In this candid conversation about what makes a successful founder, Roxanne sits down with prolific early-stage investor, Hunter Walk of Homebrew. Hunter shares that unlike many other VCs, he looks for more “steak” than “sizzle” when being pitched by founders. They discuss how both are important – and it’s crucial that a founder learns how to sell themselves and their company – but humility and substance are often underrated at the early stage. Tune-in and learn what makes a founder irresistible to an investor like Hunter, and why self-awareness and resilience are what take a founder from underdog to incumbent.

In this first of many candid conversations, Roxanne and Melanie tackle the topic of DEI training in the workplace...starting with the question, "has DEI training actually worked? "They examine the original goals of DEI and how perception has shifted over time, leading to the backlash we're seeing today. They explore how the overarching aim of DEI and meritocracy is actually one and the same, but operating DEI in a silo has prevented many companies from seeing real change enacted that leads to better business outcomes. Roxanne and Melanie then dive into whether every company truly has a business case for diversity. Finally, they discuss what an effective DEI training should cover and how ultimately, inclusive leadership enables companies to maximize potential and value across their teams.