Area youth and minority leaders will rub elbows with representatives from large tech firms and start-ups at the fourth annual Innovate Raleigh Summit today.
The non-profit Innovate Raleigh works to connect entrepreneurs and resources. Executive Director Jenny Hwa says the organization will study whether it's a gap in education that limits diversity in the tech industry.
"We're really looking to examine the ideology that it really starts with education: Very early on, through, of course, the university system, then onto the corporate world."
Hwa says the conference will include leadership labs, where participants will hear the personal stories of industry leaders.
"A lot of people don't know that most people that are successful have found struggles or had a lot of setbacks. But it is a journey that they feel maybe they could be connected with on a more personal level and use that kind of inspiration to continue to forge ahead through kind of difficulties through the education process."
Young people from leadership organizations including Raleigh Digital Connectors and the Queen City Foundation will attend today's sold-out conference to network and receive career guidance.