For CNN and AT&T, Akil directed and produced the series “Forces of Change”, highlighting that too often some of the brightest people have been denied opportunity because of gender inequality, systemic racism, and structural barriers.

In the 1970s, the Cooperative Research Fellowship Program at Bell Labs provided financial support and mentorship to under-represented minorities and women who went on to become leaders in their fields. Today, AT&T carries on that legacy by partnering with nonprofit organizations, such as Black Girls Code, to diversify the tech industry.