Per Scholas partnered with the Cultural Leadership Fund at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and other nonprofit organizations, including All Star Code, Black in Gaming Foundation, and Black Product Managers, to host a Talent Mixer for NYC Community-Builders at ping pong club SPIN New York as part of NY Tech Week 2023. More than 250 incredible, diverse technologists came out on a Friday evening despite the rainy weather, to make connections that will no doubt resonate in the weeks and months to come.
The evening featured a curated pre-mixer for learners and alumni from Per Scholas and other nonprofit partners to connect directly with founders and CEOs, talent heads, and tech and engineering executives from across a16z's portfolio. The event also highlighted a panel of luminaries who shared stories of their journeys in tech, how leaders are prioritizing hiring and retaining diverse talent in a challenging climate, and what individuals and companies can do to enact change. Per Scholas is grateful to our esteemed panelists: Kyle Bailey, Vice President and Head of Engineering at dYdX; Jimmy Chen, Founder & CEO of Propel; Trinidad Hermida Black, Executive Director, Black in Gaming; and
Per Scholas alumna and Per Scholas New York Advisory Board Chair Fabianna Rodriguez-Mercado, Chief of Staff, Cyber Security at Citi and Co-Leader of Latinas in Tech. After the panel, guests enjoyed food, drink, and plentiful games of ping pong to round out the night!
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