top of page

40 Under 40: Tech Diversity - Silicon Valley
Class of 2016

Launched in 2015, in partnership with theREGISTRYBayArea.com, “40 Under 40: Tech Diversity – Silicon Valley” is a unique recognition of the outstanding achievements of 40 diverse leaders from underrepresented ethnicities, under the age of 40, in the Innovation Economy.

  • Acknowledging tech industry progress and promise in advancing diversity

  • Facilitating networking and introductions among diverse tech professionals, hiring companies and tech investors

  • Inspiring future generations to pursue innovation and tech careers, regardless of socio-economic background

  • Inspiring tech companies and the industry at-large, to foster a culture of diversity and inclusion.

 

The second annual celebratory event was hosted on Thursday, December 8, 2016 at the Salesforce headquarters in San Francisco and attended by approximately 300 diverse professionals, as well as representatives from the City of San Francisco. A total of 40 awards were conferred upon individuals who were selected on the basis of their outstanding achievements; career success; volunteer and civic engagement; influence and impact; and honors and recognitions.

 

Two special categories, Influencer and Game Changer, were awarded to Rachel Williams, Head of Corporate Recruiting, Diversity & Inclusion, Yelp; and Dr. Marc Hannah, Co-founder & Former Chief Scientist, Silicon Graphics, respectively.

The “40 Under 40: Tech Diversity – Silicon Valley” Class of 2016

breanna-zwart-sq.jpg

Breanna Zwart

Policy & Partnerships, Emerging Markets, Google

  • LinkedIn
monique-woodard-sq.jpg

Monique Woodard

Venture Partner, 500 Startups

  • LinkedIn
wilson-white-sq.jpg

Wilson White

Senior Counsel, Public Policy & Government Relations, Google

  • LinkedIn
tristan-walker-sq.jpg

Tristan Walker

Founder & CEO, Walker & Co.

  • LinkedIn
joe-vasquez-sq.jpg

Joe Vasquez

Founding Director, Michelson Runway Accelerator

  • LinkedIn
jason-towns-sq.jpg

Jason Towns

Founder & Managing Director, Groundwork VC

  • LinkedIn
trevor-thomas-sq.jpg

Trevor Thomas

General Partner, Cross Culture Ventures

  • LinkedIn
kamilah-taylor-sq.jpg

Kamilah Taylor

Senior Software Engineer, Linkedin

  • LinkedIn
justin-steele-sq.jpg

Justin Steele

Principle, Google.org

  • LinkedIn
david-silva-sq.jpg

David Silva

Founder, Techqueria.Org

  • LinkedIn
mandela-schumacher-hodge-sq.jpg

Mandela Schumacher-Hodge

Founding Portfolio Services Director, Kapor Capital

  • LinkedIn
aaron-russell-sq.jpg

Aaron Russell

Sourcing Manager, Network Engineering, Facebook

  • LinkedIn
leandrew-robinson-sq.jpg

Leandrew Robinson

CEO & Co-Founder, Hingeto

  • LinkedIn
shauntel-poulson-sq.jpg

Shauntel Poulson

Co-Founder & General Partner, Reach Capital

  • LinkedIn
maci-peterson-sq.jpg

Maci Peterson

Co-Founder & CEO, On Second Thought, Inc.

  • LinkedIn
jason-mayden-sq.jpg

Jason Mayden

Founder & CEO, Super Heroic Inc.; Designer-In-Residence, Accel Partners; & Lecturer, Stanford University

  • LinkedIn
brian-martinez-sq.jpg

Brian Martinez

Global Program Manager, Field Sales, Airbnb

  • LinkedIn
clarence-lassey-sq.jpg

Adjetey Clarence Lassey

Enterprise Corporate Solutions Executive, Salesforce

  • LinkedIn
alexandria-lafci-sq.jpg

Alexandria Lafci

Co-founder, New Story Charity

  • LinkedIn
darrell-jones-sq.jpg

Darrell Jones, III

Head Of Business Development, Clef

  • LinkedIn
sean-heywood-sq.jpg

Sean Heywood

Product Partnerships – Messenger, Facebook

  • LinkedIn
robert-harmon-sq.jpg

Robert Harmon, Jr.

Deputy General Counsel & Director, Tesla Motors, Inc.

  • LinkedIn
bernard-gutmann-sq.jpg

Bernard Gutmann

Director, Corporate Strategy & Development, Pandora

  • LinkedIn
maisha-gray-diggs-sq.jpg

Maisha Gray-Diggs, Ph.D.

Group Manager, Litter/Coal Innovation, The Clorox Company

  • LinkedIn
makinde-adeagbo-sq.jpg

Makinde Adeagbo

Founder & CEO, /Dev/Color

 

  • LinkedIn
erica-baker-sq.jpg

Erika Joy Baker

Build & Release Engineer, Slack

  • LinkedIn
lajuanda-asemota-sq.jpg

Lajuanda Asemota

Director For Diversity & Inclusion, Singularity University 

  • LinkedIn
laura-gomez-sq.jpg

Laura Gómez

CEO, Atipica

  • LinkedIn
lilibeth-gangas-sq.jpg

Lilibeth (Lili) Gangas

Chief Technology Community Officer, Kapor Center for Social Impact

  • LinkedIn
ebony-frelix-sq.jpg

Ebony Frelix

Senior Vice President, Philanthropy & Engagement, Salesforce

  • LinkedIn
jamal-eason-sq.jpg

Jamal Eason

Product Manager, Google

  • LinkedIn
megan-rose-dickey-sq.jpg

Megan Rose Dickey

Reporter, Tech Crunch

  • LinkedIn
morgan-debaun-sq.jpg

Morgan Debaun

CEO & Founder, Blavity

  • LinkedIn
Julia-collins-sq.jpg

Julia Collins

Co-founder & Co-CEO, Zume Pizza

  • LinkedIn
lance-coleman-sq.jpg

Lance Coleman

Content & Venture Advisor, Binary Capital

  • LinkedIn
Idalin-Bobe-sq.jpg

Idalín Bobe

IT Consultant, Social Justice & Technology Activist, Thoughtworks

  • LinkedIn
anita-blanco-sq.jpg

Anita Blanco

Director Of Diversity & Inclusion In Genetics And Bio-Sciences, Stanford University

  • LinkedIn
albert-biketi-sq.jpg

Albert Biketi

Vice President & General Manager, Data Security, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Software

  • LinkedIn
mercedes-bent-sq.jpg

Mercedes Bent

Vice President Of Education, Upload VR

  • LinkedIn
tiffani-ashley-sq.jpg

Tiffani Ashley Bell

Executive Director, The Human Utility

  • LinkedIn
rachel-williams-sq.jpg

Rachel Williams

INFLUENCER

Head of Corporate Recruiting, Diversity & Inclusion, Yel

  • LinkedIn
marc-hannah-sq.png

Dr. Marc Hannah

GAME CHANGER

Co-founder & Former Chief Scientist, Silicon Graphics

  • LinkedIn

Event Recap

Sponsors and Partners (Current & Past)