AfroTech World
kicked off last Monday to much fanfare and ended on Saturday after a week of in-depth, innovative discussions featuring a bountiful slate of interesting leaders of color in the tech industry.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the annual event was held virtually but still packed a punch, bringing in high-profile names for crucial conversations about the tech world and how Black people deserve opportunities to succeed within it.
Live panels and discussions ranged from tackling impostor syndrome, using corporate platforms to advance racial equity and much more.
The event, which allowed users to create their own avatar to navigate the event and network, strives to bring together "fellow engineers, designers, founders and entrepreneurs" for a 360-degree look at culture and tech. This year, more than 7,500 people attended, making it a huge success all-around.
"With our digital AfroTech World, we’re making room for more tech, more talks, more teaching, more learning, more pitching and more glow ups!" the conference organizers said on their website. AfroTech is a sister brand to Blavity News and sits under the Blavity Inc. portforlio.
This year's conference brought in big names like Jidenna, Will Packer, Natasha Eubanks and many more illustrious guests for groundbreaking discussions on all things Black and tech.
@Jidenna delivering bars on toxic masculinity at #AfroTechWorld. ???? pic.twitter.com/DiKCiBdNDf
— Aja Smith (@AjaLikeTheAlbum) November 11, 2020
The Black art gallery and Black-owned business booth offered a motley of opportunities to buy Black. The event also offered a live wellness sessions, a virtual beach, rooftop, various lounges and a virtual club.
When you run into your friend at the party @AfroTech
— Medallia Life (@MedalliaLife) November 12, 2020
Praise for the conference was abound on Twitter.
A tech conference like no other #AfroTechWorld
#BlackTechTwitter
pic.twitter.com/oRBpfYIaxp— Kimberly McIver (@KRose_M) November 11, 2020
Me all week at #AfroTechWorld ???? pic.twitter.com/EitRpeaUGE
— alisha antoinette (@thatgirlt0nii) November 14, 2020
Day 1 of AfroTech World 2020 letss go!! @AfroTech I really love that I have the feature to speak with people as well as communicate in a chatbox. Tks! #AfroTechWorld
#JoinTheFlock
pic.twitter.com/GD4ohQjtN3— Josh Blackwell (@_jblxck) November 9, 2020
Black tech employees trying to explain to their co-workers how immersive and next-level #AfroTechWorld was this week pic.twitter.com/DWUR75OOZE
— shane (@shanejbernard) November 15, 2020
First AfroTech and it's been really dope. A lot of insight into breaking in the UX Design realm. I'm grateful for all the conversations today ???????????? #AfroTechWorld
pic.twitter.com/GJoAiSYP1q— Jor Arcila (@jorarcila) November 13, 2020
AfroTech was great this year! I’ve never been to a virtual conference, I was impressed with the presentation of the platform and the ability to interact with people as we normally would at an in-person conference. Nice work @Blavity
@AfroTech
#AfroTechWorld— Nate Okorley Univ. of San Diego MBA (@nateokorleymba) November 15, 2020
#Black leaders at ServiceNow share why it’s critical for leaders to be open to listening and learning from employees, especially during this time. (p.s. meet some of our team members this week at #AfroTechWorld!) https://t.co/7geOaaew4q
— @hope (@Linda33852087) November 11, 2020
My husband and I keep running into each other in the expo halls at #AfroTechWorld LOL!! Have I said how much fun this is yet? Let me say it again. I’m walking around meeting EVERYONE! ???? @AfroTech
pic.twitter.com/825s6p2ZQh— Jessica Kennedy Vickers (@JessicaKennVick) November 14, 2020
Loving how @morgandebaun and her team took @afro.tech to another level with #AfroTechWorld. Very innovative and fun! Looking forward to the rest of the week and great info to come. @ AfroTech https://t.co/pdzLZjVhTu
— TheMasterResource (@master_resource) November 10, 2020
#TrapBingo at #AfroTechWorld
@AfroTech this is just too much ???????????????? pic.twitter.com/1gOWuYMBF4— S. Jones (@slumpjones) November 13, 2020
A huge congratulations to the team members of “4twenty1,” “bEar Buds,” & “The Spell” for being crowned our first HBCU #Innovation Challenge winners at #AfroTechWorld! ???? #5G
https://t.co/Wy60zHJSIl— AT&T (@ATT) November 14, 2020
When I say the @AfroTech team thought of everything man listen…there’s a club and currently B Cox is spinning #AfroTechWorld
pic.twitter.com/gMnfgthc0z— Adrian (@ChicDivaGeek) November 13, 2020
Christopher Jackson, a senior Solutions Architect at AWS, described a number of events he went to in a LinkedIn post and thanked the organizers for being able to put together an entirely digital event that in many ways mimicked real life.
"My first AfroTech was an amazing event and a successful virtual conference. Thank you Amazon for Sponsoring my ticket to AfroTech allowing me to interface with many top-talent business professionals," he wrote.
"From the over 1000+ attendees, Top speakers and businesses, and amazing stories and seminars, I very much enjoyed myself at the conference. VirBela definitely pulled off a great virtual platform experience. I can't wait to attend next year!" he added.
