Withers Talks: Founders Counsel | Episode 2 - Do Operators Make The Best VCs?

• Published date: 16 July 2020
• Subject Matter: Finance and Banking, Corporate/Commercial Law, Financial Services, Venture Capital, Directors and Officers
• Law Firm: Withers LLP
• Author: Withers LLP

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Do operators make the best VCs?

For the second episode of Founders Counsel, three dynamic and successful operators (Silicon Valley speak for executives) who became venture capitalists discuss how they broke into the Silicon Valley VC world, what their experiences were like as outsiders, and how they faced and overcame barriers as they progressed in Silicon Valley. These guests also share their experiences as founders and senior executives.

In a particularly timely discussion, host Doug Mandell also explores with the guests, who are all female and also represent diverse backgrounds, their views on the lack of diversity in the Silicon Valley ecosystem, including ways forward to achieve a more diverse environment, how it personally felt and feels to them, and the opportunity that must be seized now.

How can you pivot from being an executive to an investor? What do these top VCs advise that you do to make a move into venture? When is the right time? What does it mean to have a "personal board of directors," who should be on it, and why everyone should have their own personal board. Listen as our guests share their best advice for operators and VCs.

Guests

Richelle Parham - Managing director at WestRiver Group, a Seattle-based venture, debt, and equity company with $2B in assets under management (AUM). Prior to WRG, Richelle was a partner at private equity firm Camden Partners and served as chief marketing officer of eBay. Richelle also served in numerous executive leadership positions at Visa Inc., Rapp, and Digitas. Richelle also currently serves on the board of directors of Shyn...