Recently, our Women@SDC group had the privilege of hearing from our own Krystal Ford, Reliability Engineering Project Manager, and Whitley Donaby, Data Center AP Administrator. In recognition of Black History Month, these team members led us in an exploration of how diverse pioneers have shaped our industry and how we can continue fostering inclusion in our contemporary day-to-day work and mindsets.
Among a host of inspiring insights and anecdotes, we:
- Learned about distinguished figures in the history of our industry and related disciplines
- Watched modern-day leaders like former Xerox CEO, prominent business executive and speaker Ursula Burns discuss messages around leadership, building community and more
- Delved into the history of this month, and the theme for 2025 (which is African Americans and Labor — click here to read the executive summary from the Association for the Study of African American Life and History®, ASALH)
Trailblazers in Action
When we consider what it means to lead at Stream, there are countless examples that inform how our teams navigate the current and future industry landscapes and business decisions. However, there are some leaders that have defined and redefined our industry, and during Black History Month (and all year round), we acknowledge and appreciate how these pioneers have led us to where we are today.
Among the influential figures Whitley covered in her presentation, and pictured above in our graphic, were:
Dr. Evelyn Boyd Granville: One of the first Black women to earn a Ph.D. in Mathematics. In addition to her work with NASA’s space missions, her expertise in computer programming and algorithms helped lay the foundation for the automation and data analytics we now rely on in real estate, lease management and data center operations.
Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson: The first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. from MIT, and whose research helped form the foundations of fiber optics and telecommunications — which are part of the backbone of every hyperscale data center we build today.
Alicia Boler Davis: Former VP at Amazon and General Motors, Alicia shattered ceilings in supply chain operations, infrastructure development and large-scale operational management, all disciplines that intersect with the work we do building and leasing data centers. Her accolades include being named one of Business Insider’s Most Powerful Female Engineers in 2018, receiving the Black Engineer of the Year award in the same year, and being listed among Fortune’s Most Powerful Women in 2020 and 2021.
Fostering Growth and Strength with Positive Perseverance
As Krystal notes, Black History Month and other initiatives of its type give us ‘a space that allows us to share our pride and resilience’ — and in Whitley’s words: “We all have the power to be pioneers.”
We couldn’t agree more. That is why, as Stream consciously expands as an organization, we continue to dive deeper into meaningful opportunities that underscore respect, foster growth, provide mutual support and engage our community in ways that honor our individuality while bringing us closer together as peers and partners.
For more on how we can all better collaborate, create community and empower that rising tide that lifts all boats, check out this video featuring Ursula Burns:
“If you work in a business environment, the thing that makes the place rock and roll is actually getting all those differences to be a benefit for everybody else.”
The mission of this Women@SDC group in particular is to accelerate Stream’s cultural journey by increasing a sense of belonging and representation across racial and ethnic identities, abilities and backgrounds. However, our team members both within this group and throughout our entire Stream Team continue to inspire us every day with their collaboration, compassion and dedication to growth both personal and professional.
To dig deeper into 2025’s rich Black History Month theme, or to learn more about past years’ themes, visit the ASALH’s website.
