From Awareness to Action: Takeaways from the TechDiversity Academy
ACS is proud to partner with TechDiversity on the Tech Diversity Academy, an inclusive leadership program driving genuine workplace transformation.
This partnership reflects ACS's values, to build a tech workforce where diverse voices shape the future.
This year, ten ACS scholarships supported research backed training that turns awareness into action. One ACS recipient shared, “Moving from awareness to action challenged me to look critically at how inclusion is practiced, not just spoken about.”
The results speak for themselves: 91% of participants would recommend the program.
We asked the ACS x TechDiversity 2025 Cohort...
What was the most impactful thing you learned at TechDiveristy Academy?
Jhelyn Suan, Software Team Lead, GroundProbe
"For me is a deeper understanding of what true diversity really means. I used to think that simply having team members from different nationalities, genders, backgrounds, or cultures was enough. However, I've come to realize that equity and inclusion must be actively practiced and truly lived. True diversity goes beyond mere representation; it's about creating an environment where people feel safe to share their perspectives and engage in genuine conversations-not just asking "How are you?" and leaving it at that..."
Mandy Ho, Senior Consultant, oobe (a Fujitsu company)
"My biggest aha moment is "It's not just good for business, it's the right thing to do" because I feel like companies (not all) see it as a requirement more so than the right thing to do which leads to low engagement from staff and leadership. I totally agree with Hayford's reflection on how small, intentional changes can create lasting impact both personally and organisationally. No change is too small!"
Hayford Agyekum, CEO & Owner, HAY IT Solutions Ltd
"My biggest insight from this course is that DEI isn't just about awareness but about embedding inclusive practices into everyday actions and decision-making. Since my earlier reflection, this understanding has deepend - I now see how small, intentional changes can create lasting impact both personally and organisationally."
Giselle Barbosa Gomes Machado, Senior Engineering Manager, Epsilon
"I think my big takeaway is about equity & opportunity, as well as unconscious bias. It's challenging to identify when we are treating people differently because we want to achieve equity, and the impact can actually be harmful; sometimes it may be perceived as discrimination. Finding balance without considering our biases is challenging, despite our good intentions."
Visham Rawat, Cybersecurity Manager, UnitedHealth Group
"The single biggest insight I'm taking away is that equity isn't about giving everyone the same, but about creating fairness, sometimes by providing additional resources to those who are struggling or less privileged, and ultimately by working to remove systemic and structural barriers. I now see how without equity, diversity risks being tokenistic, and inclusion requires ensuring that all voices are genuinely valued and acted upon."
As the 2025 ACS cohort prepares to receive their digital badges in January 2026, applications for the TechDiversity Academy 2026 are now open.
Learn more at: https://tech-diversity.com.au/techdiversity-academy/