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Meet The Man Behind The Success: Derrick Langford

Trends January 14, 2025

Who is Derrick Langford?

Derrick Langford is an accomplished entrepreneur and business leader with over two decades of experience in the technology industry.

Derrick has a strong commitment to innovation and has been instrumental in launching several successful technology ventures.

He is also a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in the tech industry.

Personal details

Name	Derrick Langford
Born	1970
Occupation	Entrepreneur, Business leader
Years active	1995-present

Main article topics

Derrick Langford's early life and education
Derrick Langford's career in the tech industry
Derrick Langford's commitment to diversity and inclusion
Derrick Langford's awards and recognition

Derrick Langford

Entrepreneur
Business leader
Technology industry
Diversity
Inclusion

Derrick Langford has been instrumental in launching several successful technology ventures, including the social networking site BlackPlanet.com and the online payment platform MobileMoney.com. He is also a co-founder of the Black Enterprise TechConneXt conference, which brings together black entrepreneurs, investors, and tech leaders.

Derrick Langford's commitment to diversity and inclusion in the tech industry is evident in his work as a board member of the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) and the National Urban League. He is also a member of the advisory board for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Tech 2020 initiative.

1. Entrepreneur

Derrick Langford is an entrepreneur who has founded several successful technology ventures, including BlackPlanet.com and MobileMoney.com. He is also a co-founder of the Black Enterprise TechConneXt conference.

As an entrepreneur, Langford has demonstrated a strong commitment to innovation and a deep understanding of the tech industry. He has also been a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion in tech, and his work has helped to create opportunities for underrepresented groups in the field.

Langford's success as an entrepreneur is due in part to his ability to identify unmet needs in the market and develop innovative solutions to address those needs. He has also been successful in building strong relationships with investors and partners, and he has a proven track record of executing on his vision.

2. Business leader

Derrick Langford is a successful business leader with over two decades of experience in the technology industry. He has held leadership positions at several companies, including BlackPlanet.com, MobileMoney.com, and the Black Enterprise TechConneXt conference.

Leadership
Langford has a proven track record of leading and motivating teams to achieve success. He is a strong communicator and has a clear vision for the future of the tech industry.
Innovation
Langford is always looking for new and innovative ways to improve the tech industry. He is not afraid to take risks and is always willing to try new things.
Diversity and inclusion
Langford is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. He believes that everyone should have an equal opportunity to succeed in the tech industry, regardless of their race, gender, or background.
Community involvement
Langford is actively involved in his community. He is a board member of several organizations, including the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) and the National Urban League. He is also a member of the advisory board for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Tech 2020 initiative.

Langford's leadership in the tech industry has helped to create opportunities for underrepresented groups and has made the industry more inclusive. He is a role model for other business leaders who are committed to diversity and inclusion.

3. Technology industry

The technology industry is a major driver of economic growth and innovation around the world. It is also a rapidly changing industry, with new technologies and trends emerging all the time. Derrick Langford has been at the forefront of the technology industry for over two decades. He has founded several successful technology ventures, including BlackPlanet.com and MobileMoney.com. He is also a co-founder of the Black Enterprise TechConneXt conference.

Langford's work in the technology industry has had a significant impact on the lives of many people. BlackPlanet.com was one of the first social networking sites for African Americans. It provided a platform for black people to connect with each other and share their experiences. MobileMoney.com is a mobile payment platform that makes it easy for people to send and receive money without having to go to a bank. The Black Enterprise TechConneXt conference brings together black entrepreneurs, investors, and tech leaders to network and learn from each other.

Langford's commitment to diversity and inclusion in the tech industry is evident in his work with these organizations. He believes that everyone should have an equal opportunity to succeed in the tech industry, regardless of their race, gender, or background. Langford's work is helping to create a more inclusive tech industry that is better able to serve the needs of everyone.

4. Diversity

Diversity is a key aspect of Derrick Langford's work in the tech industry. He believes that everyone should have an equal opportunity to succeed, regardless of their race, gender, or background. Langford's commitment to diversity is evident in his work with organizations such as the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) and the National Urban League. He is also a member of the advisory board for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Tech 2020 initiative.

