Angie Chang

This Covid tech crisis is a blueprint for ESG reporting woes The HQ of California Employment Development Department is a 90-minute drive from the Headquarters of OpenAI, Google’s Mountain View campus. Yet, when the Employment Development Department (EDD) faced its biggest crisis during the COVID-19 lockdown, none of the latest tech could bail them out. The California state was decreed to provide financial assistance for people who were unemployed or had reduced working hours during COVID. EDD was tasked with implementing this. However, it was not smooth sailing for the department. While it did pay assistance to many beneficiaries, there were plenty more who were left hanging. For example, something as simple as the total number of applications for assistance that were yet to be processed by the department was initially estimated to be 239,000. However, after weeks of effort, it was discovered that the actual number was close to 1.2 million. This was only the beginning. There were discrepancies along the entire pipeline; decisions about who is to be included, who is to be rejected, and why, and where additional information is required. Jennifer Pahlka’s “Recoding America” provides deep insider insight into the situation. It also explores why, despite hundreds of millions of dollars and the best tech skills available on demand, the mess was not easily resolvable. In short, it was due to layers of software systems built on top of one another since the 1970s. Each new layer had to accommodate the nuances and idiosyncrasies of the previous one. Given the patchworks and shortcuts this required, specialized knowledge of the operations resided within multiple individuals. There was no simple way to overcome this. This issue is not uncommon in enterprises as well. Now imagine, facing this scenario across multiple business units, functions, and even external systems. It is a nightmare, to put it mildly. Yet, this is what sustainability analysis and reporting entail. In addition, most of the required data is not even captured along the value chain. So, sustainability reporting, which is important for setting and achieving ESG targets, depends on efficiently handling this data complexity. In a sense, the less glamorous, often overlooked handling of this could be an important problem that needs to be solved this decade.

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Should we prioritize people, or tech innovation in our large-scale development projects? The strategy's slowly shifting to people. And that’s exactly how California Forever CEO Jan Sramek wins over skeptics like Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway. Not bad. “There’s a lot of baggage that tech has created in building new cities that, unfortunately, we are at the receiving end of”, explains Sramek. So smart cities and tech libertarian network states aren't the focus here. Quite the contrary. He calls the project (in this context) “really, really boring.” The focus: ∙ More housing ∙ Walkable cities ∙ Affordable by design* ∙ Improving the country for residents *(housing prices to start at $400k) I recently covered California Forever, dubbing it a future ‘Tech Utopia’ given its massive Silicon Valley backing. So it’s exciting to see Sramek's positioning and skillful handling of the grilling. Is the era of the smart city over due to its 'baggage'? Time will tell. More on California Forever and other visionaries designing new cities from scratch here: https://lnkd.in/e9-i386q Full interview: https://lnkd.in/eMnT8QhU #futureofcities #urbandevelopment

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Time to put together the best set of materials to share with ResearchOps Community next Thursday! #InternationalResearchOps Over the past 16+ years, I've worked with various clients (with different needs, setups and so on) to help them understand their customers and markets on a global scale (47 countries and counting). I've collaborated with teams of various forms from every continent (though, admittedly, I still dream of a project with some penguins down in Antarctica! 🐧) My research experiences weren't always smooth sailing. I've faced my fair share of tough challenges and surprises along the way. One common myth I keep running into is that doing cross-cultural research is as easy as hiring a local team, adding a translator, and going through the motions. But in reality, there’s so much more to it. There are a lot more nuances in it which would affect the quality of your research output and outcome. The ups, downs and hard-earned lessons from these experiences have been invaluable. That's why I decided to write 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 📖 so I can share these learnings and insights with others. My goal is to help others sidestep the mistakes I made and to help them minimise the challenges they might face when planning and executing international research, so they can get deeper, more accurate insights about international markets and local audiences. If this sounds interesting to you, I’d love for you to join the session! I’ll be leaving plenty of time for Q&A, so feel free to bring along any research challenges you’re facing! 📅 When: 21st Nov, 4 PM GMT 🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/ePbHm7-C (This session will be recorded and shared on the ReOp's Vimeo channel later - I'll share the link once it's available) Hope to see you there!  😊 #researchops #internationalresearch #culturalisation

