LEADERSHIP
THE EXPERT OF GOOD IDEAS VENTURE CAPITALIST ANN MIURA-KO ON BUSINESS, BOOKS AND THE MAGIC OF GETTING STARTED BY ER ICA EVA N S
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seen. My vision of the impact I could have opened up to me. I remember nn miura-ko has been called “the most powerful woman seeing a picture from that externship where I was sitting exactly where in startups” due to her early buy-in on companies like Lyft, Bill Gates had sat, and I thought to myself: Oh, my dreams are so myopic! Twitter, Twitch and Refinery29. But when you ask the 43-year-old They’re so focused on things that I know, rather than the unknown. all-star investor about taglines like this from business profiles past, she laughs. She’s just glad to see that the investment space is no longer What’s it like being an Asian American woman at the executive level? as lacking in women leaders as it was when she was starting out. After Being Asian American in venture capital or tech is not unusual. What’s graduating from Yale in 1998, she asked her boss at McKinsey and Co. unusual is getting to a leadership position. The representation of Asians if he knew any female partners. He didn’t. Now, after forging her own at the executive staff level is sorely missing relative way as co-founder of the approximately $401 milto how many people come into the industry. I think lion Floodgate Fund, which focuses on companies Favorite company you’ve that has to do with the often-false perception of in the earliest of stages (when they’re little more invested in Asians as quiet and maybe not forceful or charisthan PowerPoint presentations), Miura-Ko acts It’s like my children, I can’t choose. matic. I think being a woman is different because as a mentor to rising business leaders. During this there aren’t as many women in the tech and finance interview with Deseret, she sits in front of a colorBiggest companies you sectors to begin with. That’s why I co-founded All ful bookcase in the Palo Alto, California, home she said no to Raise — to try and increase the number of diverse shares with her husband and three kids. Right now, Airbnb, Pinterest, GitHub. founders and funders, because I’ve seen what differshe’s reading “The Four Winds,” a novel by Kristin ent voices can do to improve decision-making. Hannah, but with a bachelor’s degree in engineerFavorite place to go relax ing and a doctorate in mathematics and cybersecuStanford campus. Why is it important to be a mentor? rity from Stanford, Miura-Ko has more than a few Putting your belief in someone who has nothing technical books on the shelf as well. Through all her The best part of your proven is really the essence of venture capital. It’s education and experience she’s become an expert in daily routine about believing before the rest of the world believes. good ideas. 6 a.m. walks with my husband This interview has been edited for length and clarity. before the kids wake up. How do you recognize a good idea? The reason we invested in Lyft, which was called What’s the root of success? One thing Zimride at the time, was the storyline. In 2010, I really do like being a little bit different. I was never you can’t live without there really weren’t many startups in the transpor100% focused on “What do other people think?” and My family. tation space. The founders said, “Look, transporta“How am I doing compared to everyone else’s time tion is about to change, and it’s going to be driven by scale?” My mom always described me as a weird kid. The best advice social networks. It’s important because with every Ambition was part of that. When I was 2 years old, I you’ve ever received transition, from canals to railways to highways, the was jealous that my older brother played the violin, “Be world-class.” fabric of the country has changed, including where and I begged for lessons. As a fifth grader, I was docities are built.” ing a kids summer program at a local community colTheir first take was a platform sold to univerlege. My mom told me I had to take one math class, sities to empower people to have carpools. That was all right, but we but I could choose another. When I came home, she realized I’d signed up were really in love with this bigger transportation story. Co-founders for an adult class on negotiations. Logan Green and John Zimmer had been pitching up and down Sand Hill Road, and they couldn’t find any takers. I was just getting startWhat inspired you early on? ed with my venture career; I didn’t even have an office at the time. When I was a junior at Yale, I met the CEO of Hewlett-Packard and got We were sneaking into the Stanford law school dorms for meetings. We to shadow Ann Livermore, who was the first female executive I had ever 22 DESERET MAGAZINE
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