Navigating Silicon Valley can be a daunting task for any entrepreneur.
Andqueerfounders face an even greater uphill challenge.
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The conversation around diversity in STEM is far too often focused solely on semantics and metrics.
But diversity and inclusion start at the top.
Thats why we need more queer founders, CEOs, and executives.
According to Benson, that begins by understanding the reality of the situation.
While she gave several tips at the conference making it another cant miss talk!
the following advice stood out the most:
Own your story.
and your companys reason for being.
But, for queer executives, the invisible margins of error can be even slimmer.
Focus your energy on the right outcomes.
Perhaps the most direct and poignant advice Benson had for queer entrepreneurs was to find the right accelerator.
Weve done two, she told the audience, and Im seriously considering a third.
For queer founders, this means seeking out queer accelerators or those that are explicitly LGBTQPIA-friendly.
Its obvious that times are changing in Silicon Valley.
As Benson told the crowd: the future is non-binary.
