Diversity Through Entrepreneurship

By editor on January 28, 2018 — 1 min read

Slack is an unbelievable example of deciding that, in success, they can actually use their bully pulpit to reframe the discussions of what is valuable. It’s laudable.

This is not a Silicon Valley problem. It’s a political problem.

We’re at a point right now where there’s a massive capitulation amongst the insider races and classes. The insiders are getting extremely worried that we are now challenging historical norms in a way that’s really counter-productive to the folks that are already in power. In politics, it’s happening entirely on the right.

It will create a wave of racial and gender equality.

It’s the step where you burn the boats. “We’re staying or we’re going to die.”

The last gasp before the establishment croaks exists in politics, in finance, in all parts of the economic structures. What’s great about Silicon Valley is that you can uproot and turn over those structures so quickly. That’s why I think it’s a 10 year problem, at the maximum.

You’re going to see so many female startup billionaires, African American, Hispanic, Chinese, Indian, successful people. In that, they’re going to assert their values on the world. That’s an amazing thing.

https://www.recode.net/2016/3/21/11587128/silicon-valleys-homogeneous-rich-douchebags-wont-win-forever-says (46:05)

Posted in: Society

Editor's Note

These are Chamath Palihapitiya's words. They are probably some of the best thoughts on VC, business, and life, but were scattered around the Internet. They live now in this archive.