Seattle-based Ada Developers Academy has conducted another round of layoffs and named a new interim leader, a month after CEO Lauren Sato resigned from the tuition-free software development boot camp for women and underrepresented sexual, gender and racial minorities.
“Our organization is being restructured and that has impacted every level of our team,” Ada Board of Directors Chair Latoya Singleton told GeekWire. “The next iteration of Ada will be lean and laser-focused on sustainability, driven by the evolving workforce dynamics in the tech industry today. With a significantly reduced team, we are operating with the absolute essentials.”
The organization did not share how many employees were let go or how many remain. The nonprofit cut 45% of its workforce in May, impacting about 34 of 76 employees at the time.
Ada cited the ongoing economic downturn and its impact on the tech industry. The organization previously said a lack of internships for its students was due to decreased demand for software development talent.
Ada provides six months of classroom training followed by a five-month internship at one of its corporate partners, such as Amazon, Zillow, Redfin, Expedia and others. Ada has graduated 800 students in 10 years.
Shawna Young, a longtime leader in nonprofits, education and business development, has been appointed interim CEO, effective Sept. 4. Singleton called Young a “perfect fit” to help Ada “change the face of tech.”
“It’s truly awe-inspiring to witness the impact of empowering underserved communities,” Young said in a news release Wednesday. “Preserving and advancing this mission is not only a privilege but a profound responsibility.”
Ada operates a digital campus and a Seattle location, and a new campus opened in Atlanta in March. There are currently 128 students enrolled in the 19th cohort, but the nonprofit is pausing admission for its next cohort. Singleton said there are currently no plans to pause future cohorts beyond the next one.
Sato’s resignation was announced on Ada’s website on July 19. The nonprofit said that during her tenure, Sato was “the driving force behind Ada’s growth and success as an organization.”
Sato became CEO in December 2019. She was previously vice president of revenue at The Riveter, a female-focused co-working space, and was in leadership at the cosmetic-treatment review site RealSelf. Sato was also the Seattle director of operations and strategy at Year Up, a national organization that provides similar software development training to low-income men and women.
Founded in 2013 by Scott Case and Elise Worthy, Ada was originally a project of the Technology Alliance. It became a project of fiscal sponsor TSNE Mission Works of Boston in 2015.
In November 2020, Ada announced that it was spinning out from its parent organization and going independent. The nonprofit said at the time that it was growing at a scale where it could serve more students, expand its impact and implement new support for programs.
In July 2021, Ada landed $10 million through the “Equality Can’t Wait” challenge, launched by Pivotal Ventures, the investment and incubation company of Melinda French Gates. The aim of the challenge was to “accelerate the pace of progress for women.” MacKenzie Scott and Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies were also part of the effort.
Ada planned to use the funds to expand to five major U.S. markets by 2025.
Singleton called the recent layoffs “a painful and heartbreaking choice” that needed to be made to ensure the survival of Ada and, ultimately, the fulfillment of its mission “to build a more inclusive and diverse tech industry.”
She told GeekWire that restructuring will position Ada for future growth and sustainability and allow it to adapt to the evolving needs of the tech industry, and that Ada remains optimistic about the future.
“We recognize that we cannot change the face of tech alone,” Singleton said, asking anyone who is willing to assist the organization’s students during challenging times to offer internship opportunities, donations toward their programming, or in-kind support.
Here is the full post, from Ada’s website, about Sato’s departure:
After three years of dedicated work to further the mission and vision of Ada Developers Academy, it is with much gratitude that we accept the resignation of Lauren Sato effective today. During Lauren’s tenure, she has been the driving force behind Ada’s growth and success as an organization.
Under Lauren’s leadership, Ada has:
- Committed to a human-centered approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion training programs for students, staff, and partners
- Expanded Ada’s footprint by expanding cohorts and launching the Accelerate program
- Improved wrap-around services for students to include a focus on emotional well being
- Secured new grant opportunities, including Equality Can’t Wait
- Transitioned Ada into an independent 501(c)
- Navigated pivots brought on by the global pandemic, loss, and racial reckoning
While the tech industry has shifted dramatically over the past nine months, the future of Ada Developers Academy will need to evolve from growth to sustainability.
Lauren’s optimism and leadership will be greatly missed. We cherish Lauren’s contributions to moving Ada’s mission forward and wish her the best of luck in the next chapter.
Over the next month, the board will bring on an Interim CEO to help guide this new transition. It is our priority to find a dynamic leader that can help guide Ada through more difficult and uncertain times while committing to guiding the organization toward effective healing and adaptation following ten years of relentless evolution.
