Empowering connections: The Black at Smartsheet experience during AFROTECH™ Conference 2023

The 2023 AFROTECH™ Conference recently took place in Austin, Texas, and Smartsheet was there in full force, backing our Black@Smartsheet employee resource group (ERG). Smartsheet proudly sponsored the event, dispatching a team of 20 employees to the event for a dose of professional development and community engagement. The AFROTECH™ Conference, with its 20,000+ Black tech innovators, proved to be both a collaborative, inspiring space for our team and also a gathering for cutting-edge trends, networking, and chats with industry leaders. This blog post dives into the Black@Smartsheet experience during the event, spotlighting the invaluable connections forged and our steadfast commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Smartsheet as a hub for DEI at the largest Black tech conference

While some attendees swung by to find out about career opportunities at Smartsheet or to express their love for the platform, the Smartsheet booth became a nucleus for discussions focused on helping attendees navigate their DEI journey and shared practical tips and Smartsheet use cases.

Smartsheet voices dispatched from AFROTECH™

The AFROTECH Conference was a symphony of passionate talks, relatable experiences, and a platform for Smartsheet ERG members to forge connections while sharing their own personal triumphs and trials.

A space to reflect for Black women in tech

For Vhonda McElroy, Customer Success Manager II at Smartsheet, the conference was a revelation — a space where women like her, who’ve faced prior challenges, were given a stage to stand on. “The moments that stood out to me were seeing women who, like myself, had faced challenges, who did not always fit in, who questioned if what they were doing was ‘right’ or not.” Krista Bourne's impactful speech struck a chord so deep that Vhonda sought her out for mentorship. And then there's Arlan Hamilton, another conference speaker and one of Vhonda’s heroes, who overcame homelessness to become a sought-after venture capitalist, creating avenues for marginalized groups to thrive.

"Workplaces aren't always safe or welcoming for Black women," Vhonda reflects. Yet, the AFROTECH™ Conference breathed new life into her. Now, she's ready to showcase her gifts and own the career she's meticulously built, and in doing so, become not just a better woman, but a force influencing Smartsheet for the better.

The takeaway from Miya McClain, VP of Product Management at Smartsheet, is just how powerful it is to be in a professional space where you can feel the strength of your community. “As a Black woman in tech, I don't get that experience every day, and our people don't get that experience every day — some may never experience it,” she says. 

On lessons for leaders

Miya delved into the invaluable lessons for leaders at the conference, spanning team encouragement, diverse talent recruitment, and navigating diverse markets.

"As leaders, there were a number of sessions teaching skills to take back into our work, everything from AI and how we think about ethical AI — and the impacts on communities of color — to how you think about metrics when it comes to diversity,” she recalls.

A sense of community

Amidst the plethora of insights, one resounding theme echoed through the AFROTECH™ Conference for all attendees: a profound sense of community. The conference, in essence, underlined the vital importance of community building, a sentiment mirrored by attendees expressing their love for Smartsheet and its transformative impact on their professional lives.

Marissa Diggs, Business Development Representative at Smartsheet, highlights that the theme was interwoven into the narratives of speaker after speaker. Almost every entrepreneur emphasized the indispensability of building a community around one's brand. Devin Woods, SE II at Smartsheet, left the event with a newfound vigor. For him, it's not just about the big shifts but the day-to-day interactions that matter.

"That starts with ME, by making sure that I show up and am visible, and actively seeking out ways to be more involved in my community through ERGs. I am determined to do whatever I can to bring the community and togetherness of AFROTECH™ back to life at Smartsheet.” — Devin Woods, SE II

On helping Black employees feel seen at Smartsheet

Spaces like the AFROTECH™ Conference allows Smartsheet employees to connect in a safe space — where they can feel comfortable opening up and sharing their experiences, hearing different perspectives, and having mentoring moments for things they might otherwise not feel comfortable sharing. 

The significance of our company's sponsorship of the conference isn't lost on Miya McLain. "It says we believe it is important to show up in spaces that support all communities, to meet them in their space and worlds where they feel comfortable and not just invite them into ours. It's our commitment to diversity in real tangible action.” And that, perhaps, the biggest value is that our employees feel seen by the company. 

Drive meaningful change with us

If you’re looking for a company that values diversity, provides growth opportunities, and supports your journey, put Smartsheet directly on your radar. Join Smartsheet today and be part of a community that empowers and uplifts folks just like you.