Moving up in the workforce has, historically, not been an equal experience for people from diverse backgrounds. Through a new networking series — in a place where innovation meets culture — Impact House is seeking to change that.
The #HackTheCulture Networking Series was created after Impact House conducted a series of interviews with Dallas-Fort Worth-based Black and Latin-X entrepreneurs and professionals. The interviews focused on the challenges that come with attempting to start or grow a business in spaces that traditionally excluded minority talent.
“We believe inclusion and diversity is the engine for innovation and we seek to be a key player in what attracts minority talent and investment to our region, as well as what keeps them here.”
Benjamin Vann
“We believe inclusion and diversity is the engine for innovation and we seek to be a key player in what attracts minority talent and investment to our region, as well as what keeps them here,” Benjamin Vann, Impact House Founder and CEO, said in a statement.
Dallas-based Impact House believes “inclusion and diversity is the engine for innovation,” so it works to provide an ecosystem of skills and opportunities for underrepresented students, professionals, and entrepreneurs. Impact House’s other flagship programs aim to address this “innovation divide” by providing these founders with access to coaching, curriculum, capital, and community.
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The #HackTheCulture Networking Series is no different, as it intends to focus on diverse groups within the STEM, technology, start-up, and social impact fields. Each series will include an interactive activity and featured speakers from the community, along with “Daps N’ Hugs” (networking), complimentary bites, and, of course, plenty of time for networking. Impact House encourages attendees to bring their friends and fellow entrepreneurs along as well, as the welcoming networking environment is said to offer startup resources for the DFW area.
Impact House Founder and CEO Benjamin Vann. [Courtesy Impact House]
#HackTheCulture
The #HackTheCulture Networking Series events will be hosted at GoodWork Co-working in Dallas and attendance and registration is free. There will be four interactive networking events in total, with topics including:
- The Challenge of Being the “Only One” (Nov. 15)
- Imposter Syndrome (Dec. 6)
- Time Management (Jan. 10)
- Self-Care (Feb. 7)
This networking series is just the beginning, though — #HackDFW 2019 will continue the conversation next year, from Feb. 15 to Feb. 17 in the Women’s Museum at Fair Park. Mark your calendars now, because this three-day event will focus on “hacking, learning, creating, and collaborating,” as apart of a larger initiative to promote diversity within the designated sectors. Over 500 professionals are expected to attend, all eager for the opportunity to pitch for cash and prizes, participate in tech talks and design-thinking activities, interact with vendors, and listen to corporate roundtables. A special #HackTheCulture challenge, designed specifically for women and innovators of color, will even be featured.
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