AnitaB.org takes steps to protect attendees at this year’s Grace Hopper Celebration – Computerworld

Said Pierre, “When something like this happens, it is usually a symptom of a larger issue. So even if we could wave our magic wand and magically change this, and they could change the celebration for this year to be a little more safe and inclusive, we still have a larger issue at play here. And that’s why it feels so catastrophic when it happens, because really what this shows us is that there’s still a severe lack of resources and opportunities for female and nonbinary talent.”

Organizations need to do a better job of attracting and retaining a diverse workforce, Pierre added. We need to look at diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as something that benefits everyone, not just  female and nonbinary talent, she noted, since many of the things that make an employer attractive for underrepresented groups, including flexibility, work-life balance, and development opportunities, are good for all employees.

“I think we need to have more of an actionable approach and making sure that we’re really embedding DEI into our overall culture,” she said.