so today I’m the bearer of some bad news my generation and those before me have
my generation and those before me have
my generation and those before me have set up each and every one of you in this
set up each and every one of you in this
set up each and every one of you in this room to inherit one of the greatest debt
room to inherit one of the greatest debt
room to inherit one of the greatest debt crises the world has ever known so I’m
crises the world has ever known so I’m
crises the world has ever known so I’m not talking about our massive financial
not talking about our massive financial
not talking about our massive financial debt I’m not even talking about the mess
debt I’m not even talking about the mess
debt I’m not even talking about the mess that we made of our planet we’re on the
that we made of our planet we’re on the
that we made of our planet we’re on the verge of the diversity debt crisis ok so
verge of the diversity debt crisis ok so
verge of the diversity debt crisis ok so that’s some heavy news so let me break
that’s some heavy news so let me break
that’s some heavy news so let me break this down just a little bit years ago I
this down just a little bit years ago I
this down just a little bit years ago I started day trading stocks to pay my way
started day trading stocks to pay my way
started day trading stocks to pay my way through school as a new trader I sought
through school as a new trader I sought
through school as a new trader I sought advice from people much more experienced
advice from people much more experienced
advice from people much more experienced than myself and the advice that I
than myself and the advice that I
than myself and the advice that I received from them was to make sure that
received from them was to make sure that
received from them was to make sure that I built myself a diversified portfolio
I built myself a diversified portfolio
I built myself a diversified portfolio so well approaches to trading very
so well approaches to trading very
so well approaches to trading very having a diversified portfolio remains a
having a diversified portfolio remains a
having a diversified portfolio remains a fairly common advice so a diversified
fairly common advice so a diversified
fairly common advice so a diversified portfolio means that you invest your
portfolio means that you invest your
portfolio means that you invest your money here things in a bunch of
money here things in a bunch of
money here things in a bunch of different places instead of putting all
different places instead of putting all
different places instead of putting all of my eggs in one basket I spread my
of my eggs in one basket I spread my
of my eggs in one basket I spread my eggs throughout a bunch of different
eggs throughout a bunch of different
eggs throughout a bunch of different baskets yet for some reason this
baskets yet for some reason this
baskets yet for some reason this long-standing financial advice hasn’t
long-standing financial advice hasn’t
long-standing financial advice hasn’t found its way across all of the business
found its way across all of the business
found its way across all of the business world so what happens when we start to
world so what happens when we start to
world so what happens when we start to think about the actions and the
think about the actions and the
think about the actions and the decisions of a company of an innovation
decisions of a company of an innovation
decisions of a company of an innovation of a technology as building diversity
of a technology as building diversity
of a technology as building diversity debt so do I have any snapchat users in
debt so do I have any snapchat users in
debt so do I have any snapchat users in the room
maybe you can show me how to use it
maybe you can show me how to use it later
later
later well just earlier this year snapchat
well just earlier this year snapchat
well just earlier this year snapchat accrued quite a bit of diversity debt
accrued quite a bit of diversity debt
accrued quite a bit of diversity debt when they turned users selfies into
when they turned users selfies into
when they turned users selfies into Asian caricatures and they promoted
Asian caricatures and they promoted
Asian caricatures and they promoted digital blackface threw a Bob Marley
digital blackface threw a Bob Marley
digital blackface threw a Bob Marley filter do I have any iPhone users in the
filter do I have any iPhone users in the
filter do I have any iPhone users in the room yeah I found club cool well Apple
room yeah I found club cool well Apple
room yeah I found club cool well Apple accrued some diversity debt a few years
accrued some diversity debt a few years
accrued some diversity debt a few years ago when they forgot about women’s
ago when they forgot about women’s
ago when they forgot about women’s reproductive health in the initial
reproductive health in the initial
reproductive health in the initial launch of their health kit app they
launch of their health kit app they
launch of their health kit app they forgot to track women’s menstrual cycles
forgot to track women’s menstrual cycles
forgot to track women’s menstrual cycles how did snapchat bring filters that
how did snapchat bring filters that
how did snapchat bring filters that promoted digital blackface and digital
