Embracing Diversity: The Key to Success for Diverse Teams and VCs

The Importance of Diversity in Startup Hiring Practices

Startup companies often claim to value diversity, but implementing hiring practices that reflect those values can be a slow process. While it may be easier for growth-stage companies to hire from traditional Silicon Valley pipelines, founders who truly want a diverse team must prioritize this value from their very first hire.

When Leah Solivan, founder of Taskrabbit and managing director of Precedent.VC, joined Isabelle Johannessen on Build Mode, they discussed the importance of intentional hiring practices at Taskrabbit. As the company grew from being bootstrapped on personal credit cards to a leading platform in the gig economy, the leadership team actively sought out diverse talent for every role.

Diversity in a company doesn’t happen by chance. Solivan and their team incorporated diversity into every aspect of their recruiting and hiring process. By building a diverse culture, team, and network from the beginning, the company created an ecosystem that thrived on diversity.

Every startup is built on a network of talent centered around the founder, and this network often reflects the founder’s community. To create a more diverse tech industry, it’s essential to consider who is investing in these founders. Solivan, as an early-stage investor, has witnessed the impact of biases in the flow of money within the industry.

While it’s crucial for founders and venture capitalists to intentionally hire from a diverse talent pool, they don’t necessarily have to be underrepresented themselves. Solivan suggests setting goals such as reviewing two resumes from female candidates for every one from a male candidate, expanding networks, and promoting individuals from different backgrounds into leadership positions.

“You’re asking someone to walk off the edge of a cliff — let’s build a net for them to jump into,” said Solivan.

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New episodes of Build Mode are released every Thursday. Hosted by Isabelle Johannessen, produced and edited by Maggie Nye, and audience development led by Morgan Little. Special thanks to the Foundry and Cheddar video teams.