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What are some things a start up founder can do to foster a culture of diversity and inclusivety?

fareesh 6y ago
Focus on diversity of perspective as opposed to superficial diversity. For example, a second generation Taiwanese American can bring a very different perspective from that of a Taiwanese immigrant. The latter is more likely to bring something unique to the table.
- jradd 6y ago
  i just wanted to save this here. good point.
  - jlgaddis 6y ago
    Fortunately, HN has a feature to allow you to do that without polluting threads with useless comments: just click on the "timestamp" of the comment (next to the username) and then click on "favorite". In the future, you can view all of your "favorite" comments from your profile page (click on your username in the top-rigtht of the page). As an added bonus, it's much easier than having to sift through your own comments to find that one specific thread you're looking for.
    - anoncake 6y ago
      Also, browsers have bookmark features.
- LeonB 6y ago
  Fully agree. Deep diversity is better than superficial diversity. But if you’re starting from a position with almost no diversity even seemingly “superficial” measures can help you move forward. You can’t turn around and tick a box and say “well that’s diversity taken care of!” But it’s a step on the journey. (And the journey isn’t “being diverse” it’s “making good things that aren’t accidentally riddled with blind sides”)
gibolt 6y ago
Hire outside your bubble. Hire someone from non-elite schools who have amazing/interesting projects or clear success in spite of struggles or poor odds.
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
alacombe 6y ago
Don't. Don't go woke, don't get broke.
tomc1985 6y ago
Favor people that don't fit your mold. Hang out with people that aren't your usual group. Hang out in an underground community (not literally underground, more like subcultures)
ArnoVW 6y ago
In the last 25 years I've experienced the voyage from a staff count of 6 to a staff count of 100 three times in different companies (service provider, professional services, software editor). Your first hires determine largely your culture. The people that end up creating teams, and that eventually hire and influence people themselves, make your culture.
TazeTSchnitzel 6y ago
Perhaps care less about “culture fit” in hiring? If you only hire people who think the way you do, the results are obviously not diverse.
Yetanfou 6y ago
Make sure to include diversity of opinion in your hiring criteria so as to avoid creating a bubble. This is true diversity as opposed to identity-based "diversity". Make sure to get people who themselves are open for true diversity as well, otherwise you risk creating factions inside your company.
drdeadringer 6y ago
So far it looks like "Don't Hire Who Drinks Your Kool-Aid". Kool-Aid is good for some of your group. The opposite is also good for your group.

Focus on diversity of perspective as opposed to superficial diversity. For example, a second generation Taiwanese American can bring a very different perspective from that of a Taiwanese immigrant. The latter is more likely to bring something unique to the table.

jradd 6y ago
i just wanted to save this here. good point.
- jlgaddis 6y ago
  Fortunately, HN has a feature to allow you to do that without polluting threads with useless comments: just click on the "timestamp" of the comment (next to the username) and then click on "favorite". In the future, you can view all of your "favorite" comments from your profile page (click on your username in the top-rigtht of the page). As an added bonus, it's much easier than having to sift through your own comments to find that one specific thread you're looking for.
  - anoncake 6y ago
    Also, browsers have bookmark features.
LeonB 6y ago
Fully agree. Deep diversity is better than superficial diversity. But if you’re starting from a position with almost no diversity even seemingly “superficial” measures can help you move forward. You can’t turn around and tick a box and say “well that’s diversity taken care of!” But it’s a step on the journey. (And the journey isn’t “being diverse” it’s “making good things that aren’t accidentally riddled with blind sides”)

gibolt 6y ago

Hire outside your bubble. Hire someone from non-elite schools who have amazing/interesting projects or clear success in spite of struggles or poor odds.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

alacombe 6y ago

Don't. Don't go woke, don't get broke.

tomc1985 6y ago

Favor people that don't fit your mold. Hang out with people that aren't your usual group. Hang out in an underground community (not literally underground, more like subcultures)

ArnoVW 6y ago

In the last 25 years I've experienced the voyage from a staff count of 6 to a staff count of 100 three times in different companies (service provider, professional services, software editor). Your first hires determine largely your culture. The people that end up creating teams, and that eventually hire and influence people themselves, make your culture.

TazeTSchnitzel 6y ago

Perhaps care less about “culture fit” in hiring? If you only hire people who think the way you do, the results are obviously not diverse.

Yetanfou 6y ago

Make sure to include diversity of opinion in your hiring criteria so as to avoid creating a bubble. This is true diversity as opposed to identity-based "diversity". Make sure to get people who themselves are open for true diversity as well, otherwise you risk creating factions inside your company.

drdeadringer 6y ago

So far it looks like "Don't Hire Who Drinks Your Kool-Aid". Kool-Aid is good for some of your group. The opposite is also good for your group.