Naoufel Testaouni, Co-founder and CEO of QueerTech, detailed his motivation and vision in an interview with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. The genesis of QueerTech was spurred by Naoufel’s and his co-founder Andy Saldana’s personal experiences in the tech industry, where they felt a stark lack of representation and community for queer individuals. This realization led them to establish QueerTech as a beacon for 2SLGBTQIA+ tech workers, aiming to dismantle barriers and cultivate a supportive environment. From its humble beginnings as a meetup group, QueerTech has grown into a robust nonprofit organization, driven by a clear mission to empower queer presence and leadership in technology through comprehensive programs and initiatives.
Naoufel Testaouni started his career in the non-profit sector as General Manager for AIESEC in Morocco, which provides young people with leadership development and cross-cultural global internships. He later transferred to the AIESEC United States in New York City and managed the expansion to Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE through a US government grant of over $1 million. He then took on the interim COO’s role and managed a team of 10 people with a budget of $4 million.
Naoufel joined Microsoft Middle East and Africa as a Regional Program Coordinator, managing the Microsoft Software Donation Program for Internet safety and security. He also managed relationships with crucial Microsoft partners in the region, like the World Bank and the United States Agency for International Development. After two years at Microsoft, Naoufel moved to Montreal to join tech startups. He started at TandemLaunch Technologies, where he built relationships with university tech transfer offices worldwide. Naoufel was Head of Business Development at Local Logic, his last company.
Today, Naoufel is the Co-Founder and CEO of QueerTech. This organization aims to Queer the Tech Ecosystem by breaking down barriers, creating spaces, and connecting communities to support and empower 2SLGBTQIA+ people to thrive.”
Could you share with us what motivated you to co-found QueerTech? What were some of the pivotal experiences that shaped your vision for the organization?
QueerTech was founded by myself and my co-founder, Andy Saldana, due to our own experiences in the tech industry. We were passionate about tech, but didn’t see ourselves represented or reflected in the space. We realized that this was a common experience for queer tech workers, and that a dedicated community space was necessary to address these barriers and tackle feelings of isolation.
Several pivotal moments have shaped QueerTech. Meeting my co-founder, Andy, was a transformative encounter and the beginning of an extraordinary partnership. Since we first met we have been united by a shared vision, and unwavering passion, for change. Joining the Board of Montreal NewTech was another pivotal moment that granted us access to both an incredible community and funding that provided the foundation needed to bring QueerTech to life.
After that, we evolved from a simple meetup group to an incorporated nonprofit in 2018 – solidifying our commitment to making a meaningful impact for Canadian 2SLGBTQIA+ tech workers. With this evolution came the crafting of our official vision statement and programs, with a dedicated focus on clarity and impact for the audiences we aimed to support. The last pivotal moment came in 2022 when Andy and I embraced a new chapter of QueerTech by shifting into full-time capacities – a decision that allowed us to build a passionate team and significantly amplify our efforts.
QueerTech is dedicated to empowering Queer individuals within the tech industry. What are the strategies and programs QueerTech has developed to break down barriers and create opportunities for Queer individuals entering the tech space?
Through a recent research initiative, QueerTech discovered that only 13.9% of aspiring and current 2SLGBTQIA+ tech workers in Canada believe their queer identity is a benefit to acquiring employment. High rates of pre-employment discrimination were also uncovered – with 35.6% of respondents indicating they’ve experienced blatant discrimination during at least one job interview (another 9.5% think they have, but can’t be sure). These worrying experiences, paired with the stark underrepresentation of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals in tech generally, indicate an urgent need for informed intervention. We will never see queer leadership or meaningful advancement within the sector, at scale, if we fail to open the door first.
