The Hidden Innovators Who Helped Shaped Technology and BusinessThe Hidden Innovators Who Helped Shaped Technology and Business

Every tech professional knows the names Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Elon Musk. They’re hailed as visionary leaders who revolutionized industries and reshaped how we work and live.

But what about Mark Dean?

Dean holds three of IBM’s nine original patents for the modern personal computer. He helped develop the first color PC monitor and was instrumental in creating the first gigahertz microprocessor, a breakthrough that laid the foundation for today’s computing power.

Ever heard of him? Probably not.

If you work in technology sales, consulting or infrastructure, his contributions have directly impacted your business.

So why wasn’t there a chapter about him in your high school history book?

Why do most people know Thomas Edison but not Granville T. Woods, a Black inventor known as “The Black Edison,” who held more than 50 patents in electrical and mechanical engineering, many of which shaped modern telecommunications?

Black history is tech history.

Yet, when we talk about innovation, Black pioneers are often left out of the conversation. The history books focus on a handful of figures: MLK, Harriet Tubman, maybe Muhammad Ali, but fail to acknowledge the impact of Black Americans who have been instrumental in business, infrastructure and technology.

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In a world where digital transformation is king, understanding the full scope of innovation is crucial especially in the channel, where partnerships, integrations and emerging technologies drive success.

So let’s take a moment to recognize some of the Black inventors, engineers, and pioneers who built the technology ecosystem we rely on today.

1. The PC Revolution — Mark Dean (IBM). In the early 1980s, Dr. Mark Dean co-invented the IBM personal computer and developed the color PC monitor. Later, he led the team that built the first gigahertz microprocessor, allowing computers to process data at previously unimaginable speeds.

Impact on the Channel: Every modern IT solution—from cloud computing to SaaS platforms—traces its roots back to the PC revolution that Dean helped create.

2. The Father of Broadband — Jesse Russell. In the 1980s, Jesse Russell led research at Bell Labs that pioneered digital cellular technology, laying the groundwork for broadband wireless communications. His innovations shaped the way we experience Wi-Fi, 4G, and now 5G networks.

Impact on the Channel: Without Russell’s work, UCaaS, IoT and cloud-based communication solutions wouldn’t exist as we know them today.

3. The Induction Telegraph — Granville T. Woods. Often called “The Black Edison,” Granville T. Woods developed a wireless communication system in 1887 that allowed moving trains to communicate with stations — a breakthrough that laid the foundation for modern telecommunications.

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Impact on the Channel: Woods’ work in wireless communication paved the way for the networking and telecom infrastructure that powers today’s digital economy.

4. The First Home Security System — Marie Van Brittan Brown. In 1966, Marie Van Brittan Brown patented the first home security system, including CCTV, remote-controlled locks, and an alarm system — a direct precursor to modern smart home security and IoT solutions.

Impact on the Channel: Her innovation directly influenced the physical security and cybersecurity industries, which now rely on AI-powered surveillance and remote monitoring.

5. Refrigerated Trucking — Frederick McKinley Jones. Before Frederick McKinley Jones patented the first automated refrigerated truck system in the 1930s, perishable goods couldn’t be transported long distances. His work revolutionized supply chains, allowing food, medicine and tech hardware to be distributed nationwide.

Impact on the Channel: Today’s logistics, data center cooling and supply chain automation solutions owe a debt to Jones’ work.

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In tech sales, we talk about innovation all the time: AI, automation, cybersecurity, cloud solutions. But we rarely acknowledge the full history of how we got here. These Black innovators helped shaped industries that channel partners rely on today.

Black history isn’t just history; it’s part of the foundation of modern business — our business.  And it’s time we tell the full story.

What’s next?

Here’s a resource for interesting Black History Facts.