Meet Some Of The Trans POC Making Tech More Inclusive For All

As Transgender Awareness Week shines a spotlight on the challenges and achievements of the transgender community, the tech industry offers inspiring stories of resilience and innovation. 

This week, we’re celebrating trans people of color in tech who are breaking barriers, creating opportunities, and shaping a more inclusive future in one of the world’s most dynamic sectors.

From empowering marginalized communities to championing diversity in STEM, these leaders are making waves in the industry and beyond. 

Here’s a closer look at some of the trailblazers leading the charge for equity and representation in technology.

E.C. Pizarro III

E.C. Pizarro III is a trans nonbinary creative technologist and multidisciplinary artist whose work bridges technology and social justice. With a focus on storytelling through digital art, Pizarro uses platforms like VR and AR to elevate marginalized voices. They also advocate for diversity in creative industries, ensuring that trans people of color have a platform to thrive in tech-driven fields.

Angelica Ross

Angelica Ross is a tech entrepreneur and activist, best known for founding TransTech Social Enterprises, a training academy and social enterprise that empowers transgender individuals through technology. Her work focuses on creating pathways for trans people, particularly those of color, to gain economic independence by equipping them with in-demand skills in tech. Ross’s mission is to reduce systemic barriers and increase representation in STEM fields.

Kortney Ryan Ziegler

Kortney Ryan Ziegler is an entrepreneur, technologist, and filmmaker who founded Trans*H4CK, the first-ever hackathon series dedicated to creating tech solutions for transgender and gender nonconforming people. Ziegler’s work connects tech innovation with social justice, highlighting how technology can address issues like healthcare access, employment discrimination, and safety for trans individuals.

Ve’ondre Mitchell

Ve’ondre Mitchell is a trans content creator, musician, and model known for blending advocacy with humor and creativity. She gained prominence on platforms like TikTok, where her witty takes on trans visibility have garnered widespread attention. Mitchell’s success spans multiple industries, and her efforts amplify trans voices, particularly those of color, in social media and entertainment.

Tiana Tukes

Tiana Tukes made history as the first transgender woman to hold a position in a VC firm with over $1 billion in assets. She was also co-CEO at LGBT+ VC, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing LGBTQ prosperity through venture capital, which she co-founded in 2022. Tukes now lectures at Spelman College in entrepreneurship as an adjunct professor and runs her own management consulting firm, Tukes & Company.