promoted digital blackface and digital
promoted digital blackface and digital yellow-faced to their millions and
yellow-faced to their millions and
yellow-faced to their millions and millions of users and how did Apple
millions of users and how did Apple
millions of users and how did Apple forget about women’s reproductive health
forget about women’s reproductive health
forget about women’s reproductive health in the initial launch of the health kit
in the initial launch of the health kit
in the initial launch of the health kit app well if we take a look at tech
app well if we take a look at tech
app well if we take a look at tech startups there’s a few common reasons
startups there’s a few common reasons
startups there’s a few common reasons why this happens so let’s look at an
why this happens so let’s look at an
why this happens so let’s look at an example this is Bill and Ted they had a
example this is Bill and Ted they had a
example this is Bill and Ted they had a big idea
big idea
big idea they built a really cool dating app the
they built a really cool dating app the
they built a really cool dating app the app seemed to work pretty well people
app seemed to work pretty well people
app seemed to work pretty well people were using the app and then they realize
were using the app and then they realize
were using the app and then they realize they needed to hire a few new people so
they needed to hire a few new people so
they needed to hire a few new people so they hired a few of their friends the
they hired a few of their friends the
they hired a few of their friends the app continued to do well people were
app continued to do well people were
app continued to do well people were actually loving it and they were growing
actually loving it and they were growing
actually loving it and they were growing really fast so they needed to hire a few
really fast so they needed to hire a few
really fast so they needed to hire a few more people Bill and Ted hired about
more people Bill and Ted hired about
more people Bill and Ted hired about four more of their friends from college
four more of their friends from college
four more of their friends from college as well as a woman named Gina who had
as well as a woman named Gina who had
as well as a woman named Gina who had reached out to them things were going
reached out to them things were going
reached out to them things were going really well for Bill and Ted and their
really well for Bill and Ted and their
really well for Bill and Ted and their team coaching
team coaching
team coaching they were moving fast life was good
they were moving fast life was good
they were moving fast life was good until a few months later Gina who was
until a few months later Gina who was
until a few months later Gina who was the only woman on their team
the only woman on their team
the only woman on their team Gina started to feel uncomfortable
Gina started to feel uncomfortable
Gina started to feel uncomfortable because one of her male co-workers had
because one of her male co-workers had
because one of her male co-workers had made a few comments to her about her
made a few comments to her about her
made a few comments to her about her sexual preferences a few months later
sexual preferences a few months later
sexual preferences a few months later Gina decided to leave the company so
Gina decided to leave the company so
Gina decided to leave the company so Bill and Ted hired a few more women over
Bill and Ted hired a few more women over
Bill and Ted hired a few more women over the course of the next few months but
the course of the next few months but
the course of the next few months but they left as well so pretty quickly Bill
they left as well so pretty quickly Bill
they left as well so pretty quickly Bill and Ted realized that the people who
and Ted realized that the people who
and Ted realized that the people who looked felt and thought differently than
looked felt and thought differently than
looked felt and thought differently than themselves didn’t want to be part of
themselves didn’t want to be part of
themselves didn’t want to be part of their company so what happened well from
their company so what happened well from
their company so what happened well from the start
the start
the start Bill and Ted hired the people that they
Bill and Ted hired the people that they
Bill and Ted hired the people that they knew okay they hired their friends and
knew okay they hired their friends and
knew okay they hired their friends and and to be really clear this is this is
and to be really clear this is this is
and to be really clear this is this is quite common in fact studies of the
quite common in fact studies of the
quite common in fact studies of the brain indicate that we’re unconsciously
brain indicate that we’re unconsciously
brain indicate that we’re unconsciously drawn to people who look feel and think
drawn to people who look feel and think
drawn to people who look feel and think much like ourselves and so what do we do
much like ourselves and so what do we do
much like ourselves and so what do we do well we build homogeneous companies
well we build homogeneous companies
well we build homogeneous companies meaning we build companies where most of
meaning we build companies where most of
