SXSW 2025 - Proposal: DEI in Tech, Too Little, Too Late.pdf

Slide deck supporting the SXSW 2025 application on: DEI in Tech - Too Little, Too Late?

1. DEI in Tech:
Too Little, Too Late?
In the past year, several prominent tech initiatives aimed at
promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have closed their
doors, raising urgent questions about the efficacy of DEI efforts in
the tech industry. Are these initiatives truly delivering meaningful
change, or are they merely ticking boxes without addressing
systemic issues?

2. In this session
DEI in Tech: Too Little, Too Late? explores the urgent question of whether
diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the tech industry are failing to
deliver meaningful change. This session will dive into the systemic issues
that persist despite well-meaning efforts and will challenge attendees to
rethink current strategies.
Panelists from diverse backgrounds will share insights, data, and
personal experiences to spark a candid discussion on whether it's
already too late to course-correct and what radical steps are needed to
truly transform the industry. In this session, we will be:
•Identifying Systemic Barriers: Understand the deep-rooted systemic
issues that continue to hinder DEI progress in the tech industry despite
ongoing initiatives.
•Evaluating Current Strategies: Gain insights into why current DEI
efforts are falling short and learn about the gaps in implementation and
accountability.
•Exploring Radical Solutions: Discover innovative and potentially
radical approaches necessary to create genuine, lasting change in
tech's DEI landscape.

3. Rukasana is a Diversity, Equity a Inclusion (DEI) Leader
with 12 years of HR/Talent industry experience in Media,
Technology, Professional Services and Higher
Education. Rukasana has recently joined the FT and
most recently worked at Warner Bros Discovery leading
the Workforce DEI Strategy for the EMEA/International
market.
In her time at Google Rukasana led the DEI agenda
across Google’s EMEA technology business working
with leaders/key partners to build an evidence based
approach to achieving EMEA aspirations.
“
Proposed speakers
Rukasana Bahijee
Global Head of Diversity, Equity
& Inclusion - Financial Times
Rahel de Vriend
Head of Research - TNW &
Innovation Liaison - VHTO
Rahel de Vriend is an innovation strategist and expert
in gender equality in STEM. With a background in the
startup and tech world, she saw how technology is
playing an increasingly important role in our world,
while simultaneously being one of the few women at
the table.
Therefore, she decided to commit herself to initiatives
aimed at increasing the number of girls and women in
technology and entrepreneurship, thus enriching the
diversity of perspectives in technology design. She
currently serves as the Innovation Liaison at VHTO
and Head of Innovation Research at TNW.“
“
“
Ryan Patel is a globally recognized futurist and leading
voice on global business, political economy, and
corporate governance.
An expert in scaling businesses, he has worked for
startups to publicly traded companies; his deep
knowledge in strategic global market development,
concept scalability, digital transformation, global trade,
consumer-driven marketing, branding & leadership
development has made him a thought leader in the
global business realm across all industries & serves on
several Advisory Boards & Boards of Directors across
different industries from social responsibility to
technology.
“
Ryan Patel
Diversity Committee Board 

Member - HEC Paris
Yeni Joseph



Lead - Netherlands' Taskforce
for Diversity and Inclusion & 

Head of Public Policy - TNW

Yeni has a decade of experience in public-private
collaborations centered around accelerating
innovation, entrepreneurship and technology in
Europe. 



She currently leads the Netherlands’ Taskforce for
Diversity and Inclusion, initiated by NLdigital, the
trade association for the digital industry in the
Netherlands and supported by the Dutch ministry for
Economic Affairs and Climate Policy.

Next to the Taskforce D&I, Yeni serves as Government
Affairs & Public Policy at TNW, a Financial Times
cmpany“ “
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