In 2021, Aspen Digital joined a diverse group of tech companies, researchers, and DEI experts in publishing the landmark ACT Report, which outlines a wide range of recommendations for improving the representation, inclusion, and empowerment of underserved and marginalized communities. As a next step to this work, the Aspen Institute is launching a new initiative to carry out the vision and recommendations of that report and translate them to measurable, collective action.

NOVEMBER 15, 2021 - Following months of expert consultation and internal discussion, the Aspen Institute’s Commission on Information Disorder has launched its recommendations for addressing America’s urgent mis- and disinformation crisis. Co-chairs Katie Couric, Chris Krebs, and Rashad Robinson engage in a lively discussion of how government, private industry, and civil society can increase transparency and understanding, build trust, and reduce harms.

Historically, the tech industry’s approach to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has been dispersed, individual, and short-term. The Action to Catalyze Tech Report (ACT Report) is calling for a new DEI paradigm, one that is holistic, collective, and sustainable.

The global economy is currently undergoing a new industrial revolution catalyzed by advancement in technologies such as Artificial Intellige

The Hispanic population, representing one of every five people in the U.S., provides untapped potential for any organization in search for talent. Research suggests that inclusion of Latinos in the workforce fuels innovation and revenue, and that they are estimated to drive nearly 25% of the country’s GDP growth. However, when it comes to tech, despite explosive population growth and genuine progress in the penetration of Latinos in the industry, job numbers remain far below their white and Asian counterparts. To address this, the Aspen Institute Latinos & Society Program and Aspen Digital offer a roadmap.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 - Current diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts have not adequately supported underrepresented groups in the cybersecurity field. The Aspen Tech Policy Hub and Aspen Digital hosted experts to discuss how to build a more inclusive cyber future, and launch a related report detailing the findings from two roundtables convening an intergenerational and cross-disciplinary group of professionals.

Women and people of color are less likely to serve in leadership positions in cybersecurity companies, and there are stark cybersecurity salary discrepancies across race and gender. Yet the government and private sector laments a cybersecurity talent gap, as thousands of cybersecurity positions remain unfilled due to a supposed lack of qualified workers. We must do better. Building a more diverse cybersecurity industry is not only critical to creating a more inclusive America. It will also strengthen our nation’s security by bringing in new perspectives to solve thorny information security challenges and shoring up our workforce.

The national reckoning on racial justice that began in mid-2020, prompted by the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other Black Americans at the hands of police, has further clarified that current DEI efforts, however well-meaning, have not addressed the overwhelming white-ness and male-ness of the cybersecurity field. With support from the Hewlett Foundation and in consultation with cybersecurity expert Camille Stewart, Aspen Digital and the Aspen Tech Policy Hub have made recommendations for diversifying the cybersecurity industry across two categories: immediate actions and those that require further investment.