Important note from The Driver of the Winnebago:

We need to diversify our network! Seriously. We have held numerous programs over the last several years about the need to diversify tech teams. Yet, I have done little to help bring diversity to the Indy CIO Network itself. The numbers are abysmal.

• Members – 345
• Women – 34
• People of Color – 26

(Admittedly these are rough numbers based on my review of the list since we don’t track these stats.)

It is not unusual for us to hold a lunch or a dinner event in which there is ZERO or ONE woman in attendance (I can’t remember the last time TWO attended). The numbers are similar for our members of color.

I believe we need to be more intentional. More intentional about inviting our underrepresented colleagues to join us. More intentional about making them feel welcome and included when they do attend.

Beginning in July we are going to make this a focus of each and every event. BE INTENTIONAL. Invite your friends and colleagues who are CIOs, VPs, and directors in technology roles. Help us diversity the Indy CIO Network by inviting those who are underrepresented.

In August, Amy Waninger, author of Network Beyond Bias will be facilitating our lunch discussion and teaching us ways we can diversify our networks! She will teach us there are many dimensions to diversity, including, gender, generational, sexual orientation, race, and, ethnicity. I thought I knew a lot about networking…until I met Amy!

But, don’t wait for her program, begin to diversify OUR network by Inviting a Friend or Colleague to our lunch in July on the 13th and our Dinner Event on the 19th (see below for details)!!

THANK YOU! Together we can make the Indy CIO Network even more powerful by making it more inclusive!