Because of their centrality in online discourse, Black users want to see themselves reflected in the products in which they invest their time. Understandably, some platforms maintain impartiality. They cannot or do not tailor their product to particular demographics. However, communities of color want to know that at the very least they are represented in the company’s staffing.
There is also a financial incentive for tech companies to invest in a diverse workplace. Advertisers are eager to crack the ethnic code and commodify online communities like Black Twitter. Explaining the social and search habits of these users often falls on the handful of Black employees, without regard to their position or team.
Until my tenure at Twitter, I strongly resisted being “the Black guy.” I didn’t want to be the sole representative of a multifaceted group of people or be siloed into focusing on Black issues. My position shifted after the shooting death of Mike Brown and the inception of the “Black Lives Matter” protests. I realized that I and other Black employees could be the voice for a community of users who had been largely ignored or misunderstood by social media companies.
I'm pretty sure that most executives are fully aware that "culture fit" is just a thinly veiled policy of discrimination. Workers who fit into a brogrammer (work hard, party hard) culture or super active (outdoor adventures) culture are better for the bottom line. These "cultures" implicitly exclude workers with family commitments, chronic health issues, etc.
I have advised many tech companies through start ups and through IPOs and could not agree more. I had never heard the term "brogrammer" before but it fits perfectly into what a lot of start ups think they want. But in my experience the ones with a diversified workforce have done better. Something I have said many times is: Don't just hire people you want to go out drinking with. Personality is just as important as skill but having a range of experience is even more important. As companies mature so does their workforce. New ideas from youth are very useful but so is experienced management that does not blow their first million buying a strip joint instead of buying some blue chip stocks.
Have to argue with this. Although he's talking about racial things and I get that, in general if everyone's on the same page and has a similar idea of what they want to get done things will work much, much better.The best teams don’t share similar backgrounds or perspectives.