While startups in Colorado have had success in fostering a more inclusive environment, we can always do better, and we must.
There is a veritable mountain of data around the need for more diverse and inclusive teams, both among startups, and in the enterprise realm. The direct correlation between D&I and productivity, happiness and profitability is irrefutable. The data is further echoed at the Board level.
As noted in a previous blog, our intention, reaffirmed through the acquisition of Find My Flock in early 2019, is to fill at least half of all technical roles with persons from underserved communities by the end of 2020.
We invited four of Colorado’s brightest minds to join us on a panel on Diversity and Inclusion at Boulder Startup Week 2019, and the result was an incredibly important and far reaching conversation with the community. While we only had an hour, it certainly opened some eyes, and addressed some challenging aspects of the topic…that said, it just scratched the surface of a truly complex issue.
We’ve put together a very short 1:40 minute summary video of the panel.
There is still so much to do, but we are grateful to be fostering these critical discussions alongside experts in the field.
A special thank you to Katica Roy, Derek Johnson, Julie Penner and Joseph Benavidez for joining us and sharing their insight.
Let us know if you have questions or ideas on this topic. We are always open to a discussion.
