TRACY CHOU | PINTEREST | STARTUP GRIND SOCAL

TL;DR

Project Include aims to drive diversity solutions in tech through comprehensive resources and accountability.

Transcript

thanks so much for having me welcome after then Joe I feel like there's something else left to talk that's it that's it questions no so so we have a little bit of context on you tell us about your background first maybe a little bit about what you did at aura and Pinterest and leading up to your involvement of project include yeah so it's my backgr... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍💻 Ellen Pao's background and experiences drove her to challenge diversity issues in the tech industry.
• 📈 Project Include focuses on intersectionality, comprehensive solutions, and metrics-driven accountability to promote diversity.
• 💦 Startup Include and VC Include programs under Project Include work with companies and VC firms to drive diversity efforts and track metrics.
• 😤 Hiring a diverse team in tech requires expanding networks, structured interview processes, and focusing on skills rather than pedigree.
• 😘 The tech industry still struggles with low gender and racial diversity percentages, highlighting the need for continued efforts to improve inclusion.
• 👥 Diversity in tech leads to stronger teams, innovation, and better product development by reflecting user demographics and avoiding blind spots in design.
• 🧑‍💻 Project Include's mission is to drive diversity solutions in tech, offering resources, accountability, and support to guide companies in creating more inclusive workplaces.

Questions & Answers

Q: What inspired Ellen Pao to challenge the lack of diversity in the tech workplace?

Ellen's experiences as a female engineer at Kora led her to challenge the idea of women being a minority in tech, sparking her involvement in promoting diversity at Pinterest and founding Project Include.

Q: What are the core values of Project Include's approach to diversity and inclusion solutions?

Project Include emphasizes intersectionality, comprehensive solutions, and metrics-driven accountability to address diversity challenges in tech workplaces effectively.

Q: How does Project Include work with companies through Startup Include and VC Include programs to drive diversity efforts?

Project Include collaborates with companies to track diversity metrics, implement recommendations, and share resources to improve diversity and inclusion at startups and within VC firms.

Q: Why is having a diverse team important in the tech industry, and how does it impact product development?

Diverse teams in tech lead to stronger innovation, creativity, and better product development by reflecting the demographics of the user base and avoiding blind spots in design.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Ellen Pao discusses her Silicon Valley background, challenges faced as a female engineer, and founding Project Include.

• Project Include, with eight women in tech, focuses on solutions for diversity in tech, emphasizing intersectionality, comprehensive approaches, and accountability.

• Startup Include and VC Include are programs under Project Include, working with companies and VC firms to promote diversity and inclusion.