Mapping the Black Women in Technology Ecosystem

In collaboration with Invest Ottawa

Black women are building careers, products and companies across Canada's technology sector, often as one of very few in the room and with little institutional support behind them.

Future Black Female, in collaboration with Invest Ottawa, invites Black women in technology to a facilitated roundtable to explore how they experience and navigate the tech ecosystem, and what would make it work better for them.

This is not a panel or a networking event. It is a working conversation where your knowledge and lived experience lead.

Together we will map what support exists, where you sit within it, where the connections and gaps are, and what needs to change.

Who should attend?

●       Black women working in tech, at any career stage, from entry-level to senior leadership

●       Founders and builders of tech startups, digital businesses and tech-enabled social enterprises

●       Women in technical and non-technical tech roles: engineering, data, product, design, IT, cybersecurity, sales and operations

●       Women re-entering or transitioning into tech, including through bootcamps, newcomer programs and career changes

●       Immigrant and Canadian-born women, women with disabilities, and women of all ages

●       Black female youth (16–24) studying or starting out in tech, who join as co-conveners, not observers

What we'll explore

●       Mapping your tech ecosystem: the people, employers, programs, investors and networks your career or venture relies on

●       Hiring, retention, promotion and pay equity in tech workplaces

●       Access to mentorship, sponsorship and leadership pathways

●       Access to venture capital, accelerators, innovation funding and procurement opportunities

●       Credential recognition, training pathways and barriers for newcomers entering the sector

●       Intersectional barriers and workplace culture, including bias in hiring and in AI-driven tools

●       The policies and accountability standards that shape outcomes for Black women in tech

●       Designing the BWES Data Hub so it works as a navigation tool for you

your voice matters

This roundtable is part of Phase 3 of the Black Women's Economic Security (BWES) project, funded by Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) Canada. What participants share will directly inform:

●       The Black Women's Economic Mobility Index and Data Hub

●       An Employer Standards Toolkit and benchmarks for tech workplaces

●       An Entrepreneurship Resource and Support Model for tech founders

●       A final policy report and recommendations to government and sector partners

Reserve your seat

This roundtable is free, with limited seats available, and refreshments will be provided.

Reserve your seat by here: Black Women in Technology Roundtable Ottawa - Oct 29th REGISTRATION – Fill out form

Questions? Contact Ijeoma Michael, Future Black Female, at Ijeoma@futureblackfemale.com