They say actions speak louder than words, and I couldn’t agree more. As a Latino living in America, I’ve often come across various companies trying to loudly advocate their efforts for minorities, with only a few, such as Google, actually taking meaningful steps.
The tech giant has helped the Hispanic community in ways that actually help bridge the Hispanic underrepresentation in tech, all of which are efforts that I feel deserve to be shared, hence this article.
Here, I’ll go through some of Google’s major efforts to help increase Hispanic representation in tech, from training to funding programs, and beyond.
Let’s get started.
Digital Skills Training
Most Hispanics have limited incomes, which makes pursuing higher education in expensive colleges and universities a distant dream for them.
However, today’s success in the workplace is more about developing the right set of skills, instead of just holding a degree. Google has helped many Hispanic students conveniently and affordably develop the necessary tech skills needed to make it in this competitive industry.
For example, Google has a program called Google Career Certificates that partners with organizations like Unidos US and the League of United Latin American Citizens to develop course content and scholarships. This provides Hispanic students with training in relevant and high-demand tech skills such as information technology, data analytics, or user experience design, to name a few.
The best part is that Hispanic students can access these courses using any smart device and a fast and reliable internet connection. I recommend Xfinity here since it’s fast, reliable, and most importantly, affordable. With providers like Xfinity, that offer bilingual assistance, getting a decent plan is also as easy as calling the Xfinity servicio al cliente.
However, Google’s efforts for educating Hispanic tech students don’t just end with their online resources.
The tech giant has also actively helped students at the university level. Its University Programs team partners with Hispanic organizations to help Hispanic students land a role in tech. One such program is the Tech Exchange program, which allows Hispanic students to spend a semester at Google’s campus and enroll in courses taught by Google engineers and university faculty.
The company also plays a huge role in empowering Latino tech students by funding organizations such as the TechnoloChicas, which provides upcoming Latino generations with STEM education. By helping Hispanic students of all backgrounds develop a strong basic foundation in these relevant tech skills, Google has helped solidify their chances of landing a job and excelling in it.
Startup Funding
Sadly, Hispanic entrepreneurs still face a load of challenges when it comes to starting their business, with funding in the lead. Since they have lower collateral to offer, even if they manage to secure a loan, it’s not really an amount that can help them launch their business ventures.
However, Google has emerged as a ray of hope for such entrepreneurs by launching various funding programs and increasing their visibility in a congested industry. Two such programs include the VHLX Program and the Latino Founders Fund.
The VHLX program was more focused on idea-stage Hispanic entrepreneurs, offering up to $10,000 to kickstart those ideas into businesses.
The Latino Founders Fund, on the other hand, provided potentially promising Hispanic startups with equity-free cash awards up to $150,000. Additionally, you can also access up to $100,000 in Google Cloud credits, mentorship from Google employees, and even therapy to help you navigate through the stress and challenges of entrepreneurship.
The company has also launched various startup accelerators, such as the Latino Founders Accelerator. This was a 10-week-long program launched by Google for Startups and helped promising tech startups in Spanish-speaking Latin America with specialized training and expert guidance on product, technology, and how to grow their businesses.
Beyond the funding, Google also helps Hispanic businesses use technology to grow their businesses. Through its Grow With Google program, the company trains small Hispanic businesses to successfully use technologies such as artificial intelligence to scale their operations.
Cultural Representation
They say change begins from within, and Google took that quite seriously. The company didn’t just make it easier for Hispanic individuals to pursue careers in tech, but also provided them with jobs and accurately celebrated the richness of our culture.
For example, the percentage of Hispanic workers in the company increased from 6.6% to 9% between 2019 and 2021, and these employees were also supported through Google’s internal programs, which provided tailored support to help them grow in their roles and beyond.
The company also portrayed its respect for Hispanic culture by actively participating in celebrations for Hispanic Heritage Month. The company used its various platforms and products, such as YouTube, Google Arts & Culture, and the Chrome Web Store, to highlight Hispanic creators, artists, and cultural stories. YouTube and Google Play also created curated playlists that highlighted apps, games, and music from Hispanic individuals.
Google – Actively Leading the Cause for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Hispanic individuals, whether they’re students, workers, or entrepreneurs, still often face multiple barriers to entry when it comes to tech. However, thanks to companies like Google, that may soon change.
By providing convenient and cost-effective education online and beyond, helping turn ideas into startups, and offering jobs to Hispanic individuals, Google is a perfect example of what it actually means to be diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
