Janet Emerson Bashen Invents Groundbreaking EEO Software
Janet Emerson Bashen, an African American inventor and entrepreneur, transformed the way businesses handle equal employment opportunity (EEO) compliance and investigations.
In 2006, Bashen became the first Black woman to receive a patent for a web-based EEO software that has streamlined the process for managing discrimination claims and promoting diversity.
Breaking Down Barriers as a Black Businesswoman
Bashen started her consulting firm, Bashen Corporation, in 1994 from her home office with just one client and no capital investment. As an African American woman competing against larger, well-funded law firms, she had to quickly build credibility.
“These entities had to be persuaded that Bashen Corporation’s services would forever transform the way equal employment opportunity and fair employment practices concerns were investigated,” said Dr. Marcus Edwards, historian at the Black Inventors Hall of Fame, which inducted Bashen in 2007.
Inventing Pioneering EEO Software
In the early 2000s, Bashen saw an opportunity to revolutionize EEO compliance with cutting-edge software. She designed a tool called LinkLine to simplify discrimination claims tracking and documentation.
“I came up with the idea in 2001. Not everyone had a cell phone in 2001. I saw that papers in process got lost. There had to be a way to take in complaints—something Web-based and accessible away from the office,” Bashen recalled.
After months refining the concept, Bashen earned a patent in 2006 for LinkLine, the first web-based EEO claims intake and management system. It made her the first African American woman to secure a software patent.
Fighting for Legislative Change
Bashen’s innovations didn’t stop with her patented LinkLine software. In 2000, she testified before Congress about the effects of an FTC opinion letter on third-party discrimination probes.
“Bashen, along with Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, were key figures in a debate that resulted in a change in legislation,” said Deirdre Wilson, employment law expert.
Bashen launched additional tools to support businesses in fostering workplace diversity and inclusion. Her advisory services and software like AAPLink enable companies to follow best practices for affirmative action.
A Legacy of Innovation and Service
Beyond building a successful human resources firm, Bashen’s patented inventions had a lasting nationwide impact on EEO compliance. She’s won numerous accolades, including the prestigious Crystal Award for business achievement.
“Bashen’s vision created a cottage industry for HR/Diversity/EEO ‘insourcing,’” said Edwards.
Bashen also dedicates significant time to public service roles, including chairing a national women’s leadership board and sitting on the board for a community college foundation. She’s paved the way for other Black women inventors while promoting equal opportunities across all workplaces.
