My Voice Matters

I met two super smart founders last month. They are working hard to start a new company, find PMF, raise money, and between the two of them are moms to a 9-week-old and a 10-month-old. As a veteran at navigating work environments not built for working moms, I admire how they’ve structured their professional lives. They created an environment that enables them to unapologetically build both a family and a company at the same time – and do it on their own terms. It ultimately made me reflect on how empowered I feel when I bring my whole self to work. You can find your voice, too.

Juggling My Work Self vs My Whole Self

It took me time to find my voice in work environments that viewed outside responsibilities and commitments, such as my kids, as distractions. I remember how uncomfortable I felt years ago when I’d carve out time for my kids’ pediatrician appointments hoping that no one noticed my absence. Little did they know that for every minute I was gone, I made up 10x at night when I should have been sleeping. I learned how to make the ninja parenting skills I utilized every day my superpower strengths not just at home, but at work as well.

What I realized in those early years juggling motherhood and work was that environments where I could be my authentic self and feel welcomed translated to my most productive, successful, and happiest times because I knew what I said and did mattered. Best of all for the companies I was at, it made me a better and even more committed teammate.

At Oceans, My Voice Matters

What drew me to Oceans was a shared belief that embracing diverse points of view – thanks to (rather than in spite of) our professional and personal differences – is what distinguishes the outstanding teams from mediocre ones.

At Oceans, I bring my whole self to work and I know my voice matters. I share a different perspective from my partners based on my gender and my professional and personal experiences. I see things about founders and companies they don’t. They see things I don’t. What we each say counts and affects our decision-making about what to invest in.

Are You Being Heard?

As you look around, does your team make room for you and embrace your voice? How many voices on your team are being truly heard, not just listened to? Here are some questions that can help you think about if you or those around you have found their own true voice:

Do you feel uncomfortable saying what’s top of mind without sanitizing words, in your own language and at your own pace? Can you talk about what's important to you (your interests, your family, etc.) without feeling like you are being judged?

• One founder we invested in said he chose to accept our check over others’ because he heard us talk about our personal lives. As an expecting first-time father, he knew that he could safely talk about his child, we’d understand him dedicating time to his family, and not push his work output at the expense of his family.

Do you find yourself worn out from rehearsing what you’ll say in language that isn’t comfortable to ensure it lands a certain way? Do you feel like you’re wearing a mask?

• Being ill at ease and uncomfortable is exhausting. Feeling like you need to hide behind a “work persona” to fit in doesn’t only make work miserable, it doesn’t help the company. Employees are more engaged and productive when they’re themselves.

Do you adjust your message to your audience because you have listened to feedback and questions from others, but feel like it doesn’t align with what you know to be true?

• We once met with a founder who was visibly taken aback by a question we asked about her model. She later explained that she shared the same opinion as us, but had never heard an investor agree, so she edited out that part of her pitch. The takeaway: don’t get sidetracked adjusting to feedback that doesn’t align with your vision or understand where you’re coming from.

If you personally answered yes to any of these questions, you too need to find your voice. Find a place that cares about you and what you believe in. Find a team that genuinely values your opinion, how you express yourself, the words you use, and the pace that you share those words. You will be so much happier and at ease when you can be your authentic self.

If You’ve Found Yours, Help Others Find Theirs!

If you see people around you who need to find their voice, make space for them! You want people on your team to be proud of their voice. If you enable this, you’ll notice how much more energized they are when they’re not just playing a role. They’ll have the courage to take risks, learn, and grow with you and your business. They’ll share what’s important to them and be engaged employees. They will help build a culture that attracts other authentic people. Best yet, they will listen closely to those around them and empower others to find their voices too.

Your team will make better decisions as a whole when there’s room for multiple points of view. For those who feel they have more to contribute, take the time to find the place where your voice feels at home. And once you’re there, help those around you make more room for the voices that struggle to be heard.

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