Tony Lusiba
Department: Workforce
Tell us about your background?
I was born in Nairobi and moved to Saint Paul to pursue a degree in International Studies at Hamline University. Over the last 26 years, my career in Information Technology has enabled me to gain experience in a broad set of technology operations, business services and customized solutions. I excel at finding innovative ways of generating value and digital transformation. Outside of work, I am an active member of the Minnesota squash community and have competed at international levels.
Share about your work at McKnight?
I am the Director of Information Technology for The McKnight Foundation which is a valued philanthropic and community leader in Minnesota, the broader Midwest, nationally, and internationally. I develop and execute McKnight’s IT strategy to support the foundation’s core business processes and identify and optimize technology solutions that connect our internal teams and external partners.
What do you think are the biggest challenges for ensuring we have enough tech talent in Ramsey County?
A big one challenge is that many companies and departments are based on the culture of white males, and underrepresented communities find it a challenge to fit in. This leads talented tech minorities to become less incentivized to join or stay in technology.
Where do you see the most opportunities for residents who may have interest in a career in Tech?
Minnesota is home to 18 Fortune 500 companies and some of them are based right here in Ramsey County. There are opportunities at these companies along with other Ramsey County businesses who have made a commitment to ensure that their workforce is representative of the populations they support or want to support.
Another opportunity for residents who may have interest in a career in Tech is to reach out to one of the leaders of Full Stack Saint Paul which is a public-private collaboration leveraging the power of tech and innovation to drive equitable, resilient economic development in Saint Paul. Full Stack tells the story of our innovative people and places, connects business leaders to a growing network of resources, launches the next generation of tech talent, supports the places and events where innovators connect, and provides talent pathways to careers and access to ensure long-term success.
