Stemming Implicit Bias in High-Tech STEM: The Vision of Project Include

Diversity and inclusion are topics about which we hear a great deal, especially in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. These topics are not only of great interest but also of great concern as we consider the ability of the United States to improve educational opportunities for more Americans and remain competitive in the global economy. Project Include (PI) is a diversity and inclusion initiative spearheaded by a group of women in high-tech professions to support start-up companies who wish to build inclusive organizations. I conducted a qualitative content analysis of the PI Web site and found that the vision of PI suggests useful means by which tech organizations can avoid common missteps that undermine their ability to operate inclusively. I found evidence of three themes: interrogating assumptions about human resources (HR) and hiring, defining true diversity, and building diversity and inclusivity. I discuss each theme and conclude with offering a 10-question self-evaluation that tech and other organizations can use or adapt to critically evaluate HR and operational practices to better align with diversity and inclusion goals.