Aspen Digital

Product Equity Working Group

Technology is ubiquitous and integral to modern life, influencing how we pay for our necessities, monitor our health, find jobs, communicate with loved ones, and much more. It is both necessary and aspirational, constantly shaping our present and future.

Yet, tech innovations often overlook human differences. Many products are designed for a generalized “average” person to achieve rapid scale. This fails to account for the unique needs and experiences of diverse groups.

Technologists must design with intention and consider the varied impacts of their products on different communities, defined by factors such as socioeconomic status, cultural or ethnic background, race, gender, ability, and any other intersecting dimensions of identity.

Part of our Tech Accountability Coalition, the Product Equity Working Group is a collaborative effort among technology leaders, Product Equity practitioners, and community and government changemakers. All members are committed to creating and advancing a shared vision for Product Equity in tech.

The mission of the Working Group is to drive more equitable outcomes in products by establishing industry-wide standards and best practices while demonstrating the impact and importance of Product Equity. The approach includes facilitating cross-industry dialogue, elevating thought leadership, and driving collective action and accountability.

If you’re interested in deepening your involvement and supporting the Product Equity Working Group, consider having your company join as a member. For more information, please reach out to us at TechAccountabilityCoalition@AspenInstitute.org.

In 2023, the Product Equity Working Group structured its initial discussions around four key work streams: Nomenclature & Strategy, Algorithmic Fairness, Design & Research, and Data & Measurement. Based on these topic areas, this hub will host informational primers, concept papers, and guiding frameworks developed by our member practitioners.

With these resources, we aim to support those working to evolve tech toward a future of innovation that is inclusive and equitable – a future that reflects all of the communities it serves.

We hope the ideas and resources presented below will spark industry-wide dialogue with the objective of fostering greater alignment within this emerging field. We encourage you to explore the resources, share your thoughts, and join the conversation.

Together, let’s iterate and develop new resources as we co-create a robust repository of learnings across complex and nuanced topics surrounding Product Equity.

*Stay tuned: New content will be added in 2025.*

PRIMERS And CASE STUDIES

Learn more about Product Equity topics and dig into case studies developed by the Working Group.

Responsible Data Practices for Product Equity 

Responsible Data Practices for Product Equity 

Building equitable products requires balancing a deep understanding of the people using them with responsible data practices.

Product Equity 101

Product Equity 101

The Product Equity 101 primer describes foundational concepts and explains the importance of this emerging field in a fast-paced world.

Equality & Equity in Product

Equality & Equity in Product

Discover how to apply equality and equity in the product development process with a new LinkedIn Learning course.

NEWS AND Events

Catch up on our events and conversations.

Our Product Equity Offsite With Uber

Our Product Equity Offsite With Uber

Sixty leaders in Product Equity from tech and civil society came together to celebrate progress made and set new goals for collective action.

Hosting Our First-Ever Product Equity Summit

Hosting Our First-Ever Product Equity Summit

This first-of-its-kind gathering brought together nearly 100 senior tech leaders, civil society experts, and community advocates.