So we talked about, you know, male dominated VC. I guess for me it's for whatever reason, I've always been in male dominated industries. So the first example of sexism actually started when I was an undergraduate engineering student. And it was everything from, there's a story in there that I shared about, it was widely known that one of the lab techs for a four million dollar electron microscope - so they obviously have a full time... They're not just going to let undergraduates use it. They have a full time lab tech. And you're in a dark, soundproof room. Very dark. And the lab tech was known to get very handsy with the female students. But it was like a sisterhood. So it wasn't it unknown. So long before you went in, the other students who I remember I was a sophomore in the juniors and seniors would tell you about it. So they were like, but he's totally harmless. So all you need to do is just be really firm and don't wear a dress, and wear sneakers, because if it gets really bad, just bolt out of there. So, I mean, it's kind of funny now, looking back in time, obviously, in the light of today. Like that was twenty five years ago. In the light of day, people wouldn't think it was funny. It would be very much, it wouldn't be accepted. But at the time we were just kind of like, it is what it is. And honestly, it was like they were right. You just tell them once and then you worked with them for years after that, never again. Right. But you were going to get the one. So that's a pretty in-your-face example. But in reality, I mean, look, the good news is those types of things are few and far between and becoming even less so today. But I think, you know, what's ongoing and this is for all of us, men and women. Right, in terms of the unconscious bias. So it's everything from I'm sure this happened to you being in a meeting and having the speaker, usually male, but the speaker, male or female, addressing all of their comments and questions to the male participants in the room as opposed to you. It's those kinds of things or being stopped in the hallway and being asked to get someone a cup of coffee or to help them find their meeting room. So it's those kinds of things. And I found that all of those kinds of things, you know, best addressed with a little bit of humor. And, you know, if you can laugh at yourself, right, then the other person doesn't feel put out because again, I just assume most people are coming from a good place and it is truly unconscious. So you want to correct the situation so that you can have a proper meeting, but you don't want to make anybody feel bad. Why assume somebody is coming from a bad place, assume they're coming from a good place. If you can laugh at yourself and laugh out loud a little bit, then it just diffuses the whole situation.
