“The issue when you think about creating space for people is that people automatically think they’ve lost a seat,” Cristina Mancini said. “I come from the belief that anytime I have space, I create more space … The more of us that are at the table, we start building more tables.”
On Feb. 3, Mancini, CEO of the nonprofit organization Black Girls Code, spoke with Ryan Patel at the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum about the necessity of improving diversity in the technology industry. Mancini has had a variegated and fascinating career trajectory, with roles ranging from art direction for Warner Brothers to marketing for Salesforce. Since 2011, Black Girls Code has supported girls of color in tech through workshops, after-school programs, camps and mentorship.
Patel, a senior fellow at the Drucker School of Management and one of the primary organizers of the event, emphasized the value of engaging with and learning from inspiring leaders like Mancini during uncertain times of political crisis.
“I come from the belief that anytime I have space, I create more space … The more of us that are at the table, we start building more tables.”
”What her organization is doing for leaders, specifically women [in] tech, is so important when it comes to innovation and growth,” Patel said.
Mancini said she is tired of navigating the current conversation around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), arguing that we have forgotten the true essence of inclusivity in the workplace and elsewhere. Recently, the White House has issued several executive orders to roll back existing DEI initiatives in higher education and the federal government, also resulting in many companies scaling back their DEI programs.
”We’re so busy deconstructing things without really understanding that we’re still talking about people creating space for people to feel comfortable where they are,” Mancini said. “That they belong in the spaces where they are hired.”
According to Mancini, her mission is to instill the belief that people of color belong in the room where innovations take place. Her voice took on a tender tone as she spoke about the girls that she works with through Black Girls Code.
“One of the things that I teach our girls is that it’s not about making it in the Black community. By us, for everyone,” Mancini said. “It’s built with inclusion from the beginning … The face of tech cannot be one group of people. [They] do not have the right to code all of our futures without all of our input.”
During a Q&A after the discussion, Mia Nelson CM ’25 asked Mancini what values she thinks embody a leader. Mancini emphasized the importance of authenticity and building a supportive and encouraging team.
“When you step into new roles as a new leader, it is an opportunity for you to define at the beginning who you’re going to be and everyone won’t like it,” Mancini said. “Create space so you’re not uncomfortable walking in shoes that are left for you by someone else.”
Given the current relevance of AI in the technology industry, Mancini advocated for thoughtful and careful use of current chatbots, especially when consumers are unaware of what is done with their data.
“I think that you should absolutely be playing with [chatbots] but be mindful of the technologies that you choose to play with,” Mancini said. “You need to pay attention because you don’t know what you’re uploading [or] what information you’re giving … It should be a tool.”
Attendee Maya Guice SC ’12 found Mancini’s optimism to be a refreshing perspective.
“She was very positive, especially [during] this time that’s quite dark,” Guice said.
Celina Steinberg PZ ’27 similarly appreciated Mancini’s hopeful viewpoint of the tech industry and was inspired by the wider impact of Black Girls Code.
”I felt it offered a fresh perspective on the development of artificial intelligence,” Steinberg said. “I was aware of these preparation initiatives but the extent of different nonprofits and organizations that are helping youth maintain a competitive advantage in the industry was cool to hear about … It’s really inspiring.”
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