Title

AWS re:Invent 2023 - We don’t rap or play sports: Using tech to break generational curses (IDE104)

Summary

The speaker discusses the underrepresentation of black individuals in industries outside of sports and entertainment, highlighting that few have made their wealth in IT.
The story of Tope Awatona, founder of Calendly, is shared to illustrate how having a good job with benefits can enable entrepreneurship, even without venture capital support.
A personal anecdote is shared about a man from a low-income background who, despite initial missteps in education, taught himself business development and significantly increased his earning potential.
The speaker introduces Matchplicity, a workforce innovation tool they co-founded, designed to connect talent communities with employers and provide data analytics on career pathing.
Matchplicity aims to create career pathways for diverse and underrepresented communities by offering exposure, contacts, and networking opportunities.
The platform has shown growth and success since its launch in March 2021, expanding from 500 to over 4,000 members in one community, and is preparing to launch version two.
The speaker invites attendees to visit their booth for further discussion and a demo of the platform.

The speaker's passion for diversifying wealth creation beyond traditional sectors for black individuals is evident, emphasizing the importance of representation in the tech industry.
The success stories shared, including Tope Awatona's Calendly and the personal anecdote, underscore the potential of self-education and entrepreneurship in overcoming economic barriers.
Matchplicity's approach to connecting niche talent communities with employers suggests a targeted strategy for workforce development that could be more effective than broader platforms like LinkedIn.
The growth of Matchplicity indicates a demand for such platforms that facilitate direct connections between specialized talent and interested employers, as well as the potential for revenue generation and reinvestment in community organizations.
The upcoming launch of Matchplicity version two and the invitation to explore the platform at the AWS re:Invent booth demonstrate a proactive approach to scaling and community engagement.