Linda Calvin ’00 has always had a passion for helping others find belonging in their workplaces. As a 30-year veteran of the technology industry, her experiences have inspired her to pave a path for others, striving toward more inclusive workspaces, specifically for women and people of color in this space.

While pursuing her bachelor’s degree at Butler, Calvin worked full time at Dow AgroSciences, which was no easy feat. But with a determined mindset and make-it-happen attitude, she persevered and now looks back fondly on her time at the University.

“The professors understood my workload, and they were very supportive,” Calvin notes. “I knew it was going to be a challenge attending school and working full time, but I had a very enjoyable time at the University.”

Encouragement from professors (including Dr. Kwadwo Anokwa and Dr. Rose Campbell) was impactful throughout her undergraduate journey, and in 2000, Calvin graduated with a BA in Journalism with high honors. In addition, she was nominated for and won the Nicholas M. Cripe award for Public and Corporate Communications.

Calvin continued her quest for knowledge and earned a juris doctor from IU McKinney School of Law. She practiced law as Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Indianapolis, but after a couple of years, realized she missed tech and returned to that sector. Later, positions at Stanley Black & Decker and Ivy Tech Community College allowed her to pair her passion for technology with her robust communication and leadership skills.

These opportunities gave Calvin a unique perspective on the importance of creating inclusive workplaces for individuals to thrive. During her time in the technology sector, she would sometimes find herself as the only Black woman working on a project. She took note of this gap, and has since been working tirelessly to address it.

In her current role, Calvin serves as the Chief Impact Officer at non-profit Reboot Representation, an organization that leads the effort to close the gender gap in tech for Black, Latina, and Native American women.

“My job is to work with companies that belong to our coalition to help them create and sustain inclusive cultures,” Calvin says. “There’s lots of research that has been done about women in tech, but one pivotal study has found that by age 35, 50 percent of women will leave tech due to non-inclusive cultures. My role was created to prevent that exodus.”

Calvin has also built Transcend Consulting, which allows her to partner directly with organizations to address talent gaps and attract more women and people of color into the tech ecosystem.

Calvin’s background and leadership experiences contribute to her success in these roles, but she also notes that her personal experience as a Black woman has provided perspective.

“I understand what it’s like to be the only Black woman on a team in tech,” Calvin notes. “I know that women from all backgrounds can thrive and be subject matter experts in the space, and we absolutely deserve a seat at the table. I feel that as a veteran in this industry, I need to help clear the path so that the women who come after me have a better pathway to success.”

To further support this work, Calvin has led the charge to establish Indiana Women IN Tech Week, a first-ofits-kind event. Taking place this September 15–22, Women IN Tech Week is a dedicated celebration aimed at sharing the stories and contributions of women who are bringing incredible value to the technology industry in Indiana.

“I want this event to be the pebble that causes the ripple that causes the wave of change—I want us to have honest conversations about women in the workplace and how they can be supported,” Calvin says. “Ideally, I hope women walk away from this event knowing that they belong in the tech arena and that they should feel confident and comfortable as experts in their field.”

Calvin will continue to make strides in Indy’s tech sector as a new Advisory Board member for Butler’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. In this role, she hopes that she can shed light on the importance of attending college and obtaining a university degree.

“I believe college changed who I am. It allowed me to think about things differently. Going to Butler gave me exposure to new people with different backgrounds and experiences. It really changed how I perceived life, and it made me a better leader and a better human.”