August 14, 2024 — StartOut is thrilled to announce the appointment of Sean E. Mickens to its Board of Directors. Sean is the Associate Vice President of External Affairs at Comcast, where he leads the government affairs and public policy team’s external engagement with civil rights, LGBTQIA+, and consumer interest organizations on digital equity, broadband deployment and access, technology, and telecommunications policies.

“We are incredibly honored to have Sean Mickens join our board,” said Brian Richardson, CEO of StartOut. “Sean’s expertise and his dedication to fostering inclusivity and equity align perfectly with our mission to empower LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs. We look forward to his contributions as we continue to expand our impact. Furthermore, Comcast NBCUniversal and the Comcast Foundation have been invaluable partners to StartOut over the years, providing critical support for initiatives such as the StartOut GrowthLab, the StartOut Index, and The StartOut Awards. ”

With an extensive background in tech policy and public affairs, Sean brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the StartOut board. Before his tenure at Comcast, Sean was a Public Policy Manager at Meta Platforms, Inc. (formerly Facebook), where he managed strategic outreach, partnerships, and engagement with progressive and civil rights think tanks. His experience advising nonprofits and philanthropies on public policy research, strategic planning, and issue advocacy further underscores his commitment to driving meaningful change in the tech sector and beyond.

Sean has a long history of advocating for marginalized communities, and his work has often focused on the intersectionality of various identities within the LGBTQ+ community. 

“Supporting marginalized communities is not just about addressing individual challenges, but about recognizing the interconnectedness of our experiences,” said Sean. “The LGBTQ+ community embodies this intersectionality, and I am excited to contribute to StartOut’s mission of uplifting and empowering these voices.”

Sean studied at the London School of Economics and Political Science as a Luard-Morse scholar and graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Howard University. His expertise, combined with his passion for advancing digital equity and technology policy, will be invaluable as StartOut continues to champion diversity and innovation in the entrepreneurial space.

Learn more about the programs Comcast has supported at StartOut Growth Lab and StartOut Index.