meaning we build companies where most of the people look feel and think pretty
the people look feel and think pretty
the people look feel and think pretty similarly and this puts companies at a
similarly and this puts companies at a
similarly and this puts companies at a huge disadvantage because people like
huge disadvantage because people like
huge disadvantage because people like Gina don’t want to be there they don’t
Gina don’t want to be there they don’t
Gina don’t want to be there they don’t feel comfortable and this means that
feel comfortable and this means that
feel comfortable and this means that without a diversity of people
without a diversity of people
without a diversity of people perspectives and experience this is an
perspectives and experience this is an
perspectives and experience this is an app like Bill and Ted’s suffered it
app like Bill and Ted’s suffered it
app like Bill and Ted’s suffered it didn’t do well so according to the tech
didn’t do well so according to the tech
didn’t do well so according to the tech levers study this whole problem of not
levers study this whole problem of not
levers study this whole problem of not being able to retain diverse talent in
being able to retain diverse talent in
being able to retain diverse talent in tech is a 16 billion dollar problem so
tech is a 16 billion dollar problem so
tech is a 16 billion dollar problem so 16 billion dollars that’s a lot of money
16 billion dollars that’s a lot of money
16 billion dollars that’s a lot of money that’s like 16 million iPhones
that’s like 16 million iPhones
that’s like 16 million iPhones and this problem of diversity debt is
and this problem of diversity debt is
and this problem of diversity debt is even more critical for us to think about
even more critical for us to think about
even more critical for us to think about given the rise of the innovation economy
given the rise of the innovation economy
given the rise of the innovation economy the innovation economy is really really
the innovation economy is really really
the innovation economy is really really exciting things are moving faster than
exciting things are moving faster than
exciting things are moving faster than they’ve ever moved before we can have
they’ve ever moved before we can have
they’ve ever moved before we can have more impact than we’ve ever been able to
more impact than we’ve ever been able to
more impact than we’ve ever been able to have but at the same time if we’re not
have but at the same time if we’re not
have but at the same time if we’re not thoughtful about what we do and how we
thoughtful about what we do and how we
thoughtful about what we do and how we build this innovation economy the risks
build this innovation economy the risks
build this innovation economy the risks are also so much greater right now we
are also so much greater right now we
are also so much greater right now we can’t even predict what the world will
can’t even predict what the world will
can’t even predict what the world will look like and how fast things will
look like and how fast things will
look like and how fast things will continue to evolve over the next ten
continue to evolve over the next ten
continue to evolve over the next ten years so why am I telling you this
years so why am I telling you this
years so why am I telling you this well if we don’t have a diversity of
well if we don’t have a diversity of
well if we don’t have a diversity of people perspectives and their
people perspectives and their
people perspectives and their experiences shaping the rise of this
experiences shaping the rise of this
experiences shaping the rise of this innovation economy we might build a
innovation economy we might build a
innovation economy we might build a future that actually doesn’t bring us
future that actually doesn’t bring us
future that actually doesn’t bring us all forward so what if we build a future
all forward so what if we build a future
all forward so what if we build a future that doesn’t meet your needs what if we
that doesn’t meet your needs what if we
that doesn’t meet your needs what if we build a future that everyone can’t have
build a future that everyone can’t have
build a future that everyone can’t have access to and what if we build a future
access to and what if we build a future
access to and what if we build a future that actually harms you or the people in
that actually harms you or the people in
that actually harms you or the people in your life that you love and care for I
your life that you love and care for I
your life that you love and care for I work with companies around the world
work with companies around the world
work with companies around the world tech companies to help them address
tech companies to help them address
tech companies to help them address their diversity debt and I will always
their diversity debt and I will always
their diversity debt and I will always remember the day that I learned that I
remember the day that I learned that I
remember the day that I learned that I had to do this work so it was about
had to do this work so it was about
had to do this work so it was about seven years ago I was just starting my
seven years ago I was just starting my
seven years ago I was just starting my PhD so I learned that car accidents are
PhD so I learned that car accidents are
