Real Talk on DEI and Best Nights 💜
GENDEX Issue #2
Hello friends,
It's been an eventful few weeks here at GENDEX, let’s catch up. 🌪️
Last week, we hosted our debut event in partnership with BNVC. We learned a lot from the passionate discussions around diversity, gaining insights from startups, investors, academics, and change makers alike. Check out the full recap in this edition, along with an exclusive interview with one of our guests.
In other news, we’ve officially launched on social media. 🎊 You can now catch us on Linkedin, YouTube, X, and our website. Give us a follow to stay in the loop. 💜
We’ve also been heads down gearing up for an exciting lineup of events across Europe that we’re attending and speaking at in the coming months. 🌎 Keep reading for exclusive discounts. 💌
Reflecting on recent events, GENDEX is gaining momentum. Thought-provoking discussions have fuelled our determination to drive change. 🔥
Thank you for your readership and support. Enjoy 🥂
– Sophie Webber, Communications Lead at Founderland for GENDEX
Insights from last week’s GENDEX dinner in Berlin 🍽️
To our friends in the field, we're sharing the insights from our recent event because we believe in collaboration over gatekeeping. Let's unite and tackle diversity challenges together. 💪🏽
The Format 🔥
We gathered 20 stakeholders—investors, founders, corporates, tech leaders, and DEI consultants—for a focused discussion on DE&I. Personal stories were shared, creating an open environment. Ground rules like respecting one another, avoiding cross-talk, and addressing topics as a group were established to maintain order and respect. This structured approach facilitated productive dialogue among participants. Can highly recommend this format. 💯
It’s always a pleasure collaborating with Tim Foresta on video. Watch the event recap movie here. All photos also captured by Tim. 📸🫶🏾
A big thank you to our wonderful community of change makers who showed up and shared so openly. 💜
Want to partner with us on events like this?
Driving Diversity: Tech and Inclusivity in HR
As a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, Alexandra Kammer brings a wealth of experience and insights to the table. In this interview, she shares her perspectives on GENDEX, the role of mindfulness practices in fostering inclusivity, and her vision for the future of HR and talent management.
What are the challenges and opportunities that you see for GENDEX?
To me, that would be the simplification of a very complex topic. I mean, you are tackling the world of DEIB and through your mission, you are making it both visible and tangible which brings us to the next challenge: Making multifaceted and often invisible results measurable. While creating criteria, that are both qualitative and quantitative, won't be easy, it inhibits the potential to further awareness of the necessity of DEIB work and understanding of its often overlooked benefits.
Could you share more about Aivy's product and tech stack, and how it aligns with the goals of promoting diversity and inclusion in HR processes?
Of course! Aivy makes individual strengths possible to shine a light on the person behind the CV along the HR process. In three easy steps, we objectify recruiting, retention, promotion, and active sourcing practices. Aivy is based on psychological aptitude diagnostics and gives information on personality, cultural fit, cognitive abilities, and so much more. With us, companies often give people a chance who they typically wouldn't have solely based on their application documents.
We've heard that you integrate mindfulness practices like yoga and meditation into your company culture. How do these practices contribute to fostering awareness and inclusivity in the workplace, and how can other businesses follow suit?
I do! We have a long list of mindfulness practices (I posted about them here and here). Following them helps us to create space for each other's differences and appreciate different approaches since we zoom on a meta-level at least once during long meetings or while giving feedback. To other companies, I would advise to just pick one measure that feels easy to implement and start from there!
How do you envision the future of HR and talent management, particularly in terms of leveraging technology to promote diversity and inclusion?
I think we need to become more flexible when it comes to the criteria we are looking for! In other words, we should concentrate on what really matters, which would be information that predicts job success (measured by our diagnostics of course 😊), and dare to welcome different approaches and skill sets. Aivy empowers us to appreciate people for who they are and gives them back their individuality on occasions when our brains have already put them in a box!
Thank you for sharing your valuable insights, Alexandra! 💜
Do you have a story to share? Get in touch with us at gendex@founderland.org to be featured.
Joins Us at Upcoming Events across Europe – May/June 🌍
Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab Berlin Pitch Day| 🗓️ May 7th | 📍Berlin, Germany | Free to register
Investor Reverse Pitch Event | 🗓️ May 14th | 📍Virtual | Free to register
20 x 30 Summit | 🗓️ May 16th | 📍Madrid, Spain | Free to register
TOA Berlin | 🗓️ June 4-7th | 📍Berlin, Germany | Get 10% discount with code FounderlandTOA24
TNW Conference | 🗓️ June 20th-21st | 📍Amsterdam, Netherlands | Get 20% discount with code FOUNDERLAND-20
For Founders: How to Tackle Term Sheets 💸
Watch Part 2 of Founderland’s exclusive free three-part investor readiness series. This time you’ll learn how to tackle term sheets demystifying things like the economics, board, BVCA, and fees, with input from our friends at CMS. Perfect for both first-time founders and seasoned entrepreneurs. Join the Founderland community platform and watch for free.
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