Originally Published by WarnerMedia.
Helping to close one of the most persistent racial and gender gaps in technology, Turner sponsored more than 1,000 women of color to attend the 2018 Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC 18). Produced by AnitaB.org, GHC is the largest gathering of women technologists in the world and is being held September 26- 28, 2018. Coming from 41 different states, over 60 nonprofits and government agencies, and 200 colleges, these women received complimentary registration to the event and have the opportunity to network, focus on professional development, and explore or advance their careers in technology.
“Women of color make up less than 10 percent of the mid-career, senior, and C-suite technology workforce,” said Brenda Darden Wilkerson, President and CEO of AnitaB.org. “At AnitaB.org, we are dedicated to changing this statistic and ensuring that these women have a seat at the table. We are so grateful to Turner for sponsoring the Women of Color in Technology Initiative and helping us achieve this goal.”
This initiative is part of a larger partnership between Turner and AnitaB.org, which began in 2017, to improve the recruitment, retention and advancement of underrepresented minority women in tech. At GHC 18, Turner has a booth (# 5312), where attendees have an opportunity to interact with the company’s technologists and brands which include Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, TBS, TNT, truTV, and CNN.
Later this year, Turner and AnitaB.org will launch a mentoring initiative between Turner leaders and students from historically black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions. Turner will also fund a research effort to find new ways to support the advancement of women of color in tech.
“We are proud to partner with the AnitaB.org to support the advancement of women in tech and build on Admiral Grace Hopper’s legacy by helping build an industry that is truly diverse and inclusive,” said Jeremy Legg, Executive Vice President & Chief Technology Officer of Turner.” We look forward to supporting these talented young leaders throughout their careers and beyond.”
“We want to capture the hearts and minds of people and make them fans of our content and the personalized experiences we create for them,” said Angela Santone, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of Turner. “Making fans begins with our people, and we are committed to being an authentic reflection of our audiences and creating a culture that encourages employees to seek out diverse perspectives.”
Whether it be through internships, mentoring, or providing other opportunities for learning, all of Turner’s partnerships strive to develop programs that have a true impact in the community.
The partnership with AnitaB.org is one of Turner’s numerous strategic partnerships with organizations to promote a stronger, more wide-spread dialogue around diversity and inclusion. Through these relationships, Turner aims to grow a more diverse talent pipeline and create leading-edge development opportunities for employees and leaders. Examples of their partnerships include American Black Film Festival, Black Girls Code, Executive Leadership Council, Girls Who Code, GLAAD, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Lesbians Who Tech, NAMIC, Posse Foundation, Prep for Prep, WICT, Women in Technology and Women Who Code.
