Venture Deals - Spring 2023 Course - 4. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Notes from Lesson Four of the Venture Deals Spring 2023 course, focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion.
This post features my notes from Lesson Four of the Venture Deals Spring 2023 course. This is part of a post series. Go to Part 3.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - Six different perspectives from venture capitalists
Brad Feld
Brad's key point is that during the process of him learning more about diversity, equity and inclusion, he often made mistakes about how he referred to certain things. He used to feel guilty about this but realised that these moments are necessary if you really care about building a diverse, equitable and inclusive company. Reframing those moments as valuable learning steps on a work-in-progress pathway can be helpful.
Elliott Robinson
Elliot's key point is to remove this outdated idea of cultural fit and replace it with values fit. When hiring new team members, think about their cultural add. You want to expand your company's access to novel ideas and opinions. If you start with diversity from the beginning, those roots and foundations will expand. DE&I isn't just marketing; it's superior business practice.
Miriam Rivera
Diverse teams perform better because they draw on different life experiences. When you systematically overlook communities, you miss out on markets and opportunities. The same is true for a company. A diverse team will understand the needs of a broader range of customers.
Nicole Glaros
When we can lean into our differences as competitive advantages rather than weaknesses, we bring a diversity of thinking to the table. We can build better businesses that way and a more equitable society for everyone. Use your diversity strengths to strengthen the room.
Jaclyn Hester
Diverse perspectives lead to more informed decision-making.
Jeff Harbach
The entrepreneurs who will solve the world's greatest problems in the 21st century will likely be the same people who have experienced those problems.