In the early 1990s, I was working on Wall Street—a place where ambition and opportunity intersected daily. But just a few blocks away, in the neighborhoods where LGBTQIA+ businesses were fighting to survive, I saw a different reality: one defined not by market fluctuations, but by loss, discrimination, and neglect.
As we celebrate Pride Month today, I can’t help but reflect on that era—not just as a chapter of history, but as the catalyst that launched my career in IT. The truth is, Pride isn’t just about parades and visibility. It’s about the work we’ve done in the shadows, the communities we’ve lifted up, and the systems we’ve had to rebuild when no one else would.
I didn’t start with a business plan. I started with a pager and a purpose.
One moment sticks with me to this day: a small HIV resource center in the West Village lost access to their database—the one they used to track medications, appointment records, and food deliveries for patients too sick to leave their apartments. Their regular IT company refused to send anyone, citing “risk concerns.”
When I walked in, the director looked like she hadn’t slept in two days. A volunteer held the front desk together while trying to comfort a man in tears whose medication delivery had failed because of the outage.
That was it. That was the moment I said, I have to do something. Not just for them—but for all the others being quietly left behind.
We grew because we refused to look away.
What started as word-of-mouth support became something more structured. Clients referred clients. We built trust as we built networks. At a time when so many in our community were facing death, we were also building something that would outlive us—systems, support, and solidarity.
Like so many others, I lost friends, mentors, and clients during those years. Our company carried on through grief. We didn’t just learn to code—we learned to care, to commit, and to carry the weight of both opportunity and loss.
That origin story still shapes how I work today.
I still believe tech should serve people, not exclude them. That bias—whether rooted in fear or algorithms—must be named and dismantled. And that inclusion isn’t a checkbox; it’s a business model.
The early lessons I learned—of trust, presence, and community—are the foundation of how I lead and why I write. Whether I’m mentoring a young queer technologist or consulting with executives on an innovative project, I carry that history forward.
Because at its best, technology isn’t about efficiency—it’s about equity.
And when you’ve seen what it looks like to be left out, you never stop building bridges.
And if you’re reading this…
And if you're reading this during Pride Month, I invite you to remember: Pride was never just a celebration—it was a response. To silence. To exclusion. To the very real gaps that still exist in access, opportunity, and care.
Maybe you've been left out before. Maybe you’ve stepped in when others looked away. Or maybe you’re realizing for the first time that tech leadership means more when it’s grounded in purpose.
However you arrived here, I’m glad you did. We’re still building something bigger than ourselves. Something worthy of Pride—not just in June, but every day we choose equity over indifference.
If this speaks to you, you’re in the right place. And I’d be honored to keep building alongside you.
#PrideMonth #LGBTQinTech #TechForGood #QueerHistory #InclusiveTech #AIDSCrisis #PurposeDrivenTech #AllyshipInAction #TechLeadership #PrideAndProgress #LGBTQIA #EquityInTech #TechWithHeart #CommunityDriven #DigitalInclusion #TechActivism #QueerResilience #PrideLegacy #ITwithPurpose #PrideStories
Michael Ferrara is a technology consultant and thought leader focused on digital transformation, AI-driven strategies, and workplace innovation. He is a subject matter expert contributing to publications including Fast Company, Software News, and SmarTech Daily, and founder of the popular Tech Topics newsletter.
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About Tech Topics
Tech Topics is a newsletter with a focus on contemporary challenges and innovations in the workplace and the broader world of technology. Produced by Boston-based Conceptual Technology (http://www.conceptualtech.com), the articles explore various aspects of professional life, including workplace dynamics, evolving technological trends, job satisfaction, diversity and discrimination issues, and cybersecurity challenges. These themes reflect a keen interest in understanding and navigating the complexities of modern work environments and the ever-changing landscape of technology.
Tech Topics offers a multi-faceted view of the challenges and opportunities at the intersection of technology, work, and life. It prompts readers to think critically about how they interact with technology, both as professionals and as individuals. The publication encourages a holistic approach to understanding these challenges, emphasizing the need for balance, inclusivity, and sustainability in our rapidly changing world. As we navigate this landscape, the insights provided by these articles can serve as valuable guides in our quest to harmonize technology with the human experience.