I’m A Black Female Futurist, Here’s Why We Need More Diverse Voices

This article was first published by Zaria Gunn on Medium.

As a black female futurist and artist, I spent time working in VR at Google’s HQ in Mountain View. My team, Spotlight Stories was a part of Google’s R&D lab for hardware called A.T.A.P. (Advanced Technologies and Projects) though the workplace had international diversity, the African American woman population was just me. And though I’ve always wanted to be the first at something, I had never imagined that I would’ve been the first black woman in ATAP eight years after its inception.

I loved my time working there, and I loved my coworkers, but it made me realize the future desperately needs diverse voices in new spaces. Women and other underrepresented groups have historically been left out of the conversation when it comes to shaping the future, but it’s time for that to change.

The future is female, and it’s vital that we actively work to include more women and diverse voices in the decision-making process. As we continue to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of technology and innovation, it’s more important than ever to bring diverse voices to the table.

One area where we need to prioritize diversity is in the field of futurism. Futurists play a crucial role in helping us understand and prepare for what’s coming, and it’s important that these predictions and recommendations reflect the experiences and needs of all people, not just a select few. By including more women and diverse voices in the field of futurism, we can create a future that is more inclusive and compassionate.

Another important aspect of preparing for the future is the need to diversify our skill sets and be open to new forms of work. As artificial intelligence continues to advance, it’s likely that we’ll see traditional career paths become obsolete, and we’ll all need to learn to adapt and find new ways to contribute. This means being open to learning new skills and finding ways to utilize them in industries that may not have even existed before.

As we work towards building a better future, it’s important to remember that we have the power to shape the world we live in. By bringing more diverse voices to the table and being open to new forms of work, we can create a future that is inclusive, compassionate, and hopeful for all.

This article was first published by Zaria Gunn on Medium.