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Breaking down the Seattle Venture Ecosystem! Kudos to Jacob Laes and Nick Khormaei for shedding light on the often complex and opaque Seattle funding ecosystem with their comprehensive investor map. For founders, navigating the venture capital world can feel like a maze, but this map offers a much-needed clearer view of where Seattle’s investors are truly placing their bets. And you know me—data is everything! Data drives decisions and, in this case, holds the key to unlocking new opportunities for startups. This project covers 58 firms with insights on: Industry sector focus Investment stages Portfolio track records It’s a game-changer for founders looking to connect with the right investors more efficiently. Check out their breakdown for a detailed view, and feel free to reach out for the full data set! Evan Poncelet Jesse Posey #Startups #Entrepreneurship #VentureCapital #SeattleTech #Funding #TechInnovation #Investing #StartupCommunity #VentureEcosystem #FounderJourney #BusinessGrowth #SeattleStartups

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Employee terminations: they're a topic no one wants to discuss but that every company has to navigate. Thankfully, Melanie Naranjo and wonderful Ethena advisor (& Gusto's former People Leader) Jess Yuen are tackling this tricky topic for the next Ethena webinar. Register if you want to learn more about these topics: How to pressure test whether or not termination is the right course of action Best practices for communicating termination decisions How to minimize risk and choose the best course of action when things get tricky Critical pitfalls to avoid

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🌟Innovative VC Firm Overcomes Exits Drought with Secondary Sales🌟 ⛵Navigating a challenging landscape where exits are scarce, Santa Barbara Venture Partners (SBVP) has pioneered a novel approach to sustain its growth and attract investors for its second fund: secondary sales. Instead of waiting for traditional exits like IPOs or acquisitions, SBVP opted to sell shares of its portfolio companies, demonstrating its ability to generate returns for investors and stand out in a competitive market. 🎤According to Dan Engel, founder and managing partner of SBVP, these secondary transactions have been a game-changer, sparking investor interest and bolstering the firm's credibility. By leveraging its recent successes, including a lucrative stake in sports-betting company DraftKings Inc.' acquisition of digital lottery app Jackpocket, SBVP seized the opportunity to return profits to its limited partners (LPs) and pave the way for its second fund. 💡Engel highlighted the challenges faced by young VC firms in raising subsequent funds, particularly amid a downturn in exit activity and heightened investor scrutiny. With traditional exit routes becoming increasingly elusive, the pressure is on for firms to demonstrate tangible returns and establish a track record of success. ✨"For us, secondary sales have been a game-changer. They've helped us return profits to our LPs and attract investors for our second fund," said Dan Engel. 💰For SBVP, the decision to pursue secondary sales was driven by the need to provide liquidity to LPs and validate its investment thesis in the eyes of prospective investors. By strategically offloading portions of its holdings in high-performing portfolio companies like Bark Technologies and Rad AI, SBVP not only generated substantial returns but also bolstered investor confidence in its ability to deliver results. ⚠Despite the complexities and potential stigma associated with early share sales, Engel emphasized the importance of prioritizing investor returns and seizing opportunities to unlock value for stakeholders. With a focus on profitability and transparency, SBVP remains committed to its mission of delivering sustainable growth and maximizing returns for its LPs. 🔍 "Returning profits to our investors is our top priority. By strategically selling shares, we're proving our commitment to delivering results and driving value for our stakeholders," added Engel. As SBVP continues to explore secondary transactions and expand its investor base, the firm stands as a testament to innovation and resilience in the face of market challenges. 🚀 ✅ Looking to raise capital for your #fund and increase the international pool of your LP #investors?   🤝 Need warm #LP introductions?   📝 Selling #secondaries to increase liquidity?   🧐 Looking for co-investments?   ▶ G+QUANT's link for inquiries and fund decks: https://lnkd.in/gjC_EuTE #VCInnovation #SecondarySalesSuccess #InvestorReturns #ValueCreation 

