In sharp contrast to financiers and politicians, VC investors are slippery creatures. CIOs have a hard time decoding our language. Venture capitalists are asset managers, but we talk like superheroes. We speak in hyperbole and aim, unironically, to change the world. We are incessantly crushing it, even though our portfolios are laughably unprofitable.
When you meet someone in person, you can see their facial expressions, stand or sit facing them, and gauge their interest in you by what and how they speak. Virtually, it gets trickier: Emails and messages can be misunderstood, video connections can be spotty, and phone lines can be disconnected (did she hang up on me?). With virtual communication, a professional tone becomes essential. Choose words to signal respect, preparedness and seriousness, even in casual settings, as they amplify your reputation and personal brand.
Should women be themselves at the office? In the past two decades, self-expression has become a tacit expectation in many white-collar workplaces, with dress codes relaxing and companies professing interest in their employees' lives and values. You got hired to do your job, the thinking goes; no use sending someone else to the staff meeting. But the past few years of layoffs, hiring slowdowns, and dwindling worker protections have left a subset of wage earners inclined to keep their cards close.
