PEOPLE
push
new legislation in California mandating that Blacks and other minorities be included on corporations ’ boards of directors . We all need to flex our muscles and use our influence as individuals and corporations . HP was intentional when we formed our Board of Directors after separating into two companies in 2015 , and I think you have to be . It ’ s the intentionality of opening up and kicking in those doors and investing in that pipeline . Once you get people in , you must make them feel psychologically safe , and they need to be included and have a sense of belonging — so they can perform at their best .
Never in my lifetime or career have I seen or had the conversations that we ’ re having today . There are still some mindsets that need to evolve , biases people need to uncover , and microaggressions we need to dismantle .
But my source of optimism is twofold . Firstly , I wake up knowing I ’ m expending my energy in a place where I have the opportunity to influence the change that needs to happen for equity to exist . Second is HP ’ s leadership : The executive leadership and Board of Directors are making commitments that I know they will fulfill , because that ’ s what HP people do — we don ’ t just talk , we take action .
I am so excited about where we are . I still see remnants of pre – George Floyd , but my goal is that we ’ re going to bring people along on this journey and we ’ ll see the impact of our efforts . It ’ s a business imperative for HP . But we ’ re on a journey because it ’ s about humanity for us — it ’ s more than just our values . That ’ s what gives me hope .
FIVE BLACK TECH LEADERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE
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by leigh-ann jackson
CHRISTOPHE D . MOSBY
Associate General Counsel and VP , HP
Now the co-chair of HP ’ s Global Legal Affairs Diversity and Inclusion Program and liaison to the Minority Corporate Counsel Association and the California Minority Counsel Program , Mosby entered the legal field to “ help people solve problems and address wrongs .” He also sits on the board of Street Law , Inc ., a nonprofit whose mission is to educate people about how law and government work .
Mosby helped HP commit to the
Mansfield Rule , which measures whether legal departments have affirmatively considered a diverse field of applicants for top roles and for outside counsel representation . He has also spoken with dozens of other companies about how to implement successful diversity and inclusion programs , creating a “ tool kit ” to help them avoid pitfalls .
“ Racism , sexism , and all other forms of discrimination are powerful institutions , but I am hopeful that people are starting to better recognize our shared humanity and interconnectivity .”
2
ARLAN
HAMILTON
“ When I started my fund , many investors didn ’ t believe I could make any money investing in underestimated founders . They thought — and some still think — that if you invest in a person of color , a woman , or someone LGBTQ , you must be doing charity work . We have to build that future we want to see , and the glory days are ahead of us .”
Before stepping into the venture capital sphere , Hamilton worked in live music production , managing concert tours . She invests in startups led by founders who identify as women , POC , or LGBTQ . The investment fund is dedicated to changing the way investors and founders interact by breaking down bias barriers and reminding founders of their own power .
Having just celebrated its five-year anniversary , Backstage Capital has invested over $ 7 million in more than 130 companies led by underrepresented founders , says Hamilton . In her new book ,
It ’ s About Damn Time , she shares advice on “ how to turn being underestimated into your greatest advantage .”
PHOTOGRAPHS BY BY ANTONIO GILBREATH ( MOSBY ) AND SARAH DERAGON ( HAMILTON ). OPPOSITE PAGE PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF KEN COLEMAN , FIELDS JACKSON , AND STACY BROWN-PHILPOT
HP / INNOVATION / FALL
2020
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