health and human services provider. John Russell aerospace and defense company Northrop Grumman; venice good wine US Department of the Air Force. Lanaia Jones of the Central Intelligence Agency. glassford hall of security and defense consulting firm QinetiQ.and Niki Allen of the aircraft company Boeing.
“The technology industry is going through a lot of changes in innovation and structure because the CIO position didn't exist 15 years ago and there are more opportunities for Black people,” Russell said. “Throughout our careers, we have seen that optics often discourage us from taking chances on our own, but I can tell you that over the past 10 years that has started to change. I'll leave it to you.
“What I like to tell people is that when a team is performing and being successful, no one remembers the optics. 'Pick the right people and the rest will be taken care of. Forget it. At the end of the day, that's what changes the culture.”
Key advice centered on the importance of networking and working with people from diverse backgrounds. Panelists noted that some of the biggest allies they've found are people who transcend gender and race, and they relate to them for other reasons. They said that as a leader in any industry, it is essential to develop personal relationships with the people you lead.
“My leadership philosophy has been driven by a clear awareness and understanding of the people I work with, what they are working on, and what their challenges are. Your ability to sustain will determine what kind of leader you are,” Goodwine said.
In addition to the panel discussion, students in attendance had the opportunity to interact with Maximus and QinetiQ recruiters who were in attendance to mobilize students for current internships and job openings.
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About Howard University
Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private research university comprised of 14 schools and colleges. Students pursue more than 140 programs of study leading to undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. The university is committed to excellence in truth and service, and has awarded three Schwarzman Scholars, four Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows, and a full-time We have produced over 165 Bright Scholars. Howard also produces more African American Ph.D.s on campus. It has more awards than any other university in the United States. For more information about Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.