Brett Hurt, the CEO and co-founder of data.world and author of The Entrepreneur's Essentials: Lessons for Startup & Leadership Excellence, is a strong advocate for creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce in tech. Listen in as he chats with hosts, Leslie Wingo and Dr. Christine Crawford about his personal and professional journey that led his company to have a 59% female or minority-led team.

After taking his prior company public and achieving a billion-dollar valuation, Brett felt a calling to do more but wasn't sure what. He talks about how he became aware of his privilege and the lack of diversity in his company after participating in a diversity and inclusion program. He realized that it was easy to hire people within his immediate social network and how hiring one diverse employee can lead to further diversity, as they bring their network to the company.

Brett emphasizes the moral imperative of striving for diversity and equity in tech, particularly as one becomes more successful. He recommends deliberate hiring practices and making changes to job descriptions and company culture to attract diverse candidates. Brett's experience shows that building a diverse team not only benefits the company but also creates a more American, fun, and high-performing workplace.

Produced by Hangar Studios

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