How GenSpark’s DEI Initiatives Help Underrepresented Groups Get Into Tech

The lack of diversity in the tech industry has been a long-standing issue. If you perform a quick Google search for “diversity in tech,” you’ll see many articles attempting to explain both the causes and solutions to this problem.

The good news is that many companies and organizations now recognize the need to prioritize DEI (Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion). The Fast Company recently surveyed 42 top tech businesses in the US and discovered that these companies had committed $4 billion to DEI efforts and initiatives.

One company that tackles this issue head-on is GenSpark, an innovative business that has over 25 years of experience building partnerships with top companies in the US.

Read on to learn more about how GenSpark helps underrepresented groups find success in the tech industry.

GenSpark’s Diversity Outcomes

Tech is one of the most innovative industries, and a pipeline of diverse tech talent can help keep this important attribute alive. GenSpark is an industry leader in sourcing and training tech talent from diverse backgrounds to become impactful professionals.

The company focuses on restructuring the tech workforce to fill the diversity gap by connecting employers to the right talent for their organizations. To date, over 75 percent of GenSparkers stem from underrepresented groups.

GenSpark understands industry needs, so it provides rigorous training to GenSparkers to equip them with in-demand skills. The programs offered to students last from five to 15 weeks, helping them prepare for an exciting career in tech.

Beyond that, GenSpark continues to offer career support to its students even after graduation. How? It connects job-seeking GenSparkers to opportunities from its employer partners—a process that has seen significant success. According to GenSpark, 90 percent of trained participants secured a job through this robust career support service.

Furthermore, 108 Fortune 500 companies have recruited from GenSpark, giving you the chance to work with some of the most prominent firms in the tech industry.

How GenSpark Is Moving the Needle in Tech

While DEI is becoming a serious topic of discussion in tech, people seldom understand how companies implement it. LaShaun Solomon, GenSpark’s Global Head of DE&I Partnership Development & Strategy gives us a peek into how GenSpark deeply integrates DEI in its programs.

LaShaun has over 13 years of working experience in marketing, DEI, L&D, business development, and operations. Her passion for incorporating diversity at work brought her to GenSpark, a business that puts diversity and inclusion at the heart of its processes.

“The company’s vision is to accelerate equity in the workplace and in society by lighting up pathways to career success for individuals from all backgrounds,” she says, translating to an approach that’s every bit “intentionally inclusive”.

“We are striving for the workplace to look more like the society we live in, and we have the power to shape that by leveling the playing field and offering knowledge and job opportunities to individuals of all backgrounds.”

GenSpark doesn’t source talent from the same channels as everyone else. Instead, it casts a wider net that goes beyond traditional channels and covers candidates who have unique backgrounds.

But why the focus on accessibility? “We believe that an organization operates best when individuals are provided with equal opportunity,” says LaShaun.

A diverse environment doesn’t just benefit employees but employers as well. “For GenSpark learners, individuals who come from different backgrounds expose their peers to new ways of thinking. This helps them improve their skills more rapidly than with a uniform peer group.

“For employers, the same applies to their organizations. They know that success rests on the people in their organization, and they are looking to bring in fresh perspectives with employees from diverse backgrounds.”

GenSpark incorporates DEI in its internal processes, from recruiting to resource management to communicating with clients. Below are some of GenSpark’s DEI initiatives:

• No-cost training. Students can learn to code at GenSpark without having to pay tuition. The school offers paid training, helping participants earn while they learn.
• Outcomes that translate to financial stability. GenSpark’s quality training sees 90 percent of participants landing full-time roles with an average salary of $50,000 and several employment benefits like medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Partnerships. GenSpark values partnership when it comes to serving underrepresented groups, an endeavor that requires dedicated effort from organizations within and outside tech. Some of GenSpark’s partners that contribute to its DEI initiatives are Women in Tech, the Warrick Dunn Charities, OneTen, and the United Way of Greater Atlanta.
• Recruit:IN. To promote a diverse community of learners, GenSpark ensures that its own staff and recruiters undergo unconscious bias training.
• Belong:IN. It’s a community resource group for people from underrepresented communities. Belong:IN was developed by GenSpark to assist students to connect with mentors and receive essential career guidance.

With all these initiatives, LaShaun was quick to clarify that GenSpark’s focus on diversity, while helpful, is not the deciding factor in one’s success. “It’s not because [GenSparkers] were diverse that they were provided an opportunity with us. It’s because they are good, and we knew they would be successful. What we’ve changed is our ability to find diverse talent by looking into diverse pools.”

Break the Barrier with GenSpark

Diversity and inclusivity lie at the heart of GenSpark’s training programs, opening doors for aspiring tech professionals who have been traditionally overlooked. You, too, may take advantage of this chance to break into the tech industry. Join GenSpark today.