As the CEO of a software company and a longtime active member of the start-up community, I pretty regularly get asked for advice. Usually it’s an inexperienced founder asking for process and strategy tips, like, “How should I be fundraising in year one?” Or “What’s the key to writing a good 5-year plan”? Or “What should I be looking for when I’m hiring a CTO?”
But sometimes, when the young founder I’m speaking with is a woman in charge of a start-up, she’ll ask for my two cents about how to make an impact in male-driven areas like tech and venture capital. I’ve been asked these questions so frequently that I sat down with Suzanne Muchin, Principal at Mind + Matter Studios, and here are some thoughts we came up with:
Be the diversity you seek (even when you’d rather be home binging Netflix and drinking wine)
Want more diversity in the world of start-ups? Be the face of that diversity as often as you can.
I know it’s hard to get psyched about hobnobbing at a meet-and-greet at the end of a grueling workday. I hear the call of my living room sofa, too. But if you want to be a role model to others, and be a central part of the tech conversation, it’s important to simply show up. And don’t feel shy about directly asking your female founder pals to join you.
Put your money where your mouth is
It makes me cross-eyed to say it, but, yes, in 2016, women still make 78 cents to every dollar a man does. So, as a leader, use your influence to make sure employees are paid equally at your company – and be an advocate for equal pay wherever and however you can.
Oh, and if you get to a point where you’re making pretty good money, consider showing your support for the community by writing a check or two investing in start-ups every year. A little check from the right person can lead to big momentum.
Words have power–use them wisely
I’ve noticed an occasional propensity to “dude up” my language with phrases that associate bravery and boldness with being a guy and meekness or emotional fragility with being female. Phrases like “man up,” “grow a pair” or “don’t get your panties in a bunch.”
While it’s fun to be colorful, I know I can do better than this. Women can be bad-asses without being “like a guy” and men can be bad-asses while being sensitive. There’s no reason to promote dumb stereotypes.
Stop asking and start giving
Looking for mentorship? Funding? Business advice? Instead of thinking about what you want, think about what you can offer and start to share it liberally through volunteering, blogging, you name it. The more you help people, the more likely you are to attract the attention of top mentors (and you get smarter and feel better in the process).
And there you have it. If you’ve noticed generosity is a common thread in all these tips, that’s no accident. Many people still think success is all about clawing your way to the top. As though life were an episode of The Apprentice.
But I’ve found that more doors open when you stop knocking on others and open up yours. Counter-intuitive, maybe, but true.
