A friend of mine who works in tech just messaged me to ask if I would join his new startup. Why did he want me in particular? Answer: He really needed a woman on his team.
He actually wrote this in his exec summary: "Questions: Do we need a woman on the exec team? I don't know if this is required but I think it would be extremely helpful both for fundraising as well as getting authenticity with parents."
If this doesn't offend you, you are the problem. Never ask anyone to join your team this way. I will go out on a limb (as a white cisfemale) and say you probably also should never say, "Will you join my team? I really need a black guy for authenticity."
He actually wrote this in his exec summary: "Questions: Do we need a woman on the exec team? I don't know if this is required but I think it would be extremely helpful both for fundraising as well as getting authenticity with parents."
If this doesn't offend you, you are the problem. Never ask anyone to join your team this way. I will go out on a limb (as a white cisfemale) and say you probably also should never say, "Will you join my team? I really need a black guy for authenticity."