Igniting Change: A Personal Journey Through Tech and Empowerment

Lori Mitchell (She/Her)

In late 2014, Lori Pressley-Mitchell, a passionate tech enthusiast new to Los Angeles, noticed a significant lack of Black women at local tech events. Curious, she discovered many weren’t aware of these events. To bridge this gap, Lori created "Black Women in Technology" (BWiT) as a Meetup group, sharing event information to ensure members knew they'd be in familiar company. This initiative quickly garnered positive feedback, leading to a vibrant community of over 500 Black women, aged 20 to 67, who are committed to shaping the future of technology. Lori's vision for BWiT is to forge a supportive platform for African-American women and other women of color in tech. This platform offers networking, learning opportunities, and a space to celebrate their achievements. Beyond BWiT, Lori extended her influence by becoming a Community Leader for the Anita Borg Institute's dotLocal initiative in 2015. She's been actively involved in various panels, hackathons, and the first GHC conference with ABI.Local. Highlighting her commitment, BWiT hosted its first NW Summit in Seattle in October 2018. The event, held at Microsoft’s campus, attracted over 300 women and covered diverse topics, emphasizing Lori's dedication to serving this inspiring community. Lori, holding a Bachelor's Degree in Information Systems from Pennsylvania State University, has been a tech professional since 1996, starting as a self-taught systems analyst while working as a Respiratory Therapist. Outside her tech pursuits, she cherishes time with her three grandchildren and has experience as a Director of IT Applications.