Trailblazers: Tiana Kara, Executive Director Of BUILT BY GIRLS

This Trailblazers series takes a look at the pivotal milestones that make up the life trails of inspiring women from a diverse array of backgrounds and experiences. We all know what social media profiles display about the end results women have achieved. This series is intended to take a deeper, more authentic look at the journeys they have taken to get there. 

Tiana Kara is the Executive Director of BUILT BY GIRLS, a community that prepares the next generation of female and non-binary leaders, builders, and creators to step boldly into careers powered by technology. Tiana has a background in brand partnerships and digital media, and has made it her life’s work to champion women, people of color and other marginalized communities through action. She is also a photographer and world traveler. 

After learning more about the trail that Tiana has blazed, I got the chance to ask her some questions. 

Rebekah Bastian: How did you come to discover your passion for empowering underestimated and marginalized communities in the technology industry? 

Tiana Kara: I’ve always had a passion for supporting marginalized communities, but the connection to technology came in 2009. During that time I noticed a growing investment in digitally native everything, from social interaction to advertising to even federal documents. It was my first window into the digital divide, where folks who’d never even had an email address were now forced to become familiar with tech in order to survive. And largely the groups most left in the dark were black and brown.

Bastian: You mentioned that getting to your current role was a journey. Did you always see yourself in a leadership role like this? 

Kara: I did! I knew I wanted to be a leader, largely because I’d had so many terrible examples of leadership in my past that I knew I could do better. I consider my journey to leadership a difficult one though, not because I wasn’t ambitious but because I struggled with a broken rung on the ladder of advancement. Even now stats for black women in leadership remain stagnant and it’s not for lack of interest - it’s mostly because they are taxed, overlooked, and underestimated.

Bastian: You recently pushed yourself out of your comfort zone to produce short-form video. How has this willingness to step into roles needing filled and learning new things factored into your path through life? 

Kara: I’ve always been a “roll up your sleeves and get it done” kind of teammate. Whether it comes to my work or partnership with my husband. So when it came to this video and stepping into a production role, which I had no experience in whatsoever, I didn’t even hesitate. I think this mindset has helped me remain humble and I’ve learned to adapt to nearly any situation. I consider that a huge quality in an employee. When someone can adapt, that often means they are resilient, open minded and multi-skilled.  

Bastian: You shared how the current pandemic has taken a toll on you, particularly due to the disproportionate loss of black and brown lives. How has this impacted the work you are doing and how you go about it? 

Kara: Covid-19 has impacted our work at BUILT BY GIRLS considerably. The community we’re lucky to support is in high school and college; pivotal moments in their lives where they are either stepping into college or stepping into the workforce. The BBG team has always positioned ourselves as the big sisters to our community, using our diverse experiences as leading points of reference. But none of us can relate to what our students are going through now. They are losing loved ones, their parents are losing their jobs, internships are canceled and their future is frighteningly uncertain. 

The pandemic has caused us to shift our approach but not our mission. We’re still determined to help young women and non-binary students navigate through this and we’ve shifted how we interact and deliver the tangible advice we’re known for. We’re realistic - we talk to them about maintaining their mental health, share advice on navigating change, and match them with expert professionals to expose them to what the workforce looks like now. It took us some time to adapt to the change, but we’re progressing.

Bastian: It sounds like you are a believer in mentorship, both through the work that BUILT BY GIRLS does, and in the support group of women that lift you up and hold you accountable. What advice do you have for women that are seeking this kind of guidance and inspiration in their lives? 

Kara: I truly believe there has never been a better time to be a woman than now. Not to say that everything is sunshine and rainbows, but opportunities for advancement are more widely available than ever before. My advice for anyone seeking direction and motivation: seek out the change agents that align most with either who you are or who you want to be. Who are the women that have persevered against the odds? Who are the women that have built something from nothing? Who are the women that have challenged orthodoxies? Now which of these women are offering solid, clearcut, and realistic steps to get to where they are? Those are the women to watch. They are the women to seek mentorship from. They will be your guides.

Don’t look to replicate them, but consider them your personal advisory board. They help you create the best version of yourself. And hopefully you take that model and support another woman searching for guidance and inspiration.