Last year in Oslo I met an awesome young female entrepreneur. She impressed me and we kept in contact with each other over social media. I had dinner with her last week in Copenhagen. She had just left the company she helped found (Investor issues - Stay tuned for a series I am writing with... Continue Reading →
When Innovation Labs leave the nest
I have a central philosophy of parenting. It is one which, when I realized it, nearly broke my heart. But it is true, nonetheless. As a mother, in order to do my job as a parent in the best way possible, I need to ensure that my position will become redundant. My main goal, as... Continue Reading →
Tilting at windmills – when the windmills are real
Our small group were on our second round of drinks. We weren't ready to sit down at the table we'd reserved in a central London restaurant. I was half way through my second gin and tonic when I sensed him come up along side me. He was older and was well known in his field.... Continue Reading →
You don’t understand startups. (You don’t belong here – Part 2)
But then again, many of you will disagree with me. After all, there are many caveats and definitions and code words I learned too late that can be used to deny me the claim of ‘founder’. But they are all just another tick on the list of the many ways women are told ‘they don’t belong here’.
Entrepreneurs have hundreds of ways to say ‘you don’t belong here’. Part 1
Eskimos have a hundred words for snow. Entrepreneurs have hundreds of ways to say 'you don't belong here'. By 'you' I mean women. And by 'here' I mean startup land. 'How can we attract more female founders!?' is the cry you can hear, if you listen very closely, within any number of tech accelerators, VC firms... Continue Reading →
Why ride an elephant, when you can stand on one? (now, where did I put my plane parts?)
That story stayed with me for some time. I often get described as 'brave' or confident or strong. My mother once commented that she never would have been brave enough to just up and move to New York, to become a journalist or to pack my 25 year old self on a Virgin Atlantic flight to London, with no idea if I would ever be coming back. 'Yes,' I would think to myself, 'but I never got on that elephant. I was too scared.'