.jpg)
The Black Professionals in Tech Network (BPTN) and RBC Future Launch have announced a new partnership to create the largest pipeline of young, early-career (29-years-old and under) Black tech talent in Canadian history.
“BPTN is proud to partner with RBC Future Launch to transform Canadian tech and business. With this partnership, BPTN will scale our services to reach Black early-career professionals from coast to coast,” said Lekan Olawoye, BPTN founder and CEO.
Through a three-year, $4.5 million commitment from RBC Future Launch, BPTN will broaden the reach of its current offerings and change how Canadian businesses attract, hire, and retain early-career Black talent in a number of ways:
- As a result of the partnership, more than 1,000 Black early-career professionals will receive full-time career placements in Canadian tech and business companies over the next three years.
- Many of Canada’s top-ranking business and tech executives will be convened around a newly launched ‘Champion’s Table.’ Each executive will commit a tangible hiring target before joining the Champion’s Table, using the previously mentioned pipeline of early-career talent to achieve their desired targets.
- BPTN’s ‘CULTIVATE‘ mentorship initiative will now support more youth than ever before, pairing 350 Black early-career professionals with Canadian executives annually for direct mentoring and career coaching.
- BPTN’s ‘Pay It Forward‘ initiative will now provide a total of $200,000 per year in funding to Black owned non-profits working with children and youth in STEM education across Canada.
Early-career professionals interested in participating in or learning about upcoming initiatives can do so on BPTN’s website.