Mateo Askaripour | I Wrote the Book I Needed To | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Mateo Askaripour discusses his debut novel, "Black Buck," a satirical story about a young Black salesman battling racism and microaggressions in an all-white tech startup.

Transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING] LINDIWE DAVIS: Hello, everyone. My name is Lindiwe Davis. I am an employee of Google, of course. I work specifically within an engineering org focused in on diversity, equity, and inclusion. And I'm so, so happy today, because we have a very, very special guest here-- "New York Times" best-selling author Mateo Askaripour. And I will... Read More

Key Insights

• 😀 The book tackles themes of race, sales, and startups, highlighting the challenges faced by individuals of color in all-white environments.
• ❓ Toxic workplace culture can be avoided by recognizing the value of individuals beyond their professional roles and emphasizing the importance of their humanity.
• 🛟 The book encourages readers to define their own success and find their purpose in life.
• 🏑 Having a vision and being willing to sacrifice are key factors in attaining greatness in any field.

Questions & Answers

Q: What inspired Mateo Askaripour to write "Black Buck"?

Mateo was inspired by his own experiences in sales and startups, realizing that he had been avoiding writing about themes closest to his life - race, sales, and startups.

Q: How does the book address the issue of toxic workplace culture?

"Black Buck" explores the toxic culture of self-importance in the workplace by highlighting the dangers of entering hostile environments and the need to recognize the value of individuals beyond their professional roles.

Q: Did Mateo Askaripour experience any trauma reliving his time at past startups?

While writing "Black Buck," Mateo had to unpack and process his relationships and experiences from his past in startups, which sometimes led to difficulty and trauma.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• "Black Buck" tells the story of a young Black salesman's rise and fall in an all-white tech startup, as he battles racism and microaggressions.

• Mateo Askaripour drew inspiration from his own experiences in sales and startups to write this satirical novel.

• The book challenges the reader to question the distinction between humor and horror, while highlighting the dangers of entering hostile work environments.