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An awesome piece on Serena Wang's Climate Journey! An excerpt below - Leadership in sustainability is not only about the climate and the environment, but the people who live in that climate and environment. One thing Zum is doing an incredible job at is driving equity for students and for families. So many of the students we serve come from different backgrounds: many of them are special needs, or come from foster homes, or have situations at home where they’re not always in the same home, or the same neighborhood. That can be disruptive for those kids, and school transportation can be really hard on these parents, on these families. The great thing about Zum is that, because of our student-centric technology platform, we’re able to provide steady, safe, and efficient transportation to each of these kids regardless of their situation or where they live. The tools we’re building are equally accessible to those who come from more difficult backgrounds as those who have privilege, and as a result, even in a small way, we’re leveling the playing field. Over time, this builds equity for marginalized kids, creates parity between those who have resources and those who don’t, and creates a better, more sustainable life for all students, all parents, and all families. Zum should continue building and improving our proprietary routing technology because it’s creating sustainability for the students and families we serve. #sustainability #zum #climate

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We use Circle for our community at Exit Five, and Matthew Carnevale has become a Circle power user (he runs our community). They did this awesome write about how to grow a community with insights from Matt and Exit Five sprinkled in. • How to use your community as an audience growth multiplier • 5 systematic community growth strategies • Why you should treat your community like a product, and • Best practices for growing your community https://lnkd.in/e9vs32NQ

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Yesterday, I spoke with a friend who’s doing everything right when it comes to climate action. He and his wife drive EVs, have rooftop solar, and completed a home energy audit. Yet, he’s frustrated. The next logical move - switching from natural gas to a heat pump - would increase his energy costs by 30%, even with rebates. It’s a tough reality: the system isn’t always set up to make the sustainable choice the rational one - especially if you're already on the leading edge. But here’s what stood out: He’s already a leader, and now he’s turning his frustration into action. He’s talking to his neighbors to make their neighborhood a "green space", and working with his schools and community centers to do audits and make upgrades that make economic sense. This reminded me that while individual actions matter, collective action and systemic change are what truly move the needle. I’ve written more about this conversation and the lessons it offers. If you’re navigating similar challenges, I’d love to hear your story. Check out the full post here: https://lnkd.in/eawyPdNd #ClimateAction #Sustainability #CleanEnergy

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I just wrapped up a panel with the Marketing Leadership affinity group within the How Women Invest community with my hero Auntie Nancy Hayes, aka the Yoda of board membership, angel investing, and general badassery. We talked about different ways to serve on boards, a role in which experienced Marketers seem to be often underrepresented. Why? If I had to guess, I'd say: 1 - Most heads of marketing are women 2 - marketing is undervalued, especially under sales/revenue experience 3—Compound the first two with the messages you tell yourself about your own worthiness, and suddenly, you're a great marketer for everyone else but yourself. ___________ For those who are interested in getting closer or into the board room, there are so many ways to start/get experience: 1—Board Observer (one of my current board roles)—you represent the investor but have no votes. It is unpaid, but/and hugely essential to act as a bridge of visibility and communication between the fund you've invested with and the company in which the fund has invested. My role brings value to both sides with much less bias than the other VC board seats. 2—Corporate board director—There is much governance but not much influence on the product, as the company usually has big enough teams for that. There is a lot of hiring/firing CEOs (read: drama), which can still be fun, especially for those fresh-popcorn-in-my-bag swag kinda folks (both grossly generalizing and way understating this role's fiduciary importance, but you get the idea). 3—Independent board director—this is another of my favorite places to sit. It is much like the Board observer role but with voting rights and equity (although not always, as these terms are negotiated and influenced by the shareholding board seats). You are NOT representing a VC fund (typically), but you might have subject matter expertise in the product or are a generalist boss gal like myself and bring a sense of neutrality and balance to the board. 4—Advisor. Advisors are similar to IBD in terms of influence and type of advice but are not part of the board or its meetings. This role is usually paid in some combination of equity and cash. It's another of my faves. (Are you seeing the trend here?) We have not even touched non-profit boards (where I got my start and am currently sitting on my sixth), but we will save it for next time as it's a whole 'nother Oprah. If you want to learn more, How Women Lead is hosting its 5th annual #getonboard week, starting October 21. Hybrid virtual and in-person. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/diizwv8j #womeninleadership #boardofdirectors #howwomenlead #governance #boarddiversity #corporategovernance #boardservice #businessleadership #leadership Julie Candelon Susan Greenwood Schroeder Mikayla Ludwig

