I realized my company had to change after talking to an African-American woman who’d just quit Redfin. When I asked her what it was like being black a…
Leadership and Culture
Thoughts on fostering innovative cultures, and scaling teams and organizations.
Startups: Don’t Fall Into The Culture-Fit Hiring Trap
I once worked with a startup that wanted to hire a new VP of engineering. When I asked the CEO what he was looking for in a candidate, he said, “Someo…
How to choose the right VC for your startup — A founder’s guide
One of my goals in writing about AppDynamics’* journey from an idea nine years ago to our $3.7 billion acquisition by Cisco this year is to help and i…
Your Startup Can Compete With Google, Facebook for Top Talent
Here are seven things to remember when competing to hire executive talent. Your first hires came through your personal and professional networks. They…
Want to Hire More Women? They Need to Be in Your Network
In the last nine months, something unusual has happened at our investment firm: We hired three women as CEOs to run companies in our portfolio. Last s…
The One Thing That Changes When Your Company Goes Public
Last fall, Coupa* went public. Making the decision to go public was something we considered very carefully and we were very pleased with the reception…
Advice on raising venture capital funding from outside Silicon Valley
Raising venture capital is tough for any startup. But it can be a little more difficult when you’re located outside of Silicon Valley. More difficult,…
Why ‘Boring’ Can Be Beautiful In Tech Investing
You’ve seen those Dos Equis beer ads starring “The Most Interesting Man in the World.” That’s not me. In fact, I might be The Most Boring Man in the W…
Why Trusting Your Gut Isn’t Enough to Build a Great Company
This post originally appeared on Fortune Insiders network, an online community where people in the startup ecosystem contribute answers to questions a…
A VC’s Tips: Communicating with Your Board During Tough Times
For startup CEOs, tough economic periods are like stressful stretches in a marriage: They test your mettle while making ugly truths impossible to hide…