Karat Brilliant Black Minds 2025 Access Gap Impact Report

2025 Access Gap Impact Report

A thriving community of over 10,000 Black software engineers, Brilliant Black Minds has continued to expand its reach. Discover the program’s impact on interview readiness and career growth, with a focus on the key resources and initiatives that drive member success.

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Celebrating Our Growth

A message from Serena Williams, our Champion of Brilliance

“

I’m so proud to celebrate the Karat Brilliant Black Minds program reaching over 10,000 members!

That’s 10,000 talented software engineers gaining access to the support they need to build confidence and pursue their dreams!

Read Serena’s message →

Our Commitments

Karat’s Mission

Karat, the leading partner for measuring and elevating technical talent, is on a mission to unlock opportunity by making every technical interview fair, predictive, and enjoyable. Through our expert-led, structured assessments, we empower companies to establish objective quality standards and evaluate candidates based solely on demonstrated abilities. By replacing subjective judgments with data-driven measurements, we’re actively removing bias and breaking down the barriers that have historically limited access for underrepresented groups—setting a new standard for both hiring quality and equity.

Brilliant Black Minds Vision

Brilliant Black Minds uses Karat’s Interviewing Cloud to provide free mock technical interviews, personalized coaching, and more to help active and aspiring Black software engineers take the next step in their careers.

Milestones and Achievements

24x Community Growth

We’ve surpassed our 10,000 member milestone, achieving 24x growth since our announcement of Serena Williams as a Champion of Brilliance in 2022.

9,400 Free Mock Interviews

Since our launch, job-seekers in the community have taken over 9,400 free mock technical interviews, accessing the practice, feedback, and mentorship they need to succeed in the hiring process.

160+ Workshops and Events

Brilliant Black Minds hosted over 160 virtual and in-person events in 2024 with thousands of attendees. These included partner presentations, study sessions, technical workshops, and our first ever community meet-up.

4 New Partners of Brilliance

Last year, Citizens, Rocket Companies, Goldman Sachs, and Riot Games joined our Partners of Brilliance coalition alongside top companies, including Prime Video, Duolingo, Flatiron Health, Unity, Uber, Electronic Arts, Intuit, Docusign, and Zillow.

Milestones and Achievements

24x Community Growth
We’ve surpassed our 10,000 member milestone, achieving 24x growth since our announcement of Serena Williams as a Champion of Brilliance in 2022.
9,400 Free Mock Interviews
Since our launch, job-seekers in the community have taken over 9,400 free mock technical interviews, accessing the practice, feedback, and mentorship they need to succeed in the hiring process.
160+ Workshops and Events
Brilliant Black Minds hosted over 160 virtual and in-person events in 2024 with thousands of attendees. These included partner presentations, study sessions, technical workshops, and our first ever community meet-up.
4 New Partners of Brilliance
Last year, Citizens, Rocket Companies, Goldman Sachs, and Riot Games joined our Partners of Brilliance coalition alongside top companies, including Prime Video, Duolingo, Flatiron Health, Unity, Uber, Electronic Arts, Intuit, Docusign, and Zillow.

Addressing the Interview Access Gap

In our 2021 report, The Interview Access Gap for Black Engineers, we identified key barriers that limit access to technical interviews and create systemic challenges for Black software engineers entering the tech industry.

Those findings reinforced the importance of equitable resources, community connections, and interview preparation as critical levers to bridge this gap.

Our Theory of Change

We believe that when Black software engineers have fair access to high-quality interview preparation and community support, they build the confidence to excel in technical interviews, secure competitive job offers, and advance their careers.

Learn more about our Theory of Change →

Our Impact

89%

89% of BBM members who take at least one Karat mock interview report above average confidence.

6/10

More than half of BBM members say that they have gained helpful career insights or advice to guide their professional growth.

90%

On average, 90% of attendees report partner workshops as being beneficial to their career development.

72

Brilliant Black Minds boasts a Net Promoter Score of +72, a testament to the program’s exceptional value and transformative influence on members.

Interview Readiness

Mock interviews remain at the heart of Karat’s strategy to close the interview access gap.

These sessions provide more than just practice—they help candidates overcome the stress and uncertainty often associated with technical interviews, preparing them for real-world opportunities at hundreds of leading companies.

