Opinion: Tech companies need to be intentional in recruiting to address diversity problem – Crain’s Chicago Business

Workbox provides tech entrepreneurs from all walks of life with access to funding via 30-plus angel investors and venture capitalists, something that is all too commonly an uphill battle for minority entrepreneurs in the tech field. Our members also receive guidance on everything from digital marketing and finance to recruitment and exclusive networking programs. All too often minority groups don't have access to the tools necessary to ascend to leadership roles. Programs like ours provide those tools as well as entry to groups and conversations that social biases have prevented minorities from penetrating in the past. Simply put, we focus on providing access and opportunity. This type of diversity-focused programming is, I believe, one of the best and quickest ways to increase the number of minorities in leadership roles.

One of the tricks to being a successful leader is to know what you don't know. To that end, I believe it's also crucial for companies to turn to diversity experts to help make purposeful connections with the communities they are looking to engage.

For example, at Workbox, there are communities that, try as we might, we just haven't been able to connect with thus far. To help solve that problem, we recently tapped Tim King, founder and CEO of Urban Prep Academies, to join our board of advisers. Through his work as an educator, social justice pioneer, philanthropist and businessman, Tim has a plethora of experience and insight that will help Workbox figure out new ways to make genuine, actionable connections with communities we have yet to reach. His recommendations and observations are not only helping Workbox with our internal and external diversity initiatives but also helping our members formulate the ways in which they want to structure their own recruiting practices.

Partnerships, like the one Workbox has with Tim King, are vital to creating permanent change and leveling the playing field so that there are more minorities in leadership positions. Building true diversity requires a multifaceted effortand one that needs a holistic approach. That's what we're doing at Workbox.

John Wallace is co-founder and CEO of Workbox, a co-working accelerator in Chicago.

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Opinion: Tech companies need to be intentional in recruiting to address diversity problem - Crain's Chicago Business