PhD so I learned that car accidents are the leading cause of fetal death related
the leading cause of fetal death related
the leading cause of fetal death related to maternal trauma so this means that
to maternal trauma so this means that
to maternal trauma so this means that when a person who is pregnant
when a person who is pregnant
when a person who is pregnant gets into a car crash even a relatively
gets into a car crash even a relatively
gets into a car crash even a relatively minor car crash the likelihood of that
minor car crash the likelihood of that
minor car crash the likelihood of that losing their unborn child is really
losing their unborn child is really
losing their unborn child is really really high so this really bothered me
really high so this really bothered me
really high so this really bothered me and I had to learn more so as a page
and I had to learn more so as a page
and I had to learn more so as a page student I did a ton more research and I
student I did a ton more research and I
student I did a ton more research and I discovered that the reason this was
discovered that the reason this was
discovered that the reason this was happening is because in the automotive
happening is because in the automotive
happening is because in the automotive industry male body crash test dummies
industry male body crash test dummies
industry male body crash test dummies are used as the norm or the default for
are used as the norm or the default for
are used as the norm or the default for all of their crash-test safety testing
all of their crash-test safety testing
all of their crash-test safety testing so this means that they hadn’t thought
so this means that they hadn’t thought
so this means that they hadn’t thought about different bodies a diversity of
about different bodies a diversity of
about different bodies a diversity of sizes and shapes and seatbelts weren’t
sizes and shapes and seatbelts weren’t
sizes and shapes and seatbelts weren’t safe for everyone particularly pregnant
safe for everyone particularly pregnant
safe for everyone particularly pregnant bodies so this was the moment when I
bodies so this was the moment when I
bodies so this was the moment when I realized that the automotive industry
realized that the automotive industry
realized that the automotive industry was drowning in diversity debt and I
was drowning in diversity debt and I
was drowning in diversity debt and I knew that the automotive industry was
knew that the automotive industry was
knew that the automotive industry was not alone in this so it was this day as
not alone in this so it was this day as
not alone in this so it was this day as well that I also realized that a
well that I also realized that a
well that I also realized that a diversity of people perspectives and
diversity of people perspectives and
diversity of people perspectives and experiences needed to be around every
experiences needed to be around every
experiences needed to be around every single table no matter what it is that
single table no matter what it is that
single table no matter what it is that you were designing or doing or trying to
you were designing or doing or trying to
you were designing or doing or trying to build in this world that was about seven
build in this world that was about seven
build in this world that was about seven years ago and now things are moving
years ago and now things are moving
years ago and now things are moving faster than they’ve ever moved before so
faster than they’ve ever moved before so
faster than they’ve ever moved before so that means it’s going to take each and
that means it’s going to take each and
that means it’s going to take each and every one of us in this room
every one of us in this room
every one of us in this room collectively to shape the future of
collectively to shape the future of
collectively to shape the future of innovation to manage the disruption that
innovation to manage the disruption that
innovation to manage the disruption that comes with it and we need to think about
comes with it and we need to think about
comes with it and we need to think about this through the decisions that we make
this through the decisions that we make
this through the decisions that we make each and every day as students as
each and every day as students as
each and every day as students as citizens as consumers as investors
citizens as consumers as investors
citizens as consumers as investors whatever it may be so here’s three
whatever it may be so here’s three
whatever it may be so here’s three things that you can do right now to
things that you can do right now to
things that you can do right now to start to shift this so the first is be a
start to shift this so the first is be a
start to shift this so the first is be a conscious consumer so whether that’s
conscious consumer so whether that’s
conscious consumer so whether that’s when you’re buying a new piece of
when you’re buying a new piece of
when you’re buying a new piece of technology or you’re downloading a new
technology or you’re downloading a new
technology or you’re downloading a new app be critical of it is that new piece
app be critical of it is that new piece
app be critical of it is that new piece of technology useful is it accessible to
of technology useful is it accessible to
