Alyssa Miller 🛩️​   ​

So a vendor chose to advertise their upcoming conference at Shmoo. 2024 and we still have all white male speaker pools for these events. WIATF?? Then their COO weighed in exactly as I predicted they would without any sense of irony at all. So here's a link to the full thread of my detailed response.

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1746597556019196379.html

Thread by @AlyssaM_InfoSec on Thread Reader App

@AlyssaM_InfoSec: I've been dwelling on this response from @specterops' @jasonjfrank and whether to respond further. Considering some of the factors you're about to read, you'll see why I chose to take this point by...…

Jan 14, 2024 at 7:03pmWeb
Show threadBen RamseyJan 14, 2024

@alyssam_infosec “Integrity means doing the right thing even behind the scenes.”

Except they didn’t, and it shows.

Show threadLesley Carhart Jan 14, 2024
@alyssam_infosec well they’re blacklisted by me now.
Show threadMichael GemarJan 14, 2024
@alyssam_infosec @hacks4pancakes “We celebrate differences, but *secretly*.”
Show threadMichael GemarJan 14, 2024
@alyssam_infosec @hacks4pancakes More generally, when someone says they “celebrate differences”, it seems like it’s not “differences *among* people”, but “differences *from* the standard cis hetero able white guy”.
Show threadderekheldJan 14, 2024

@alyssam_infosec I definitely did not expect them to use the excuse of “only the white men we invited could make it.”

Sounds like they did the absolute minimum of tossing out a couple invites then threw their hands up like well we tried.

Show threadDavid FetterJan 14, 2024
@derekheld @alyssam_infosec no, it sounds more like they figured *saying* they'd done the barest minimum would suffice. Chances are pretty good they did not even do that much.
Show threadWendy NatherJan 14, 2024

@derekheld @alyssam_infosec @hacks4pancakes

Sounds like their invitations also read, “Hey, we need some DiVerSiTY, can you come speak at our conference?”

Show threadLesley Carhart Jan 14, 2024
@wendynather @derekheld @alyssam_infosec 5 bucks to HFC says they are going to email a bunch of us exactly that travesty, now.
Show threadFalcon DarkstarJan 14, 2024
@derekheld @alyssam_infosec they said it themselves on the flyer. The conference is about guarding your identity.
Show threadNate GaylinnJan 14, 2024
@derekheld @alyssam_infosec Or no one they invited wanted to attend. You know, for reasons.
Show threadevacideJan 14, 2024
@alyssam_infosec Seventeen speakers and every single one of them is white and male? That is some lazy crap.
Show threadDave C.Jan 14, 2024
@alyssam_infosec I'm happy to see a post from you here in the fediverse. And thanks for not just posting links to X. Good job reading the room as always! Have you called this same org out about this in past years? This whole thread seems strangely familiar but I remember it from Twitter. My guess is sadly a repeating theme.
Show threadJoe McLaughlinJan 14, 2024
@alyssam_infosec also this con is *2 months from now*, which is plenty of time to recruit a diverse and qualified set of speakers, attendees etc - if they just make the effort
Show thread𝕃𝕦𝕔𝕒𝕤Jan 14, 2024
@alyssam_infosec What if he's telling the truth and only those people could make it?
Show threadlandfillJan 14, 2024
@alyssam_infosec do i count nine of the sixteen as from the hosting org? shocking… that they’d also have this problem inside their org… /s
Show threadRenée BurtonJan 15, 2024
@alyssam_infosec over half of the speakers are from their own company... interesting that none of the women and minorities that work there can come to speak at their own conference. 😉 And absolutely! the best way to support equity is from the shadows. If we all make a secret wish it'll just happen.