ABOUT
HACK.DIVERSITY
OUR MISSION
Transform the economy by breaking down barriers and building access for the next generation in tech.
OUR APPROACH
Founded in 2016, Hack.Diversity centers social impact in the future of tech. We partner with organizations to co-design and implement a strategic business priority: tap into the full potential of the talent landscape by shifting toward skills-based evaluation for early-career technical talent to grow with an organization.
Our unique approach is structured around a nine-program cycle featuring a dual-impact model:
Fellowship: Fellows complete a career development program focused on professional skills development, technical team projects, and industry exposure, culminating in a 40-hour/week paid internship at one of our Host Companies.
Host Company Partnership: In collaboration with Hack.Diversity, companies engage in programming to match with Fellows for internship-to-FTE roles and to co-design systems to drive sustainable transformation within their organizations.
Over 8 program cycles, Hack.Diversity has grown into a movement of belonging in the tech workplace, achieving generational wealth-building impact in Boston and New York City.
OUR VISION
A world where success is not limited by access, and the jobs of today and tomorrow create opportunity for ALL.
HOW IT’S DONE
High-potential candidates with at least 2 years of technical foundation apply and complete a robust selection process to become Fellows.
Throughout the nine-month program, Fellows achieve key milestones aligned with the early-career technology employee life cycle.
Host Companies and Fellows interview each other. They’re matched together based on performance, culture add, and industry interest.
Fellows contribute as summer interns to start. With strong performance, Host Companies invite Fellows into future positions.
GUIDED BY OUR VALUES
Community: Making program participants, partners, staff, and volunteers feel that they matter and belong
Advocacy: Taking opportunities to learn about, act on, and engage others in, the advancement of racial equity, even when it is uncomfortable
Resiliency: Persisting in the hard work of systemic change, and embracing each setback as a learning opportunity
Empathy: Seeing and feeling situations from others’ point of view, especially those whose perspectives are excluded
BUILDING A POWERFUL NETWORK
We’re breaking down barriers in Boston and New York City, but we’re just getting started. Where should we break ground next?
THE TEAM
MICHELLE DE LA ISLA
Chief Executive Officer
HAMMAD AHMED
Director, Operations
ZOEY BUTLER
Manager, Grants and Development
CAIT DAVISON
Associate Director, Boston
DJANIKAH ELYSÉE
Senior Associate, Operations
VALDIR LIMA
Manager, Program
ELIJAH TEIXEIRA
Manager, Program, NYC
ANGELA LIU
Chief Officer, Strategy and Growth
CLARIBEL LIZARDO-GONZALEZ
Director, People and Culture
JULIA MAYER
Director, Development
ARDESHIR PEZESHK
Senior Manager, Data
FOUNDING PARTNERS
FOUNDING HOST COMPANIES
