Michael Moritz Used the Oldest Excuse
by Miki Saxon
I thought a lot about what I wanted to say today, but realized I’d already said it more than once.
And I didn’t feel like spending my energy on a rant that would most likely just be preaching to the choir and, if not, wouldn’t change anyone’s mind.
So this will be short, direct and honest and I’ll let you fill in the blanks.
First up, a comment from Michael Moritz, the chairman of Sequoia Capital and one of the most successful investors in Silicon Valley history, on why there are no women VCs at Sequoia.
“We look very hard. What we’re not prepared to do is to lower our standards. But if there are fabulously bright, driven women who are really interested in technology, very hungry to succeed, and can meet our performance standards, we’d hire them all day and night.”
Lots of backlash on social media, so all I’ll add is what a crock.
Hard to believe that anybody with half a brain or awareness would say something so stupid — not to mention that it’s a blatant lie.
The “not prepared to lower our standards” has been the reason to exclude women, people of color, Jews and whomever else is out-of-favor at the time.
Makes you wonder why a guy who makes his money looking at the future can’t at least come up with a modern reason for the bias.
Flickr image credit: TechCrunch
