Brilliant Black Minds 2025 Access Gap Impact Report

We created Brilliant Black Minds in 2020 with a clear purpose: to address the disparities in access to resources, mentorship, and interview preparation that limit career opportunities for Black software engineers. Our Interview Access Gap Report revealed the critical need for dedicated support to help Black engineers strengthen their technical interviewing skills, build confidence, and excel in a competitive hiring landscape.

Since then, we’ve made remarkable progress. The Brilliant Black Minds community has surpassed 10,000 members and Black software engineers are now the fastest-growing demographic in the industry. Even amidst a constantly changing and more challenging tech landscape, Brilliant Black Minds has made a transformative impact, helping thousands of Black engineers prepare for and secure meaningful roles.

A Year of Growth and Impact

Our 2025 Access Gap Impact Report reflects both the challenges Black software engineers continue to face and the real impact of focused support, mentorship, and preparation. Here are some key highlights:

• Community Growth – Now 10,000+ members strong, Brilliant Black Minds has grown 24x since Serena Williams became our Champion of Brilliance in 2022. 
• Interview Readiness – More than half of our members report improved technical interview skills after practicing with BBM, and 89% of those who complete at least one Karat mock interview show above average confidence.
• Partnerships in Action – In 2024, events with our Partners of Brilliance provided over 1,200 attendees with career guidance and company culture insights, with 90% finding these sessions valuable to their professional development.

Faces of Brilliance

In celebration of our 10,000 member milestone, we’re unveiling the Faces of Brilliance Gallery, a stunning collection of portraits created in partnership with photographer, Joel Arbaje. This initiative captures the talent, vision, and potential of Black software engineers shaping the future of tech.

Unlocking Opportunity

None of this progress would be possible without the commitment of our members, partners, and supporters who believe in the power of access. We are looking forward to continuing our support for BBM in the years ahead to help unlock a more fair and innovative tech sector for all.