TABLE3: Leadership That Lasts: Protecting, Promoting, and Partnering with Marginalized Tech Leaders

In many K–12 IT environments, leadership often centers dominant cultural norms that unintentionally silence or overlook those who lead from the margins — including women, BIPOC professionals, LGBTQIA+ leaders, and those with disabilities. This session explores the dual challenge of being a marginalized leader while also striving to support and retain others navigating similar paths. Attendees will examine common barriers such as stereotype threat, code-switching, cultural taxation, and leadership gaslighting. Through real-world scenarios and guided reflection, we’ll explore how these experiences show up in hiring, team dynamics, communication norms, and decision-making processes. Participants will also learn tangible strategies to build more inclusive teams — from sponsoring rising leaders to redesigning feedback loops and cultivating psychologically safe spaces. Whether you identify as a marginalized leader or an ally seeking to do better, this session offers honest, actionable approaches to shifting culture and making room for leadership that looks and sounds different from the norm.