elman College, Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University. We brought in teachers from across Dell Technologies to teach subjects like cloud infrastructure (Pivotal) and cybersecurity (SecureWorks). Dell Technologies’ Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Brian K. Reaves, led a session to provide perspectives from the C-suite on the critical business acumen skills required of future leaders in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. And our employee resource group members from the local chapter of Black Networking Alliance (BNA) helped guide the technical workshops.
“This program is personally meaningful to me because as a computer science major, I am interested in cybersecurity, but am still learning about what it actually entails,” said Yvonne Akuamoah, a Project Immersion student at Morehouse College. “My institution doesn’t offer any cybersecurity course, so this was my first real exposure to the field.”
We held a roundtable with HBCU students and faculty to gain insights into how we can continue to attract and retain underrepresented talent in STEM. Additionally, we are scaling Project Immersion to other universities, starting with Georgia State University, one of the most diverse universities in the nation and physical hub for the Georgia FinTech Academy. We are also exploring opportunities to partner with additional HBCUs/MSIs to offer the program online.
Helping non-IT pros make the switch
Career changes are common in today’s dynamic workplace, and we want to help more professionals pivot their careers to tech. Northeastern University’s ALIGN program serves women and underrepresented minorities from non-IT fields who are pursuing master’s degrees in computer science.
Through our partnership, we have provided five Dell ALIGN Scholars with financial support and future co-op positions at Dell Technologies. We aim to double our reach this year, and are working with other companies and universities to expand ALIGN around the U.S.
“This program encourages me to believe that I am able to learn a completely new topic at whatever age, no matter how difficult it may seem,” said Bethsaira DeOliveira, Dell ALIGN Scholar. “It is very empowering to be taught the specific skills needed to enter a complete new and different field of study—computer science.”
It’s never too late to restart your career
Building a diverse team isn’t just about recruitment; it’s also about retention. Especially of women, as they leave the technology industry at a 45 percent higher rate than men. Through Dell Career ReStart, we offer professionals a smooth transition to working at Dell Technologies after they’ve left the workforce for a year or more. Their reasons for leaving might include starting a family, caring for an aging parent or leaving to pursue higher education. ReStart provides an unprecedented level of support spanning resume and interview coaching, mentorship and training.
Windie Darrington, a ReStart participant working in project management at Dell Technologies, said, “I left my previous career to raise my two beautiful children and returned to the workforce when they started school. It feels amazing to be valued, supported and provided resources and mentors to grow my career and better myself in my personal life. I have never felt like this is just a ‘job.’ It is a true testament to my new career when my children brag about ‘mom’s work’!”
Making a measurable impact on technology’s talent shortage will require many collaborative solutions—no single program can solve this issue. We look forward to working with our partners to expand our programs and help them thrive.
Learn more about how Dell Technologies cultivates inclusion, here.