Techlusion

Exploring Innovative Solutions To Tech Diversity and Inclusion

Tech Inclusion is an official initiative of Change Catalyst, an organization committed to inclusive innovation. The first Tech Inclusion Conference in September 2015 began as a simple idea by co-founders Melinda Briana Epler and Wayne Sutton to bring together the tech community to discuss solutions to the industry's diversity and inclusion challenges. The idea quickly gained momentum with overwhelming support from impassioned speakers, supportive sponsors and engaged partners. No one had all the answers, but as the program developed, an ecosystem of talented changemakers emerged. The two-day event sold out, encompassing 400+ attendees, 130+ speakers, 18 sponsors, 27 employers and 600 job seekers. This response surpassed anything Melinda and Wayne ever imagined, as it met a specific void in the Tech community for understanding innovation solutions to inclusion across the tech ecosystem, from the education pipeline to the workplace to policy and advocacy and entrepreneurship. The conference received critical acclaim through over 25 press and blog articles, trending #1 on Twitter, and touting the conference's unique showcase of individuals heavily vested in changing the face of the tech community. This labor of love has blossomed into a full force initiative – not only as a catalyst for large-scale change but also an opportunity to directly impact organizations. The Tech Inclusion initiative now includes bicoastal conferences, collaborative summits, consulting services and training.