Why is it necessary to dedicate a whole stage to this?
Diversity in tech matters because it is a fundamental human rights issue, however, there are also economic and practical benefits.
Underrepresented minorities are more likely to leave tech jobs due to unfair treatment, lack of advancement opportunities, and other diversity-related issues. Improving diversity and inclusion in tech could help to reduce turnover rates and increase retention of talented employees from diverse backgrounds.
A report by the National Center for Women & Information Technology found that companies with gender-diverse teams were more likely to create products that appeal to a wider range of customers and users. (The Power of Diversity: New Research Evidence on the Business Case for Women in Leadership).
And whilst BAME individuals make up 14% of the UK population, they only make up 8% of STEM employees in the UK. But Accenture is clear that companies in the top quartile for racial and ethnic diversity were 33% more likely to experience above-average profitability than companies in the bottom quartile. (Getting to Equal)