of technology useful is it accessible to folks
folks
folks does it harm anyone does that new app
does it harm anyone does that new app
does it harm anyone does that new app actually bring value to the world do you
actually bring value to the world do you
actually bring value to the world do you need it I don’t know think about it
need it I don’t know think about it
need it I don’t know think about it though the next thing you can do is
though the next thing you can do is
though the next thing you can do is share your feedback okay so earlier this
share your feedback okay so earlier this
share your feedback okay so earlier this year when snapchat found themselves
year when snapchat found themselves
year when snapchat found themselves building some diversity debt they heard
building some diversity debt they heard
building some diversity debt they heard about it they heard about it from users
about it they heard about it from users
about it they heard about it from users just like you and guess what they
just like you and guess what they
just like you and guess what they address the problem
address the problem
address the problem they thoughtfully built out new
they thoughtfully built out new
they thoughtfully built out new procedures to make sure that filters
procedures to make sure that filters
procedures to make sure that filters like that
like that
like that never land in your hands on your phone
never land in your hands on your phone
never land in your hands on your phone ever again and Apple did the exact same
ever again and Apple did the exact same
ever again and Apple did the exact same thing okay they heard their customers
thing okay they heard their customers
thing okay they heard their customers they heard that feedback and in their
they heard that feedback and in their
they heard that feedback and in their iOS 9 update I believe it was they made
iOS 9 update I believe it was they made
iOS 9 update I believe it was they made sure to reflect women’s reproductive
sure to reflect women’s reproductive
sure to reflect women’s reproductive health in the health kit app right and
health in the health kit app right and
health in the health kit app right and this is because feedback of people like
this is because feedback of people like
this is because feedback of people like you they heard it and they reflected it
you they heard it and they reflected it
you they heard it and they reflected it okay when the last piece of feedback be
okay when the last piece of feedback be
okay when the last piece of feedback be the leader that others need so be better
the leader that others need so be better
the leader that others need so be better than Bill and Ted right so when you lead
than Bill and Ted right so when you lead
than Bill and Ted right so when you lead whether you’re leading a sports team or
whether you’re leading a sports team or
whether you’re leading a sports team or you’re starting your own company you
you’re starting your own company you
you’re starting your own company you have a start-up I want you to be a
have a start-up I want you to be a
have a start-up I want you to be a leader who values different people their
leader who values different people their
leader who values different people their experiences and their perspectives think
experiences and their perspectives think
experiences and their perspectives think about how you can be a leader that makes
about how you can be a leader that makes
about how you can be a leader that makes certain that everyone feels included and
certain that everyone feels included and
certain that everyone feels included and think about how you can lead in a way
think about how you can lead in a way
think about how you can lead in a way that helps others to really really feel
that helps others to really really feel
that helps others to really really feel that they belong so I believe that
that they belong so I believe that
that they belong so I believe that Canada can really lead the way in this
Canada can really lead the way in this
Canada can really lead the way in this regard I think that Canada can be a
regard I think that Canada can be a
regard I think that Canada can be a leader and tackle all of the existing
leader and tackle all of the existing
leader and tackle all of the existing diversity debt that we have and I think
diversity debt that we have and I think
diversity debt that we have and I think that if we work together a diversity of
that if we work together a diversity of
that if we work together a diversity of people perspectives and experiences that
people perspectives and experiences that
people perspectives and experiences that we can make sure that we don’t build any
we can make sure that we don’t build any
we can make sure that we don’t build any more diversity debt going forward so
more diversity debt going forward so
more diversity debt going forward so they say that the best way to predict
they say that the best way to predict
they say that the best way to predict the future is to create it so my
the future is to create it so my
the future is to create it so my question to you is what will your
question to you is what will your
question to you is what will your contribution be thank you
contribution be thank you
contribution be thank you you
”
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