Tech Fleet is a community-driven nonprofit focused on the mission to change the ways that we work. We offer professional development in teamwork, shared leadership, and collective decision making.
Why We Exist
Why We Exist
Technology and the Future
Technology today is a result of the people who are already in control of decisions. Businesses prioritize features that may affect those who use it. Positions at tech industry companies are disappearing to make way for more automation. Over time, people who were already excluded from leadership are even more excluded. Our future will continue to evolve without the people who are already excluded.
Changing How We Think About Leadership
Technology products and features are a result of those in power today. When people hear "leadership," they think of one person who makes all the decisions. They think of someone with big ideas. They think of someone others ask for answers. This way of thinking about leadership is common everywhere. Both leaders and followers think this way. The person with power decides for the person without power.
This thinking keeps the same type of person in leadership roles. People who have advantages get more chances to become leaders. People who went to fancy schools get more leadership opportunities.
Many things stop other people from having a voice in leadership. Today's leadership cares about efficiency and logical decisions. People with power want to keep their power. People who already have power choose who they work with. Organizations that operate out of fear hold employees in control. The cycle continues. Our systems today keep some people in leadership and keep others out. People who serve leaders aren't involved in decisions that affect them. Organizations believe that workers should follow orders instead of finding new ways.
We Believe in a Different World
We believe in a world where:
We serve each others' growth together.
We share responsibility together.
We grow through practice.
We distribute power to everyone.
We give opportunity for the quiet voices to have a say.
Community-Driven Change
To lead the change we want to see in the world, we must do it together. We need all kinds of voices in the room. Since we started our community, our nonprofit has been guided by the people who belong here. The people who train in our programs make change happen. They work together as teams to solve problems. Together we help each other create new ideas and find the best ways to help the world.
Serving Others' Growth
There is a leadership style called "Servant Leadership." It talks about leaders serving employees, instead of employees serving leaders. But the word "servant" still suggests power dynamics. The leader still has power over the employee. This is different from shifting ownership and working as equals.
We use the term "service leadership" because we all lead in service to each other's growth. No one is a servant. Every teammate is a leader to others. We don't do work for others. . We don't work for "masters" because there is no difference between "me" and "you." We train leaders who lead with the heart over anything. Teams that lead through service must find a way together.
Our Mission
Check out the information all about our mission, vision, and values here:
We train leaders to put people at the center of everything. We help them take ownership. People-first leadership means helping others
grow. It means sharing power with the group. It means letting go of controlling results. It means giving others space to challenge how things are done. Teams that work together and help each other grow create the best new ideas. Together, people-first leaders can change the world.
Team-based Practice and Experiences
Everything today focuses too much on theory. People can learn systems and frameworks. But this comes at the cost of helping others grow in organizations. When we change the story to putting people first, teams explore and decide together. They find the ways they want to move forward.
Working Together as a Community
The voices of our community work together to decide our future. We are the change, together. Our organization prioritizes involvement and collaboration with those in our community. We work alongside them to drive change and evolve our impact in this world. There are many ways community members can get involved in the future of our mission and programs.
Who We Work With
People who have never been leaders before
Historically excluded individuals must drive our future. We think it's important to develop leaders who have never had experience leading. Our organization trains first-time leaders to lead with the heart.
People who are already leaders
Those who hold power today can see another way forward. Their choice to distribute ownership comes with letting go of fear. Our organization trains people who are already leaders to shift their mindset.
How We Carry Out Our Mission
How We Carry Out Our Mission
Cross-Functional Teamwork with Nonprofit Clients
Our training programs focus on practice and decision making. Our classes fill the gap between school and the real-world. Members can pursue real project work with mission-driven organizations. Teams get together across functions and train how to iterate on value. We practice continuous discovery and team-based problem solving to make a real impact.
Service Leadership Communities who Practice Together
Our members live what they train. They're not just part of a class, they're building a growing ecosystem that they drive. They work together to practice service leadership, help others practice it, and drive its standards forward.
Tools and Resources for Leadership Development
Leaderful Labs provides ways to guide in people-first leadership while practicing. We offer way to receive personalized guidance, measure progress, and tell the story. Our resources are built for people who've never done teamwork before and want to practice. Through this, our tools provide ways for people to build their confidence.
Cohort-based Class Training
Our org offers Learning Labs that provide theory-based education from practitioners. These are lab-based and provide ways for people to practice and actively learn in groups. Our members receive benefits that help them gain advantage in leadership growth. These cohorts serve everyone, from career changers to new graduates to executives.
Tech Fleet Website
Visit Tech Fleet's information website for basic information about Tech Fleet that can also be found in the following user guide.
Visit Tech Fleet's information website for basic information about Tech Fleet that can also be found in the following user guide.
The Tech Fleet Community
You are not alone. Tech Fleet's community is full of new grads, career changers, and industry experts pitching in to help you break into tech. Our online community is hosted in Discord today. Outside of projects there are masterclasses, social groups, communities of practice, educational talks, peer learning, support groups, and mentoring to get involved in.
The more you're involved in the community the more you will get out of Tech Fleet. Join Tech Fleet Discord today, and watch our Discord Tutorials beforehand. Be sure to read our policies before you do!
How to get the most out of this guide
For new members, this space will be helpful during your first days with the community, to better learn about who we are and how we work.
For returningmembers, this space will act as a user guide to learn how to navigate Tech Fleet throughout your membership with the community.