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Time for some more Instant Conference Calligraphy, featuring my favorite quotable from a day of conferencin' at VC Include Impact Conference! This time it's an absolute gem from an LGBTQ+ sister in VC, Himalaya Rao-Potlapally! "Don't be 'too much'. Be the most." As a woman who walks around in bright rainbow glasses, with a bigger body and a bigger laugh, yeah, like most women I've heard those words "too much" from time to time. Thank you, Himalaya! I'm *not* too much. I'm The Most. Helping underrepresented founders raise The Most in venture capital. Helping founders create The Most effective, data-backed brands & pitch decks. Are YOU told sometimes you're 'too much'? Take a page from Himalaya (or a literal page from my notebook, lol.) Go be your most amazing self! #IIC24 #VCI #underrepresentedfounders #underrepresentedinvestors #venturecapital #lgbtq

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Are we helping or hurting? That is a question many residents of San Francisco ask ourselves in the midst of a stark and increasing equity gap. As a parent, community member, and incoming board member of the Horizons at San Francisco Friends School, I’m keenly aware of the potential learning loss our public school students in the Mission District experience in the summer months without our support. Our city is undergoing another crisis - looming budget cuts threaten vital programs like Horizons at SFFS that provide equitable learning for Mission youth. We urgently need your support to secure bridge funding and ensure our summer enrichment continues. Our scholars and families are relying on Horizons' high-quality academics and social-emotional growth.  Horizons has been successfully leveraging the months when students are out of school to stem summer learning loss for children in San Francisco for ~10 years. The program has also intentionally increased impact by supporting their scholars through their educational journey during the school year and into High School. Last year, Horizons impacted 150+ scholars with targeted small classroom instruction, confidence-building, and joyful community enrichment experiences- thanks to our dedicated summer education workforce. But we can't continue without you. Please join me in supporting Horizons at SFFS today to expand partnerships, engage more crisis-impacted families, and grow our supportive community stronger. In past years, the SF Department of Children, Youth and Families has been a partner to increase access to education for our students. This summer, as we face a potential 40% loss to our summer program due to DCYF funding cuts that have impacted so many vital programs in our city, we’ve decided to celebrate Horizons Giving Day, the whole month of May. Please join me in our movement - your gift saves the summer for San Francisco scholars and helps bridge the educational equity gap in our city. Let’s help together. In gratitude, friendship and community, Aneesha #GiveTheGiftofSummer #SparkPassions #HorizonsGivingDay https://lnkd.in/gJAYnibC Links for reference: Horizons at SFFS: https://lnkd.in/gfsdugDX Impact Report: https://lnkd.in/gZc2jn85 Press Release on DCYF Loss of Funding: https://lnkd.in/gNprpSyB

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The best ideas are often timeless. Insights from AI pioneers, like Allen Newell and Herbert Simon, have made a lasting impact and remain relevant even today. Joon Sung Park spoke about how important it is to balance the novel capabilities of cutting-edge technology with the time-tested principles of effective product development. Here's our full conversation: https://lnkd.in/gs4vAD2p

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 🌟 Exciting Announcement 🌟 Upflex is honored to be a part of MatterMore Bringing Work Back to Life: Redefining Leadership in the Age of AI on November 14th at the New York Times Building as a key sponsor, alongside brilliant leaders who are shaping the future of work, AI, and culture design. In a time of rapid tech innovation, alongside challenges in well-being and connection, this event brings together founders, investors, and change-makers dedicated to creating more resilient, trust-based, and human-centered workplaces. Together, we’ll explore essential questions, such as:  How can leaders prioritize well-being and collective thriving?  What skills are essential for leadership in a world reshaped by AI?  How do we build systems that support trust, resilience, and collaboration at scale? Join us for an evening of deep discussion and connection with inspiring thinkers, including Elizabeth J. Sandler (futurist + workplace transformation), Anthony Onesto (Gen Z + HR innovation), Fabiola Cazares (early-stage growth + FoW investor) - hosted by MatterMore Coo+Co-Founder Matt Shenker Why Attend? This gathering is more than a conversation – it's a call to action to rethink leadership for a tech-driven future. Whether you’re a founder, executive, or investor, this is an opportunity to:  Connect with like-minded visionaries dedicated to transformative change  Discover how to lead with purpose and adapt in a world where tech reshapes our identities and workplaces  Gain actionable insights for designing work environments where people can truly thrive When: November 14th, 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM  Registration required:  https://lu.ma/3vqynbi7 I look forward to seeing you there as we collectively chart a path toward a future of work that brings life back into the workplace.