Learn more about interview prep →

Building a Stronger Network

Our 2021 Interview Access Gap Report highlighted the impact of professional networks on interview confidence and career outcomes.

With that in mind, Brilliant Black Minds has prioritized fostering connections within our community to create a sense of belonging and professional growth.

View our community profile

Faces of Brilliance

We’re excited to share a glimpse into the future of tech with the Faces of Brilliance gallery, a curated selection of headshots created in partnership with photographer, Joel Arbaje. Since 2023, we’ve provided hundreds of Black software engineers with these striking and unique portraits, capturing their vision and potential as they lead the way for the next generation.

Visit the gallery

“

Brilliant Black Minds helped me understand and excel in DSA and system design interviews and get four job offers, one of which was my top choice! The community I’ve inherited has also added to my feelings of belonging in the industry and keeps me encouraged especially when the industry, interviewing, and my job get tough!

Ryan B.

Software Engineer
at Netflix and

BBM Community Ambassador

“

BBM gave me technical interviews that allowed me to hone my skills and gain essential feedback from real interviewers. That alone was worth hundreds of dollars in costs and thousands when it came to landing an offer.

Phil S.

Sr. Software Engineer
at stealth company and

Brilliant Black Minds member

“

Brilliant Black Minds has given me more than just incredible opportunities. It empowered me with the confidence and knowledge to overcome the most difficult job market of my career. Proud to be a success story for the org!

Sheldon J.

Software Engineer II
at Uber and

Brilliant Black Minds member

“

Before Brilliant Black Minds, I had practiced technical interview questions but never had the chance to do a mock interview. After discovering BBM, I had the opportunity to get live practice with my interview skills and specific instruction on how to improve in the future. It was an instrumental resource in preparing for what ultimately ended up being my dream job at Microsoft!

Mustafa S.

Software Engineer
at Microsoft and

Brilliant Black Minds member

“

Brilliant Black Minds has provided invaluable support as I prepare for my future as a Black software engineer. The platform’s extensive learning resources and mock interviews have made me feel connected and supported throughout my journey. It’s a place where I feel seen and encouraged to reach my goals.

Grace J.

CS Major at
Lincoln University and

Brilliant Black Minds member

“

Brilliant Black Minds gave me all the resources and opportunities I needed to land a role. Everything from resume reviews, to mock interviews, and connections to employers.

Adam J.

Software Engineer II
at Uber and

BBM Community Ambassador

“

The mock interviews are incredibly helpful. I got to practice my skills and received honest, actionable feedback that I was able to apply to my next set of real interviews. I usually get so nervous during technical interviews, but BBM gave me the confidence I needed to go in and crush it!

Kedron A.

Sr. Software Engineer
at Hashicorp and

Brilliant Black Minds member

“

BBM addresses more than just code; this community goes into specifics about career building and networking, which has helped me in navigating the industry.

Jada G.

Software Engineer II
at Microsoft and

BBM Community Ambassador

“

Brilliant Black Minds has given me key insights into how to enhance my technical interviewing skills. Every Karat Interview Engineer I have practiced with has given me helpful resources for improving my problem-solving skills and system design thinking. BBM has also provided a platform for me to network with other Black professionals looking to further their careers in tech. The support and tailored resources provided have been instrumental in my career development.

Khalil S.

Software Engineer II at
American Express and

BBM Community Ambassador

“

I still find it hard to convince my acquaintances that I had the privilege of taking multiple mock interviews for free with Brilliant Black Minds. In a world where interview preparation often comes at a steep cost, their program provided me with the invaluable experience I needed to break into the tech industry. Thanks to their support, I gained the confidence and skills that ultimately led to my role as a software engineer at Uber.

Samuel A.

Software Engineer II
at Uber and

Brilliant Black Minds member

Our Partners of Brilliance

Our Partners of Brilliance are committed to supporting software engineers from the Brilliant Black Minds community. We have collaborated with our partners to offer a variety of programs and events, providing over 1,200 attendees with interview prep advice and company culture insights.

Check out our event highlights →

Partner of Brilliance Spotlight: Uber

A Partner of Brilliance since 2023, Uber has been a pivotal ally in our mission to address the access gap in tech, providing meaningful opportunities to members of the Brilliant Black Minds community.

Together, we have developed a well-rounded approach to candidate readiness.

Discover our approach