As a specialist in digital transformation, Yvette Elliott is highly in demand for her marketing technologies integration services for various organizations. Elliott is also a consultant, author, educator, keynote speaker, and tech innovator who helps organizations transition and grow in an evolving digital world. A few of her current roles include her work as an Adjunct Professor at Sheridan’s Pilon School of Business, as the founder of Elliott Marketing Digital Consulting and as a lead executive advisor at Agentiiv, Canada’s first fully hybrid Human and AI consultancy firm. Elliott speaks with us about Gen AI and how to embrace change to meet clients’ demands. She emphasizes the importance of mentorship, education, connections, and networking in creating opportunities for the BIPOC community.
With Gen-AI and emerging technologies, what will organizations need from their leaders?
Leaders need to possess commanding levels of technical literacy and digital literacy skills. Business leaders have long understood the importance of financial literacy, now leaders must have a strong grasp of key digital terms and overall technological fluency. This understanding will drive transformational leadership.
AI is so integral, and with all various emerging technologies, it’s important to comprehend how this impacts the bottom line, overall business operations, and your people. Raising in importance is the ability to lead the integration of humans with AI. Leaders must create clear guardrails, guidelines, and policies about what is and is acceptable in the use of AI technologies.
Do you have recommendations for individuals starting out in tech?
I recommend building a strong support network early, seeking out mentors for career advice, leadership skills, and industry insight. Also, I say be curious and dive into your interests, don’t wait for someone at work to tell you what to do next, be assertive by offering suggestions and take hold of opportunities. Your BIPOC perspective is an asset, driving innovation and creating value. Stay visible by documenting your work on social media, sharing knowledge, and engaging in BIPOC tech communities for support.
What are ways to support BIPOC members’ success in the tech space?
For BIPOC professionals, success in tech requires a combination of honing technical skills, developing soft skills, and making strategic career moves, all while building a strong, supportive network. Develop interests that you can discuss with network peers in addition to tech/digital work.
For allies and organizations, they must go beyond empty statements, true support means actively developing and then sponsoring BIPOC for high-impact projects, providing meaningful mentorship and introducing BIPOC within your circles. Organizations can also ensure pay equity and inclusive policies are not just promises, but practices.
Are there challenges unique to BIPOC individuals in tech and marketing?
Challenges unique to BIPOC and women in tech and marketing include the rapid shaping of the world by AI tools. With limited views designing and leveraging the representation in the creation, build, and disruption of content of these tools, this could be a bigger challenge than one perceives. I’ve had recent discussions about representation, and navigating cultural identity in professional spaces can be emotionally taxing, limiting the growth and participation of a BIPOC person in the workplace—especially when balancing authenticity with expectations of corporate culture.
What mentorship opportunities are available to support BIPOC individuals in tech?
Recent grads frequently shared their difficulties with job placement that I didn’t hear about with non-BIPOC individuals. My agency regularly hires on a project basis to give opportunities and I provide networking guidance and mentorship. One of my favourite initiatives in supporting BIPOC professionals is the Black Professionals in Tech Network (BPTN).
This provides programs that blend mentorship, skill-building, and networking in order to create valuable connections and opportunities for aspiring professionals. Mentorship and internships make such a difference— it can help BIPOC professionals and make a lasting impact in the industry.
Stephanie Hawkins | Contributing Writer
