Leveling the Investment Playing Field

The transcript discusses a pilot program launched to address racial bias in investment decisions. The organization realized its bias during a dinner event and took steps to rectify it by analyzing their data and making their findings public. Over three years, they improved their portfolio's diversity, focusing on black female CEOs. The key challenge was overcoming bias in the final investment decision-making process, which relied heavily on personal judgment. They implemented rigorous questioning to ensure fairness and inclusivity, leading to better investment outcomes.

What prompted the organization to launch a pilot program addressing racial bias?

• A realization of existing bias in their decisions

• A competitor's success with diversity

• A financial crisis

• A new government regulation

What was the significance of the dinner party hosted by the organization?

• It highlighted the lack of diversity in their portfolio

• It was a celebration of their investment success

• It was a charity fundraiser

• It was a networking event for potential investors

How did the organization make their findings about bias public?

• Via social media

• By publishing a report

• In a televised interview

• Through a press release

What change did the organization implement to ensure fairness in their investment process?

• They increased the number of interviews

• They standardized the questions asked to entrepreneurs

• They reduced the number of investments

• They hired more diverse staff

What was identified as a key area where bias was present in the investment process?

• The marketing strategy

• The financial analysis

• The final decision-making 'gut check'

• The initial screening of applications