04/04/2025
We’re thrilled to spotlight Brenda Darden Wilkerson—a pioneer who has spent three decades bridging the gap between tech’s potential and its reality—and to share her podcast, “B The Way Forward,” a series of candid, action-driven conversations with leaders confronting systemic inequities in tech.
Wilkerson’s advocacy began in Chicago’s classrooms, where she fought to make computer science accessible to students often sidelined by systemic barriers. That work led to founding Computer Science for All, a program that redefined who “belongs” in tech. Today, as president and CEO of AnitaB.org, she amplifies opportunities for women technologists worldwide, from mentorship programs to global pay parity campaigns. Her accolades, like the 2024 SXSW Community Service Award and the AFN Resilience Award, underscore a career rooted in turning vision into tangible progress.
“B The Way Forward” channels that same clarity and urgency. The podcast, honored with a Signal Gold Award for activism, pairs Wilkerson’s candid curiosity with insights from leaders like Karen Caitlin, former Adobe VP, who shares raw insights on leaving corporate tech to pursue passion projects—and why reinvention demands embracing uncertainty. Episodes also spotlight voices like Jeanne Sparrow, who unpacks how to advocate fearlessly without compromising authenticity in male-dominated spaces, and Telle Whitney, Wilkerson’s predecessor as head of AnitaB.org, reflecting on building a legacy of solidarity among women in tech’s early days.
Season 2 began by tackling the question: “Do you change the system from within, or do you have to break it to build something better?” Guests explore rebounding from career-breaking failures, how to craft a winning pitch in industries skeptical of women’s leadership, and more.
Wilkerson’s guests don’t trade in buzzwords—they share strategies. Listeners hear how to advocate for equitable hiring, navigate career shifts, or challenge complacency in their fields. Episodes blend personal stories (like her push to launch Chicago’s Computer Science Teachers Association chapter) with global insights, proving equity isn’t a distant ideal but a daily practice.
Join us in sharing “B The Way Forward,” a podcast that doesn’t just imagine a better tech future—it equips you to build it. Find it on our platform alongside other voices reshaping the industry.
Find “B The Way Forward” at www.podcasthersglobal.com/podcast/5078/b-the-way-forward, and explore dozens of categories at www.podcasthers.com! You can also download the SHEQONOMI app at https://sheqonomi.com, where you’ll find this and many other remarkable women-led podcasts!