According to the World Economic Forum, diverse companies are more likely to retain staff, spot risks and be profitable. The Boston Consulting Group’s survey of over 1700 companies claims diverse firms report almost 20% higher innovation revenues. Despite this, diversity statistics for venture backed tech start-ups are shocking.

Most D&I initiatives focus on established organisations, but how can early-stage companies ensure they are building the foundations to scale diverse and inclusive organisations from the ground up? And how can investors and board members support and encourage this aim?

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:

Sheetal Mehta Walsh, Investor, Entrepreneur and Board Member: Sheetal has 25 years of experience as a global founder, investor and board member. She is especially passionate about technology that positively delivers and affects global communities, having arrived as a refugee to Canada at a young age. Currently Sheetal sits as Chief Strategy Officer for the Government of Alberta focussed on Innovation and previously served as Deal Maker by appointment to the British Government’s Global Entrepreneur Programme. She created the world’s first corporate innovation arm for Microsoft in Silicon Valley and scaled the operations in EMEA with a base in London. Sheetal founded the UK's first all-female led technology fund and has spoken extensively on diversity topics.

Ashleigh Ainsley, Co-founder - Colorintech: Colorintech is a not-for-profit aiming to improve access, awareness, and opportunities for ethnic minorities to enter the tech industry. As a testament to Ashleigh's work in late 2018 Colorintech was the recipient of Google's biggest diversity grant (>$250k) for ethnicity-focused D&I work outside of North America. Ashleigh counts the likes of Facebook, Microsoft, and TikTok as some of his Business partners. Ashleigh started his early career in strategy at Google before moving to London start-up Qubit, corporate KPMG, and most recently the Founders Forum group (Founders Intelligence). He has worked on a number of engagements for Downing Street, the World Economic Forum, and several the world's biggest organisations on a range of strategy and D&I issues.

Keji Mustapha, Global Director of Brand and Community - Partech Partners: Keji is the Global Director of Brand and Community at Partech - an international multi-stage firm, backing ambitious, globally-minded entrepreneurs. Having worked in high growth environments in an operational capacity, Keji pivoted to venture capital, first building out the founder network offerings, and brand and culture operations at Connect Ventures, before taking on her current position at Partech. Outside of these roles, Keji remains a committed advisor to high growth businesses on operational foundations and business processes, and mentor to leaders and operators from underrepresented backgrounds. Also a nominee to FT’s x Inclusive Board’s IB100: Most Influential BAME leaders in UK Tech Sector in 2019, Keji Chairs the EU VC Platform Network and sits as Vice President of the VC Platform Global Community.

Laura McGee, Founder CEO - Diversio: Laura is the founder and CEO of Diversio, a people analytics company that uses artificial intelligence to help organisations become more inclusive. With offices in Toronto, New York and London, Diversio was recognised by Fast Company as a “World Changing Idea: Data and AI” in 2021. Prior to Diversio, Laura was a consultant at McKinsey & Company with a focus on economic growth. She was named a Top 25 Women of Influence in 2017 and holds multiple Board positions, including Global Citizen, University of Waterloo, Ted Rogers School of Management and ArcTern Ventures. She is a David Rockefeller Fellow with the Trilateral Commission.

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