Tech Talk

As the push for diversity in tech continues, a growing number of companies and leaders are confronting the topic for the first time. Those that are new to diversity and inclusion often are unsure how to approach it — how to talk about the subject internally and externally, how to rank it among competing priorities and how to allocate appropriate resources. Before answering these questions, it’s helpful to identify why diversity and inclusion matters to you and your company specifically.

Two sad truths about the state of education in the United States: Our K-12 students are trailing those of other nations, and there aren’t enough homegrown pupils focused on STEM. With this in mind, one would think our leading universities would welcome exceptional applicants who demonstrated strength in subjects like science and math. Sadly, this isn’t the case for all Americans.

A new group for professionals in Des Moines will have its first meeting next month. Antoinette Stevens, who does IT work at Principal Financial Group, has started Black Urban Professionals. She said the group is dedicated to celebrating the city's diverse talent. The meetup is not tech- or startup-centric. It's also not limited to black professionals, Stevens said.