HOW DO YOU BUILD A MORE DIVERSE TECH COMPANY? IT STARTS AT THE TOP
When Huda Idrees founded Dot Health, a health technology startup in Toronto, she had a radical thought: what if her new company’s culture didn’t have to suck?
In an industry where women and people of colour are often underrepresented, a company’s first hires typically reflect its founding team — so mostly white, and mostly male. But Idrees’s startup is a striking example of what can happen when the opposite is true.
“If I’m leading the company, I can set the tone for it,” said Idrees, who was previously the chief product officer at the finance startup Wealthsimple. “And it does happen top-down.”
A common refrain among those who have spoken to CBC News about diversity and inclusion in Canada’s tech community in recent months is that there is no single trick that can help a company diversify the gender or race of its hires, or make its workforce more inclusive.
‘I really would love to build a company, that’s a tech company, that’s mostly women.’– HUDA IDREES, FOUNDER AND CEO OF DOT HEALTH
But one theme in particular that has come up repeatedly is that, if anything is going to change, it has to start at the top — with those who are funding, founding, managing and mentoring Canada’s current and future tech companies.
Find an Angel Group
If the idea of joining a community of professionals and industry leaders, investing in innovative start-ups, and providing mentorship to promising entrepreneurs interests you, click below to explore your nearest angel group.
Interested in becoming an Angel Investor?
If the idea of joining a community of professionals and industry leaders, investing in innovating start-ups, and providing mentorship to promising entrepreneurs interests you, click here to learn more.