What is the design flaw?
As I see it, the high growth ecosystem is burdened with a societal challenge that it has not acknowledged and therefore has not effectively addressed within its own construction. Here in the US, men and women continue to be in separate business networks (same in Europe, Asia, Africa... you get the idea).
Every time someone in the high growth ecosystem asserts that it is a meritocracy, we lose an opportunity to discuss the underlying assumptions that created this ecosystem and how these assumptions must be challenged before we can achieve the lofty goal that meritocracy is. Yes, I said it, meritocracy is a goal, not a foregone conclusion.
First and foremost we must consider the assumption that we can all easily connect with each other - and that if you open your doors for business (as a VC, Angel, conference organizer, accelerator, network, etc) you are welcoming all equally. This is simply not that case.
The truth of the matter is that men and women do not easily do business together - anywhere. We have plenty of proof. In every setting where a network is the means of access, the percentage of women who achieve access hovers well below 15% (think board rooms, executive suites, investment deals - yes, even within elite engineering teams).
Why does it matter to me?
There are many reasons that this societal design flaw endures even in 2013. But for our purposes, I don't think it matters. What I think matters is that we need to acknowledge this, learn from it, and then actively address it. That is - if we want to remain competitive.
At this point if you are not aware of all of the research about why inclusive environments win - you have some reading to do to catch up with the class. Trust me - it matters. [Here is a video I like if you are too busy to read.]
What can I do?
If we want to be better - and I know we do because we are the innovators, the dream-makers, the entrepreneurs who make stuff happen - then we must intentionally do better.
This means we need to get out of our comfort zones and get uncomfortable. Men - you need to add women to your business networks. Women - you must add men to your business networks. Play some tennis. Go for a beer. Share a meal (food always works for me). But do it with others who do not validate your sense of who you are - but actually challenge you. And in all you do, think about your own role in redesigning this ecosystem. If you are a conferenece organizer who cannot get women to attend - challenge the design of your conference instead of focusing on fixing the women who do not attend. If you are an investor who does not see women-led startups - challenge the network you have rather than assume women do not run backable companies.
For those of you already engaged in the Astia redesign of the ecosystem - thank you! I continue to marvel at all that you do for Astia. As you have heard me say over and again - Astia is a community - of men and women - Astia is you!
Cheers,
Sharon