Inclusion
Langford believes that diversity is not just about hiring people from different backgrounds, but also about creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome and respected. He works to create a culture of inclusion at his companies and in the tech industry as a whole.
Mentorship
Langford is a strong advocate for mentorship, especially for people from underrepresented groups. He believes that mentorship can help to create a more diverse and inclusive tech industry. Langford mentors several young people and is actively involved in programs that support underrepresented groups in tech.
Education
Langford believes that education is key to creating a more diverse and inclusive tech industry. He supports programs that help to increase the number of underrepresented groups in tech fields. Langford is also a frequent speaker at schools and universities, where he talks about the importance of diversity and inclusion in tech.
Advocacy
Langford is a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. He speaks out against discrimination and bias, and he works to create a more inclusive tech industry for everyone.

Langford's commitment to diversity and inclusion is making a real difference in the tech industry. He is helping to create a more inclusive industry where everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.

5. Inclusion

Inclusion is a key aspect of Derrick Langford's work in the tech industry. He believes that everyone should have an equal opportunity to succeed, regardless of their race, gender, or background. Langford's commitment to inclusion is evident in his work with organizations such as the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) and the National Urban League. He is also a member of the advisory board for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Tech 2020 initiative.

Langford believes that diversity is not just about hiring people from different backgrounds, but also about creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome and respected. He works to create a culture of inclusion at his companies and in the tech industry as a whole.

One of the ways that Langford promotes inclusion is through mentorship. He believes that mentorship can help to create a more diverse and inclusive tech industry. Langford mentors several young people and is actively involved in programs that support underrepresented groups in tech.

Langford is also a vocal advocate for inclusion in the tech industry. He speaks out against discrimination and bias, and he works to create a more inclusive tech industry for everyone.

Langford's commitment to inclusion is making a real difference in the tech industry. He is helping to create a more inclusive industry where everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.

FAQs about Derrick Langford

Derrick Langford is an accomplished entrepreneur and business leader with over two decades of experience in the technology industry. He is also a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. This FAQ section addresses some of the most common questions about Derrick Langford and his work.

Question 1: What is Derrick Langford's background?

Derrick Langford was born in 1970 and grew up in a low-income neighborhood in Chicago. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he earned a degree in computer science. After graduating from college, Langford worked as a software engineer for several years before starting his own company, BlackPlanet.com, in 1999.

Question 2: What is BlackPlanet.com?

BlackPlanet.com is a social networking site for African Americans. It was founded in 1999 by Derrick Langford and Rameesh Abbhi. BlackPlanet.com was one of the first social networking sites to target a specific demographic group. It quickly became popular, and at its peak, it had over 20 million members.

Question 3: What is Derrick Langford's commitment to diversity and inclusion?

Derrick Langford is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. He believes that everyone should have an equal opportunity to succeed, regardless of their race, gender, or background. Langford's commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident in his work with organizations such as the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) and the National Urban League. He is also a member of the advisory board for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Tech 2020 initiative.

Question 4: What are some of Derrick Langford's accomplishments?

Derrick Langford has accomplished a great deal in his career. He is the founder and CEO of several successful technology companies, including BlackPlanet.com and MobileMoney.com. He is also a co-founder of the Black Enterprise TechConneXt conference. Langford has received numerous awards for his work, including the Black Enterprise Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the NAACP Image Award.

Question 5: What is Derrick Langford's vision for the future of the tech industry?

Derrick Langford believes that the tech industry has the potential to make a positive impact on the world. He wants to see the tech industry become more diverse and inclusive, and he wants to see technology used to solve some of the world's biggest problems. Langford is optimistic about the future of the tech industry, and he believes that it has the potential to make the world a better place.

These are just a few of the most common questions about Derrick Langford and his work. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us.

Transition to the next article section:

Derrick Langford is a successful entrepreneur, business leader, and advocate for diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. His work has had a significant impact on the lives of many people, and he is a role model for other leaders in the tech industry.

Conclusion

Langford's commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident in all of his work. He believes that everyone should have an equal opportunity to succeed, regardless of their race, gender, or background. Langford's work is helping to create a more inclusive tech industry that is better able to serve the needs of everyone.

Langford is a visionary leader who is not afraid to take risks. He is always looking for new and innovative ways to use technology to improve the world. Langford is a role model for other entrepreneurs and business leaders who are looking to make a positive impact on the world.