Bakare may be busy helping Charter’s largest region remain up and running, but he finds time to promote DEI. He’s a founding co-chair of Charter’s Spectrum Multicultural Business Resource Group and is the chair of the University of California Riverside Foundation Board of Trustees. He’s also a co-chair of the UCR Beyond Brilliant Fundraising initiative, which hopes to raise $50 million to expand education access and create a culturally diverse campus at UCR.
Has the internet created more inclusion or exclusion? Definitely more inclusion. The pandemic showed the critical need for broadband, which prompted concerted government and industry efforts with programs such as RDOF. Since then, more underserved and unserved populations across the country are getting connected to the internet.
What’s your boldest prediction about your industry in the next 10 years? Symmetrical internet will be ubiquitous across the country with Spectrum playing a significant role in actualizing it. We are well on our way within our footprint through our evolution and expansion initiatives, upgrading our network and expanding gigabit broadband into more rural communities.
What nonprofit are you proud to champion and why? I am privileged to have been elected as the Board Chair of the University of California Riverside Foundation this year. The role affords me a great responsibility to work with the chancellor, the administration and faculty to advance student success across all our colleges and programs.