Ifeoma Ozoma

Ifeoma Ozoma is the Founder and Principal of Earthseed, a consulting firm advising individuals, organizations, and companies on the issues of tech accountability, public policy, and health misinformation. After holding pivotal roles in global public policy partnerships, content safety development, and policymaker engagement at Pinterest, Facebook, and Google, she has evolved into a notable advocate for technology industry equity, shedding light on mistreatment and racial discrimination within these corporations.

Building on her experience, Ozoma took on the position of Director of Tech Accountability at the University of California, Los Angeles' Center on Race and Digital Justice. In this role, she continues to push for greater accountability within the technology sector. Ozoma co-sponsored the Silenced No More Act, legislation that bolsters protections for employees who disclose information about harassment or discrimination—regardless of their non-disclosure agreement (NDA) status. This work catalyzed the passage of similar legislation in Washington state, prompting tech giants Google and Apple to commit to the Silenced No More protections for all their employees.

In 2021, Ozoma, alongside Open MIC, Whistle Capital, and Nia Impact Capital, filed a shareholder proposal at Apple, requesting the company to assess the risks associated with non-disclosure clauses imposed on employees who experienced harassment or discrimination. Despite initial resistance from Apple, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ruled against Apple's filing, and the shareholders voted in favor of the proposal in 2022. Following a successful audit, Apple announced its commitment to non-enforcement of provisions that could limit an individual's ability to report unlawful conduct in December 2022.

Ozoma also created "The Tech Worker Handbook" in October 2021, a comprehensive online resource for tech workers considering speaking out on public-interest issues. The handbook offers guidance on the legal process, media engagement, and physical and security concerns. It includes anecdotes and recommendations from other tech whistleblowers.

Ozoma's efforts have earned her recognition by esteemed organizations and publications. She was acknowledged in The Root's 2021 "The Root 100" list of the most influential African Americans, and in 2022, Time included her in the Time 100 Next list. She was also honored as one of the BBC 100 Women in 2022. Ozoma, who is from Anchorage, Alaska, and currently resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico, holds a B.A. in Political Science from Yale University.