I know it is not VC but it does involve Tech and Silicon Valley. Check out Lockheed Martin. Marillyn A. Hewson is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lockheed Martin Corporation. The culture that got her there is one of deliberate action to promote women. It will be to the benefit of the company and the country that Lockheed Martin adopted that culture otherwise women would be even more under represented there. Just because women get privilege at Lockheed Martin does not mean that they are not as capable in running the company but the bias in favor of women in promotions is needed because of the disadvantage that these women were starting with. It takes a great coach to see the player with great potential who is hiding his light under a basket.
Women will never be able to catch up is all they are offered is a level playing field. They and other disadvantaged groups are just that, starting at a disadvantaged. If they are given a level playing field but are starting as a deficit then they would have to outperform just to pull even.
It is a huge struggle just to level the playing field as many of those with an advantage, cis-gendered, white, male, attractive, tall and from privileged backgrounds have little interest in giving up their advantage and some are evil enough to use their power for personal satisfaction and if they can keep the scandal out of the public domain will bully and abuse as the can.
The weaker ones pick on the weakest but the stronger ones crave power over stronger prey. Predators will be predators.
I worked for Wanda Sigur when she was Director of the engineering department here in New Orleans. Wanda Sigur is the deputy to the Vice President & General Manager of the Civil Space line of business for Lockheed Martin Corporation’s Space Systems Company. The department was probably more than 80% men and 70% white. She did well enough to get promoted.
A culture that just treats women and men, blacks and whites the same will not lead to equality. Is the moral hazard of affirmative action worth the change in outcomes, yes but there will be a backlash or yes, there is a backlash.
The best do not rise to the top they have to be pushed to the top otherwise those at the top will just be the egotists and overachievers who want it the most and those that started with a advantage.
TEK
