The Ola Initiative  was an organization dedicated to the advancement of  Black, Latina & Indigenous women in the technology industry. The organization was birthed out of the obstacles I faced as a Black female technologist & start-up founder in San Francisco. In a city whose Black population has dwindled over 20% in the last decade, I experienced profound feelings of alienation , particularly in the technology industry. It was important for me to find & develop community, and to create a space that prevented other underrepresented women of color from experiencing the challenges I underwent.