QueerTech has multiple programs meant to address the different areas of acquiring employment in tech – skill development and industry navigation, mentorship and community forums, and channels to facilitate direct access to employment opportunities.
| Program | Focus |
| QT Access | A cohort-style program designed to equip queer individuals with the professional skills necessary to break into the digital innovation economy, demystify the job search process, and increase value alignment. |
| QueerTech Digital Community | A secure portal platform that allows members to connect with other QTs, participate in groups, attend events, and discover their next opportunity. |
| QT Qonference (QTQ) | A two day conference convening aspiring and current queer tech professionals, leading industry experts and Canada’s largest, most inclusive employers across the sector. |
| Ask & Offer | An initiative for job seekers, freelancers, entrepreneurs and employers alike, Ask & Offer is an opportunity for community members to ask for what they need (a dream job, a co-founder, etc.) or offer what they have (insights, a vacant position on their team, etc.). |
| QT Job Board | A live feed of over 3,000 curated job opportunities with inclusive employers across the country. |
| Qareers Virtual Fair | A two day virtual professional development experience that features facilitated workshops, expert-led panels, AMA’s with industry leaders, and meaningful connections with potential employers and hiring professionals. |
How does QueerTech assist Queer professionals already in the tech industry to thrive and advance? Could you discuss some specific resources or workshops you offer for skill development?
QueerTech embraces a community model, meaning that most programming integrates mutually beneficial aspects for all agents of said community – from aspiring tech workers and seasoned professionals, to employers and the support ecosystem itself. Authentic community requires both taking and giving – a reality largely absent in transactional corporate settings. However, in a support organization setting, authentic community is powerful when we understand that both taking and giving come with value.
For example, the previously mentioned QT Access program relies on a network of engaged mentors who have previously navigated job search and employment processes across the sector, as a queer individual. Doing good feels good, and we are proud to have built a community that fundamentally subscribes to the notion of “sending the elevator back down” for the next generation of queer tech leaders.
However, we also have our QT Leaders program – an initiative designed for experienced queer tech professionals surrounding skill development and career advancement. The QT Leaders Summit is a one day conference that gathers 2SLGBTQIA+ tech leaders and executives from across the country to inspire and empower participants, facilitate peer learning, and exchange sector best practices. The QT Leaders Creatives in Tech Program is a six-month, cohort style program that targets aspiring and emerging leaders in the creative tech sector, with a focus on leadership development and community building.
You work with companies to foster more inclusive work environments. What are some common challenges you encounter in this area, and how does QueerTech guide organizations to overcome these hurdles?
Within capitalism, there must be winners and losers. Drivers of this economic system (private companies, governments, etc.) will never be drivers of equity, due to this reality. However, we can work to reduce the scope and scale of disparity within the tech industry by working closely with companies on human-facing aspects of their operations.
Our research on workplace culture revealed:
- Top descriptors for Canada’s tech industry: “white”, “hyper masculine”, “homogenous” and “cisgender”.
- Less than 40% of tech workers – queer and not – believe 2SLGBTQIA+ employees are consistently treated with respect.
- While 70% of tech workplaces have DEI initiatives, only 24% of employees find them very effective.
- Multiple interviews cited termination of employees who raised issues related to queer inclusion.
Addressing culture involves tackling quantifiable areas like DEI policies and workforce representation statistics, while also ensuring informed systems for accountability, transparency and iteration are present. When engaging with company decision makers, effective channels for communication and a foundational understanding of queer experiences are vital. Establishing both trust, and commitment, enables organizations like QueerTech to be more effective at providing tailored solutions, including: collaborative research, information sessions, DEI goal setting and tracking guidance, leadership support, and tactic iteration insights.
Looking forward, what are some of the long-term goals QueerTech aims to achieve?How do you see the organization evolving to further support the Queer community in tech?
QueerTech has three vision goals that act as the foundation for all programming and support decisions within the organization:
- Increase representation of queer people in the tech industry to 20%.
- Advance queer leadership to reach 5% of executive and leadership roles in the tech industry.
- Increase the funding opportunities for 2SLGBTQIA+ people to reach 15% of total funding allocations.
These are big goals, but they are goals we are fully committed to accomplishing with the help of our community.
About QueerTech
QueerTech is on a mission to queer the Canadian tech ecosystem. Operating since 2016, QueerTech is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting workforce and economic development across Canada by fostering entrepreneurship and providing opportunities for the 2SLGBTQ+ community to access employment, professional development and meaningful connections in the technology industry. The organization is also a national leader in workplace inclusion advocacy and progressive 2SLGBTQ+ equity, diversity and inclusion policy facilitation.