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Climate People's first-ever Climate Career Boot Camp is happening next Wednesday, and it's designed for those serious about making a difference in climate tech. This fast-paced, 4-hour workshop is your one-stop shop for: - Finding your climate niche - Accessing the hidden job market (yes, it exists!) - Crafting applications that get noticed by climate-focused hiring managers - Building a network of contacts who can open doors for you This is the inside scoop, straight from the source. I talk to hiring managers in this space daily, and this is the information that will make a real difference in your job search. We're committed to making this accessible to everyone, so we've kept the price at $125. Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain a competitive edge. Spaces are limited, so grab yours here: https://buff.ly/3z9hG6C Send Natalie or me a DM if you have questions!

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How ‘Coaching’ Became Silicon Valley’s Hack for Therapy - In the Bay Area, therapists are embracing a new kind of practice: advising executives on becoming their best selves. Interesting first-person story in the New York Times on the growth of coaching within the tech industry, and the blurry lines between therapy, coaching, and mentoring. [Link to the article in the comments] Therapy tends to be backward looking - mining the past to improve the present. Coaching tends to be forward looking - improving the present toward a better future. Mentoring is someone who has done it all before showing you how to do it like them. Coaching is someone helping you accelerate your own self-understanding and personal growth so you can rise to your unique challenges at work (and life). "In certain tech circles, in fact, not having a coach is the aberration. Reddit’s Ohanian, in 2019, proudly told a reporter that his “personal board of directors” included Garry Tan, the president and chief executive of Y Combinator; Serena Williams; and Carnochan. Ohanian then added that any executive who thinks he doesn’t need coaching must think he is not just the Tom Brady of his industry, or the LeBron James or the Serena Williams, but that he’s better than that." What would most motivate you to start working with a coach?

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Hey everybody, I just wanted to check in to let you know that now is not the time to check out for the summer. I'm starting a new YouTube series on Impact Sprints. Impact Sprints are relatively simple AI Automations that full-time and fractional executives can use to make an immediate impact. It's hard to plan for the future when you don't know what's currently available. Impact Sprints represent just a starting point that you can use to get your feet wet. As with any new process or procedure there's always room for optimizations. Be sure to let me know what you think when the first episode arrives later this week. #ai #aicontent #aiautomation #youtube #impactsprints

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Had a great time at AI For Climate: Today's Machine Learning Applications with Pachama, Floodbase, Streamline Climate and Climate Change AI last night at Pear VC as part of SF Climate Week. Aside from some energizing conversation and some new friends – a couple take-aways – ❤️ Inspiring to hear these climate-centric founders putting shared data, collective and accelerated learning, and a better shared future ahead of moats and “winning.” ✏️ When asked directly, none of these founders saw their proprietary AI / machine learning models as their points of difference. Rather, their belief in experience, the value of good design, and solving real problems were seen as the real drivers of long-term success and becoming beloved by their customers. 🌈 The future represented by these folks isn’t evenly distributed yet – and we’re lucky to live in a region where the hardware, software, and policy is connected enough to drive immediate benefit to our lives. Our climate-centric work at Landscape has emerged organically as part of our longstanding focus on nurturing our collective social fabric. This has manifested as work supporting cultivated meats, microbial sciences, giga-scale clean energy storage, AI-enabled fresh food supply chains, carbon accounting, micromobility, circular apparel manufacturing, and more. We're actively using AI powered tools to accelerate these possible futures and ventures — making them more real, sooner — driving funding, adoption, and belief that optimism is the ticket to ride ⚡🌎 Huge thank you to Helena Merk for the invite and fostering so much positive momentum! Great evening. #climate #design #branding #narrative  

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