zlacker

>>femfos+(OP)
As an investor, of course I clam up. I spend my days looking at the world in terms of risk-adjusted returns and cost benefit analyses, so why would I take a human capital risk? My entire business is based on my reputation and I've seen what happens to the men who get comments like "not the best with women at conferences" or "don't get him too close to your wife." It's limiting beyond your career.

I can count on two hands the number of women I would feel comfortable giving the exact same feedback to as I would a man. Women I can be candid with are women that I have 5+ year relationships with, have backed in some way, and who know I am truly looking out for them.

And the solution is blatantly obvious, but completely unpalatable. Let men grow the same way we believe women and minorities should be allowed to. A male engineering manager being too harsh with a female junior dev is a learning moment for the director of engineering to help the manager, not fire them.

And crucially the line is shifting more and more about what's "obviously fireable." Turns out harsh criticism of the quality of someone's work and the lack of improvement are rational, not an ad hominem. Those things are fixable. But criticism from powerful parties is now scrutinized as dangerous based on identity rather than for the content of the criticism.

>>joschm+9u
There is another side effect to this that I would add as a casual investor. My bar for getting involved in a US startup is much higher than it used to be, because it's hard to make uncomfortable changes that might be construed in the wrong way. I find myself investing more freely in other countries where there is more upside and less risk of a career-destroying media storm. China for example has all kinds of unique risks associated with its government, but these are more predictable. I think this may be the biggest long-term side effect to all of this stuff - the US loses its position as the place to do disruptive business.

>>ling3+Jw
If you walk away from the next Google/Facebook/Microsoft because of worries about US culture, that's on you. There are a lot of hot opportunities in China and around the world, but the US is still pumping out IPO unicorns. I'd be more worried about missing out on the next Tesla or AirBnb as the greater risk

>>hooand+4B
What if the next Google/Facebook/Microsoft is in some other country because the creative environment in the US has become too stifling?

>>Mounta+q31
To draw parallels, that is not so different to how China is basically the world leader in manufacturing - their workers do not enjoy the conditions/rights that US workers do. Automation might be the great equalizer but that is a double-edged sword. Basically, just deal with it.