One of my favorite things about being a summer intern is being able to play the student card. I love meeting various founders and asking about their entrepreneurial experiences from a learner’s point of view. As a student who is full of questions, I feel gratified when I can gain insight into some of the industry’s best minds.

Yesterday I met with Leah Busque (@labusque), CEO and founder of TaskRabbit. TaskRabbit is revolutionizing the labor industry by outsourcing everything from maintenance to deliveries, grocery shopping, cleaning, and more. It connects people in need of help to individuals and businesses in their neighborhood. You know that new iPhone you need to stand in line for but can’t? TaskRabbit is great for that! Shoutout to my sister’s boyfriend Ramsey for TaskRabbit-ing Nyquil to my mom when she was sick.

During our chat, Leah and I discussed inclusivity in the workplace, long term product visions, juggling advice from board advisors, and many more topics. Here are the highlights:

CULTURE

Leah believes in having an open bar in the TaskRabbit HQ because it fosters community; relationships are often formed around shared experiences and shared drinks, among other things. Curious about this facet of TaskRabbit’s culture, I asked for her opinion: does an excess of alcohol create a “bro-culture”? Does drinking exclude people who don’t drink a lot, or don’t drink at all, which sometimes includes minorities and women?

Well, no. Drinking doesn’t create a bro-culture, at least not at TaskRabbit where the entire C-suite is made up of women. Like all tech companies, TaskRabbit’s culture is a reflection of the CEO’s personality. Leah’s energy and determination trickles down to her employees as she inspires them to partake in her mission. She explains, “the seeds of a culture stem from its founders… culture is hard to manually change over time.” TaskRabbit’s warm and inclusive culture is absolutely indicative of Leah’s charisma.

Aside from her unique identity and leadership, Leah also manages other projects that cultivate a welcoming culture. For example, she hosts hackathons at TaskRabbit for all company members to voice their thoughts and ideas, in addition to camping trips and Giants games for her employees to bond. She supports programs that teach math and science to young girls. Additionally, she meets with curious students like me and graciously answers their countless questions.

WOMEN IN TECH

Meetups that offer a safe space to discuss the lack of women in tech are great. Having participated in discussions with Google Women Techmakers, Femgineer, and my Feminism in Science professor, Dr. Meg Conkey, I can attest that these groups provide an important opportunity to analyze the issue from all angles. More people need to be thinking about this problem in order to optimize the chances of finding solutions.

But what do I find even more meaningful? Role models who actively pound the pavement. Women who lead by example do provide a presence for us all. Leah is not only blazing the trail towards a revolutionized labor market, but is also establishing a precedent of successful female founders. When I asked her about her thoughts on being a woman in tech, she replied “I don’t approach tech as a woman, but as a passionate person.” Though I can relate with her perspective and admire her dedication, I wish my story was that simple.

Nearly every woman who’s been in computing can attest to the inconveniences of dealing with Imposter Syndrome, stereotype threat, and exclusionary behavior. Personally, I grew up in a family of dancers and didn’t study computer science until last year. Immersing myself in Berkeley’s robust engineering environment without any prior exposure was terrifying, and I’ve worked hard over the past 1.5 years to learn as much as I can. Overcoming the self-doubt that comes along with Imposter Syndrome is an obstacle I have yet to clear. Nevertheless, I ultimately persevere because I’m driven by the happiness of constantly learning new things.

I’m thankful for having positive role models like Leah to look up to, and I aspire to be as bold and technically self-reliant as her one day.

FUN FACT

Did you know Leah Busque first entered college with the intention of majoring in dance? Neither did I! Though she ended up majoring in Math and Computer Science and minoring in Dance, her artistic roots are certainly noticeable in the TaskRabbit aesthetic. I’m delighted by her dance background because I see her artistic qualities in myself.

Leah Busque is a visionary who foresees a more productive and efficient society where people help each other with tasks. I’m excited for her future endeavors in TaskRabbit and beyond. Leah shared with me, “as a company you should take baby steps to get closer and closer to your mission. [Think about] where you want to be and how you want to get there.” I will ponder her advice these next few months, and— as I continue learning and enjoying being a student— dream about a more inclusive future in tech.