By Jessica Winn
As we celebrate Black History Month, I find myself reflecting on the moments that continue to shape our collective journey. AfroTech 2024 was one of those moments. Though months have passed, I still get goosebumps thinking about that instant when I first walked into a sea of 37,500 Black and Brown tech professionals. As a growth marketer who’s often the only Black person in tech spaces, being surrounded by so much talent and possibility was electric. This wasn’t just another tech conference—it was a celebration of Black innovation, ambition, and the undeniable impact we have on the future of technology.
A Call to Action
Morgan DeBaun’s opening words captured why this matters so much: “We didn’t build this community just so you could get a better job. We built it so you could create the jobs.” Her message hits differently in 2025, a time when the tech industry is at a crossroads. While some companies are quietly stepping back from their diversity commitments, AfroTech was a powerful reminder that we cannot afford to be passive participants in shaping the industry. The 2023 TechReport showing only 7% of the U.S. technology workforce is Black isn’t just a statistic—it’s proof that there is still much work to be done.
The sessions were packed with discussions on artificial intelligence, blockchain, and emerging technologies, but what stood out most was how these conversations were grounded in lived experience. Panels on funding challenges, breaking into executive leadership, and navigating workplace dynamics resonated deeply. AfroTech wasn’t just about technology—it was about how we, as Black professionals, navigate and redefine success in an industry that hasn’t always made space for us.
The Power of Challenging Assumptions
In the midst of all the energy, I found myself reflecting on my own role at Unqork. Every day, I work to communicate how our platform challenges traditional assumptions about application development—just as many conversations at AfroTech challenged assumptions about the tech industry itself. While Unqork and AfroTech have different missions, what connects them is the belief that we don’t have to accept the way things have always been. We can build better systems, whether in technology or in our professional spaces.
Between sessions, hallway conversations turned to the practical challenges of driving change in enterprise organizations. Technology leaders shared stories of transformation initiatives, both successful and failed. These candid discussions highlighted something I’ve observed in my role: real progress often requires rejecting traditional approaches that no longer serve us. Just as we push organizations to rethink how they build and maintain applications, AfroTech was pushing the tech industry to rethink its own structures and access points.
The conference’s theme, “Building the Future You Want to See,” was a call to action. AfroTech isn’t just a moment—it’s a movement that extends beyond the conference halls. The energy, the ideas, and the connections made don’t end when the event is over. They fuel the work we do every day, ensuring that we’re not just surviving in this industry but thriving and leading.
Creating the Future Together
Walking away from AfroTech 2024, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. Being in a space designed for us, by us, reaffirmed the importance of community and collective progress. Whether in tech, entrepreneurship, or corporate spaces, we are building something bigger than ourselves—and that work is far from over.
If you’re passionate about creating futures that get better with time—whether through transformative technology or transformative inclusion—we should talk. Visit our careers page to learn how you can help us build a future where both enterprise technology and the tech industry continuously evolve for the better.
