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Caroline Karanja

Chief Executive Officer at Hack the Gap

Caroline Karanja is the Chief Executive Officer at Hack the Gap, an organization focused on increasing equity and diversity in the technology sector.1 She is on a mission to increase equity in tech and equity through tech, particularly by creating pathways for women, non-binary individuals, and underrepresented groups such as Black, Indigenous, and Latinx technologists.3

Professional Background

Caroline is not only the CEO of Hack the Gap but also the founder and CEO of 26 Letters, a technology-enabled equity and inclusion SaaS platform.5 Her work spans across various initiatives aimed at bridging the inclusion gap in the tech industry.

Hack the Gap

Under Caroline's leadership, Hack the Gap has evolved from its origins as a series of hackathons started in 2015.4 The organization now focuses on:

  • Providing a platform for diverse talent to innovate
  • Offering programs like "Learn While You Earn," a 4-week paid virtual hackathon program6
  • Collaboratively creating pathways for underrepresented groups in tech3

Recent Developments

In June 2024, it was announced that 26 Letters, Caroline's other venture, acquired Hack the Gap, signaling a strategic move to further their shared mission of increasing diversity in tech.2

Caroline Karanja's work through Hack the Gap and her other initiatives demonstrates her commitment to addressing the inclusion gap in the technology sector and creating opportunities for underrepresented groups to thrive in tech careers.

Highlights

Oct 13 · linkedin

Thank you to everyone who joined in yesterday at the U.S. Bank Technology Careers event. It was great meeting you all in person and hearing more about your journey.

Thank you to the amazing students who are investing in themselves by going through bootcamps like Prime Digital Academy and Summit Academy OIC. Our local tech community is excited to have you all share your skills and talent and contribute to the innovation in our industry.

Huge thanks to Stephanie Hammes-Betti and Dave Swenson for opening your doors and letting us tour the US Bank Tech Center and Agile Studio and hosting this TIA + Minnesota Technology Association event.

The future of tech is here. For those who are hiring, please reach out for resumes!

#techcareers #minnesota #softwareengineer #techjobs #cybersecurity

Aug 6 · linkedin

As part of the ACE program at the Minnesota Technology Association, a number of colleagues and I are working on a project with Genesys Works Twin Cities to help them prepare high school interns for opportunities in tech.

We wanted to reach out to our networks to better understand your experience regarding internship programs.

What specific skills should interns focus on to ensure that they are prepared to work in tech within 3-5 years?

Are there specific jobs in tech that you think will become more or less competitive in the next 3-5 years?

#mntech #techinclusion #internships #techfuture

Related Questions

What inspired Caroline Karanja to start Hack the Gap?
How has Hack the Gap evolved under Caroline Karanja's leadership?
What are some notable achievements of Hack the Gap under Caroline Karanja?
How does Caroline Karanja plan to expand Hack the Gap's initiatives?
What challenges has Caroline Karanja faced as CEO of Hack the Gap?
Caroline Karanja
Caroline Karanja, photo 1
Caroline Karanja, photo 2
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Experience

Chief Executive Officer at Hack the Gap since Jun 2019
Founder at 26 Letters Inc since Jan 2016, Senior Manager of Retention & Analytics at LeadPages (Aug 2014 - Oct 2015), IS Business Analyst & Product Owner at Patterson Companies, Inc. (Sep 2012 - Aug 2 at Best Buy (May 2012 - Sep 2012)

Education

BA in American Studies, English Lit from Macalester College

Location

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area