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What is BUiLT International?
BUiLT stands for Blacks United in Leading Technology. It identifies as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and its mission is to increase subscribers’ representation and participation in the technology industry by fostering their connection, development and employment. The organization says it works with allies toward a future where people are not held back, overlooked or eliminated because of race, and where opportunity is based on capability. BUiLT International’s About page describes its mission and links to its programs and community resources.
BUiLT was co-founded by technology leader and entrepreneur Peter Beasley. In a 2024 CIO feature about BUiLT, Beasley described recognizing discrimination as he advanced into IT director roles and gained more responsibility. CIO reports that the organization expanded to chapters across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom; current chapter locations should be checked through BUiLT’s chapter resources.
How does BUiLT help Black IT professionals?
BUiLT’s member model combines relationship-building with practical opportunities to develop skills and visibility. CIO describes networking sessions, mentorship, leadership and speaking opportunities, technical training, bootcamps, certification cohorts and events. Members may also engage with corporate sponsors and attend private events. A 2026 CIO overview also describes professional development courses and optional website listings for business owners; specific benefits and availability can vary.
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- Build professional connections: Networking and chapter events help members meet peers, leaders and potential employers.
- Develop skills: Technical courses, bootcamps and certification cohorts can support career growth. Training may be free or discounted, but terms depend on the offering.
- Practice leadership and visibility: Speaking opportunities and event leadership give members ways to contribute and be seen in the field.
- Find guidance and opportunities: Mentorship and sponsor engagement can help members navigate career decisions and professional networks.
CIO reported an example of a four-week (ISC)2 Certified in Cybersecurity course, pairing self-paced coursework with cohort study sessions. That example does not establish that the course or same format is currently available. A member, Byron Alexander Purdy, told CIO that joining in 2021 led to networking, event leadership and an adjunct-professor opportunity at the University of Texas at Dallas. This is an individual account, not evidence of a typical or guaranteed outcome.
How does BUiLT work with employers?
Companies can sponsor BUiLT chapters and individual events. CIO has reported sponsors and partners including American Airlines, Target, Sezzle, the IT Senior Management Forum and (ISC)2. The organization’s employer-facing work also includes connecting companies with a talent pipeline, helping address retention issues and providing customized diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) education for employees and executives.
A 2021 Amazon Tech Ops workshop illustrates the kind of engagement BUiLT has described. After an Amazon diversity recruiting program manager contacted the organization, BUiLT assembled six senior technology leaders—five of them Black—for workshops, a panel and group exercises with 17 Amazon senior technology leaders. During the work, one participant realized they did not have even a third-level LinkedIn connection to any Black executive on BUiLT’s team. The example shows how a structured conversation can make gaps in professional networks visible; it is not proof by itself of lasting changes in hiring or workplace outcomes.
BUiLT can bring expertise, relationships and programming into an organization, but it cannot substitute for employers’ sustained action. Companies remain responsible for examining and changing their own hiring, promotion, retention practices and workplace culture.
What are BUiLT’s Black Tech Symposiums?
BUiLT’s Black Tech Symposiums are regional conferences held during the year. CIO describes them as opportunities for education, connection, career advancement and recruitment, with a focus on Black technology innovators. Events may also include nonprofit, social-justice and ally organizations. Dates, locations and program details are event-specific; consult BUiLT’s official site for current information.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What do the representation figures on BUiLT’s site mean?
BUiLT’s About page displays three figures: “3% of 15%,” attributed to the U.S. Bureau of Labor & Statistics and described as the share of Black employees in the top 75 U.S. technology companies compared with the Black share of the U.S. population; “7.8% of 15%,” attributed to CompTIA and described as the share of Black people in core U.S. IT occupations compared with the Black share of the population; and “$10K less,” attributed to Hired Inc. and described as the average salary difference between Black and White tech workers in the same role.
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BUiLT presents these as indicators of inequity, but the page does not give publication dates or links to the underlying datasets. They should therefore be understood as figures displayed by the organization, not as independently verified current estimates. Their definitions and reference years matter when comparing them with other statistics.
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How can a company or professional engage with BUiLT?
- Explore the official site: Use BUiLT’s About page to find its chapter, training, BUiLT RITE, sponsorship and symposium resources.
- Check current availability: Confirm chapter locations, membership conditions, training schedules and event details directly with BUiLT, since programs and dates can change.
- For employers, discuss the purpose of a partnership: Ask about chapter or event sponsorship, talent-pipeline engagement, retention support or customized DEI education, and clarify what each arrangement includes.
- Pair programming with internal action: Organizations should connect any workshop or recruitment partnership to measurable follow-through in hiring, advancement, retention and workplace culture.
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