Kimberly Bryant is a renowned technology industry leader, visionary and founder of ASCEND Ventures. As the CEO of ASCEND Ventures, Kimberly is committed to creating opportunities for marginalized founders building impact-driven companies. With her flagship Black Innovation Lab, she cultivates and invests in a pipeline of leaders who use technology to make a societal impact while creating pathways to equity and generational wealth through entrepreneurship and ownership.

Before ASCEND Ventures, Kimberly founded Black Girls CODE, a social-change organization aimed at introducing girls of color aged 6-18 to technology and computer science, with a focus on entrepreneurship. Under her leadership, Black Girls CODE grew from a grassroots initiative to an international organization with chapters across the U.S. and South Africa and more than 100,000 students.                                 

Prior to starting Black Girls CODE, Kimberly enjoyed a successful 20+ year professional career in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries as an Engineering Manager in a series of technical leadership roles for various Fortune 50 companies such as Genentech, Merck, and Pfizer.

Kimberly is dedicated to changing the face of technology by investing in opportunities for women, girls and all, using technology as a lever for progress. Kimberly has been awarded the prestigious Jefferson Award for Community Service for her work to support communities in the Bay Area, named by Business Insider on its list of “The 25 Most Influential African-Americans in Technology”, and named to The Root 100 and the Ebony Power 100 lists in 2013. Kimberly was named by the White House as a Champion of Change for her work in tech inclusion and for her focus on bridging the digital divide for girls of color and received an Ingenuity Award in Social Progress from the Smithsonian Institute. 

She has been identified as a thought leader in the area of tech inclusion and has spoken on the topic at conferences nationally and internationally such as the Personal Democracy Forum, TedX Kansas City, Platform Summit, Big Ideas Festival, South By Southwest (SXSW), and many others.

Topics:

  • Imagine a future where technology holds the key to a transformation so profound that it touches every aspect of our lives. This future is our reality, driven by the inexorable force of artificial intelligence, the fourth wave of innovation. It brings with it the promise of increased efficiency, improved healthcare, and boundless opportunities. However, as we embrace this revolution, we are met with a grave responsibility: to ensure that its fruits are not exclusive but are shared by all, particularly those in marginalized communities. This talk will:

    -Explore how AI regulations may help prevent exploitation, protect privacy, and ensure equal opportunities for marginalized communities in AI-related jobs.

    -Explore how we might leverage AI to address social issues like poverty, unemployment, or education gaps in marginalized communities ensuring equitable benefits of AI tools.

    -Educate communities on AI basics and implications, making technology accessible, understandable, and usable, fostering a sense of ownership and empowerment.

    -Encourage diversity in AI development to ensure a wide range of perspectives and inclusion to prevent the creation of systems that inadvertently harm marginalized communities.

  • Have you ever heard of James West? How about Mark Dean? Probably not. Without James, your phone wouldn’t have its microphone. Mark helped to develop the IBM PC and holds one third of IBM’s original patents. When we talk about the development of technology, it’s rare that we discuss the past contributions from minorities or explore what it means for organizations, such as Black Girls CODE and other advocates, who seek to create a more inclusive innovation space. In this talk, tech pioneer Kimberly Bryant traces the history of how minorities have shaped our technological culture and the importance of amplifying their innovations of the future.

  • Kimberly Bryant, founder of social movement Black Girls CODE, will share her journey as what she calls an “accidental social entrepreneur” and the lessons learned along the way in shaping a new paradigm for women and girls of color in the technology industry. She will explore how recognizing our innate power to become change agents in our own lives and the lives of others by pushing through traditional boundaries and perceived limitations can help us drive change in our world.

  • Women's empowerment in leadership is crucial and should not be underestimated. Sheryl Sandberg, a prominent figure in the tech industry, summed it up perfectly when she said we need women at all levels to reshape conversations and ensure their voices are heard. We must do more than just talk about empowering women leaders; we must take action, create a movement, and change the norms that have held us back for too long. In this talk, tech leader Kimberly Bryant will analyze and address gender biases in leadership and discuss qualities that truly define effective leadership. Kimberly also explores and educates the audience about the challenges and unique biases faced by Black women in positions of power.

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