As the sun set across metro Atlanta and residents weaved their way home through traffic, entrepreneurs, innovators and community members gathered at the new WeWork Downtown at 101 Marietta St. to talk diversity.
Our guest of honor for the night, Barry Givens, managing director of Cox Enterprises' new Social Impact Accelerator presented by Techstars, shared his insights on growing up in Atlanta, working in the community as an entrepreneur, corporate worker and mentor, his venture with Techstars and his mission to help other black entrepreneurs with Collab.Capital, a fund that invests in black founders by providing them capital, resources and mentorship.
Givens, who grew up in Stone Mountain, was attending Georgia Tech when he launched his first business, a customized shoe company that gained popularity with celebrities and local rappers. He said he made it his mission in life to make sure black entrepreneurs didn't start where he started, but where he ended.
"I'm one of the last of my (high school) class to graduate and attend Georgia Tech," he said. "I graduated in 2003."
Though more than half of the city of Atlanta's population consists of African Americans and is the second largest majority black metro area in the nation, the local tech community doesn't have nearly the same ratios, Givens said. After giving a similar talk in New York earlier in the week, Givens said he was approached by three young women of color interested in STEM careers who said they felt alienated being the only people of color in the room.
Atlanta, Givens said, does better at being inclusive than most tech communities, and could serve as an example to tech hubs across the country on how to be more inclusive. The city has been known for successful black entrepreneurs and politicians such as Alonzo Herndon, the first black millionaire in America, Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson and civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr.
"I've never not had a black mayor (in Atlanta)," Givens said. The representation of black people and people of color in positions of power means a lot to up and coming generations, he said.
Givens answered questions from the audience about how they can help diversify the community and encouraged them to open their doors to those who might not have the same opportunities as them. The practice is what he plans to do at the new accelerator and Collab.Capital.
"Go outside your circle," he said.
Check out images of the night below. Special thanks to WeWork for hosting us and Ponko Chicken for catering the event!
