The Key Highlights From 2024’s BFUTR Global Tech Summit

On November 6th and 7th, over 15,000 tech professionals gathered in Mississauga, Ontario, for the 2024 BFUTR Global Tech Summit, North America’s largest Black tech conference.

Over the two days, over 100 influential speakers presented workshops, sessions, and immersive experiences, showcasing exciting industry developments and allowing attendees to network with other experts in the field.

From web accessibility to the future of AI, we’ve rounded up the key moments of the BFUTR Global Tech Summit in one place.

Inspiring Speakers and Industry Insights

From Trevor Noah and Daymond John to Ludacris and Rick Ross, BFUTR is known for its ability to book A-list headliners and musical performances. So, naturally, the visionary keynote speakers were a highlight of the 2024 conference.

Speakers at the event included Dr. Denise Turley, Vice President of Corporate Systems at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Jason Harvey, executive vice president and Head of BET+; Etosha Thurman, Chief Marketing Officer of SAP; Trevor Kadiata, Head of Customer Engineering, Telecommunications, Media and Entertainment at Google; and Andres Hodge-Johnson, Head of Horizontal Architecture CBB Ops at JP Morgan Chase.

And for the annual performance? Multi-platinum and award-winning hip-hop legend Ja Rule closed the event with a headlining after-party concert.

Advances in AI

AI and automation were core themes of the BFUTR Global Tech Summit, particularly the rapid evolution of these processes and how they can be strategically harnessed for success.

“Let’s Stop Talking About AI: Start Solving Problems” was a particularly popular presentation. Hosted by Dr. Diane Gutiw (VP Global AI Research at CGI) and Rorisang Hlahatsi-Baloyi (Senior Consultant and Innovation Leader at CGI).

The two experts urged the audience to recognize AI as a present reality with far-reaching implications, rather than a distant promise. They emphasized that to unlock AI’s full potential, we must move beyond buzzwords and apply it thoughtfully to real-world challenges, allowing it to become a transformative force for positive impact across industries.

Cybersecurity and Privacy Trends

Cybersecurity and privacy were another hot topic throughout the event.

It’s no secret that digital threats are growing. The larger risk requires a higher focus on cybersecurity, and plenty of experts presented insights and technologies that can be used to counter the attacks.

One notable cybersecurity talk was the “Security Operations Center (SOC) Experience by Fasken”. Hosted by Summer Lewis (an Associate at Fasken) and Josh Iroko (a Managing Consultant at Google), the session provided an inside look at the cybersecurity command center.

Visitors examined a threat awareness map highlighting trends like ransomware and AI risks and emerging global regulations to counter sophisticated cyber threats.

The outcome is simple—cybersecurity and tightened privacy are components online businesses can’t ignore.

Security is extra vital in the online casino industry as it’s quickly growing, meaning more players’ data could be at risk. The industry is set to have over 290.5m users by 2029. This figure includes the casino online Canada industry, which has a large presence near where the summit was held.

From medical databases and government websites to e-commerce businesses and online casino games, all sectors must invest in better protection.

Diversity, Inclusion, and Identity

Alongside tech industry trends, the BFUTR Global Tech Summit also focused on diversity, inclusion, and identity within the modern workplace.

Camy Duff (Unit Manager and Legal Claims Support at Intact Insurance) presented a powerful “Being Unapologetically Black At Work” seminar. In it, she masterfully explored how embracing one’s identity can lead to better well-being. The session also touched on the Black employee experience in corporate Canada and how to find employers whose values match one’s own.

Another inspiring talk was “Driving Innovation Through Diverse Partnerships” by David Huggins (Director of Internal Controls at Scotiabank) and Debra Cousins (Vice President of Business Services and International Operations at Scotiabank).

The two discussed why it’s vital to collaborate with diverse professionals with various areas of expertise and how this can elevate the client experience.

Growing a Tech Career

Events like BFUTR are prime chances to network, so naturally, growth and unlocking new opportunities were another highlight of the conference.

LinkedIn is one of the best networking platforms, and the company was present at BFUTR to host the “Unlocking Black Excellence in Career Growth” talk. This was hosted by Allister Goveas (VP of Cloud Infrastructure Services and Transformation at Intact) and Andrew Mccaskill (Career Expert and Global Communications at LinkedIn).

The panel reviewed critical topics, such as what hiring managers look for, how Black leaders can leverage their experience, and how to navigate workplace culture as a tech professional.

The Next BFUTR Global Tech Summit

After the immense success of 2024’s event, the team at Obsidi (the company behind BFUTR) is already planning the 2025 gathering.

Official dates haven’t been released yet, but guests can expect more inspiring talks, recruitment prospects, the chance to network with other Black professionals, and an opportunity to join the largest Black tech ecosystem.

Keep an eye on Obsidi’s BFUTR 2025 website to stay in the loop.