#FoundersFridays: Meet Marianne Dorder-Servet

#FoundersFridays is an interview series about Amsterdam’s wellbeing economy: for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs. Each frontrunner answers questions on their entrepreneurial journey, learnings, milestones, and bottlenecks, as well as on Amsterdam’s and the Dutch impact and innovation ecosystem. It’s a platform for entrepreneurs to speak their minds freely and pass on their learnings to anyone considering founding an enterprise.

For this #FoundersFridays interview, we spoke to Marianne Dorder-Servet, founder of Zwarte vrouwen voor Technologie (Black women for Tech). ZVVT is a social enterprise based in Amsterdam Zuidoost. It aims to create more space for Black women in ICT, improve their socioeconomic position, and help address the shortage of ICT professionals within organizations.

Can you walk us briefly through your career and how it impacted the foundation of ZVVT?

I founded Zwarte Vrouwen voor Technologie (Black Women for Technology) in April 2021. At the time, I worked at the municipality and had more than a decade of experience in IT. I studied Information, Service, and Management, Information Sciences, and Business IT & Management, and I am an alumna of the HvA, InHolland, and the UvA. I started working in IT/Information Management in 2005 and worked for big companies. I’ve been in this field for a long time, but somehow, I never met other Black women doing the same job. There’s so much happening in ICT—so much growth and potential— yet this demographic is missing. Zwarte Vrouwen voor Technologie (ZVVT) started with a question of curiosity: Why is that?

Could you share insights into ZVVT’s unique positioning and the challenges it faces, particularly regarding access to funding, networks, and support?

We are an IT-focused organization with a diverse target group. We focus on finding and creating awareness, (re)training untapped IT talent, and giving companies access to this talent. What we are doing is not the norm in the Netherlands. We do not depend on public funding and the government, but we work together with the government. People are often surprised about this. We don’t want to be dependent on subsidies and the government. This uniqueness has helped us grow and gain visibility. However, it also means we sometimes miss out on programs and networks that could lead to funding or other benefits. I’m still looking for the perfect way to align with these networks—ideally, we need access to existing resources without creating something entirely new.

ZVVT is an organization focused on ICT built on a diverse base. At this moment our base is 75% Black women and 25% non-Black women and men. In a way, we’re addressing a problem the government should have tackled. Our mission is to recruit and support women of color in tech. We’re in this business because we believe in it and we are fortunate enough to give back to the community. The goal is to contribute to a more inclusive IT ecosystem and make ICT more accessible.

Why is it necessary to make tech more diverse?

All the research shows the same outcome: products are better, companies are better, and revenue is better. We know that algorithms and AI improve when developed by a diverse team of IT professionals. It’s because people bring their unique experiences. You understand the world from your perspective, which may differ from your white, male coworker’s. Tech needs these varied perspectives. This isn’t just a nice bonus; it’s a necessity. You can see this in the Toeslagenaffaire and other situations where a lack of diversity has led to significant issues. We need diverse insights and teams to prevent major errors. This isn’t about color; it’s about doing what’s right to create products that bring good rather than harm.

You host an annual event in Amsterdam Zuidoost to find and connect young IT talent. Is that specific area crucial for the event?

I live in Zuidoost, a neighborhood in Amsterdam with a large Black and coloured community. Many events are organized here, but they’re often framed as ‘an evening about kids leaving school early’ or ‘an event about unemployment in this district.’ Amsterdam Zuidoost is a district with few visible ICT activities for residents, regarding the impact of technological developments, and the opportunities in this sector. I saw an opportunity and decided to go for it. There wasn’t any municipal funding or a big company backing it. Primarily, it’s about introducing ICT companies to a demographic bursting with overlooked talent. Secondly, it’s about giving back to the community I belong to—the Black community in the Netherlands.

We started in 2023 with two events, featuring a line-up of speakers chosen to inspire and educate, mostly (Black) women. We wanted the event to be accessible, showcase role models, and let them share their stories of how they entered ICT. In addition, we also present new research and discuss the overall industry. And it works! Through these events, we have matched many new talents with ICT companies and vice versa. In less than four years, we have made a name for ourselves, organizing sold-out events where people show up in big numbers.

What has been a recent win for your business?

We’re in this for the long haul. When I started, it was just me; now, we’re working with five employees—not freelancers but employees dedicated to this work. We’re building essential connections, and people know where to find us. We’re being noticed, and I’m very grateful for this. Every step forward is a win for us.

What has been a recent challenge?

With growth comes growing pains. We’re working to make this organization more sustainable. How do we ensure ongoing growth? How do we make sure we’re still relevant in ten years? We do this, for example, by developing ICT and digitization-oriented programs for schools, entrepreneurs, and other target groups. We want to root this organization deeply within these two communities: the Black community and the ICT community.

Do you think that the local ecosystem can give you something that others don’t? What makes Amsterdam special?

What I like about Amsterdam is the high level of activity. There are many events and opportunities within entrepreneurship and tech. The ecosystem is buzzing. I have a national network, and people often tell me it’s different in many other Dutch cities. It's great to be based in Amsterdam, a local hub with national reach. Amsterdam truly is a startup and tech hub for the Netherlands.

Do you think diversity and inclusion have improved over the years?

We’re discussing diversity and inclusion more, and there are new policies, but I feel that the true impact on these themes is still too small. Research shows we have a long way to go. There are still too few women in IT in the Netherlands—currently, less than 19%. There are even fewer women of color, but we don’t have exact numbers for this in the Netherlands. For women of color, including Black women, the attention to attract them to ICT is minimal. This is only one of many minority groups that remain far from tech careers. I’m not saying this because I think these minorities would benefit from a stable income in a growing industry but also because I believe the whole sector would improve. However, reaching these groups, retraining them, and connecting them with opportunities requires time, effort, and investment. If we want more diversity and inclusion, we have to acknowledge that people are different, even within groups. Women, for example, aren’t a homogeneous group. There are many subgroups, each needing a tailored approach. Sometimes a minor tweak in the recruitment process can have a significant impact.

Why can’t other companies find these target groups?

I don’t know—you’d have to ask those organizations. I don’t dwell on it because I don’t see the problem. The talent is there. If it weren’t, I wouldn’t have so many people attending my events. ZVVT wouldn’t exist. This organization exists because the talent is out there. We wouldn’t thrive without them.

If you’re an Amsterdam-based founder working on an innovative solution that solves an urban or social challenge, and you’d like to share your story with our audience, email impact@amsterdam.nl