Does Elizabeth Holmes's fraud in leading Theranos create a negative legacy for other women founders? I talked to three experts to find out.
, the story of that first unicorn continues to cast a shadow. Elizabeth Holmes and her now-defunct company, Theranos, is the subject of a documentary released by HBO during Women’s History Month.chronicles Holmes’s rise, failure and exposure of fraud through the masterful storytelling of Alex Gibney. Gibney has told other true stories of fraud and deceit found in Scientology, Wikileaks and Enron.
I did talk to three women who have deep expertise in the world of venture capital, healthcare commercialization, and the experience of being a successfully funded founder. Their responses reflect an analysis of what lessons learned should be in the wake of Theranos.
Ultimately, Swirnow is hopeful that the real legacy of Holmes’s fraud is that it helps investors and founders - regardless of gender - ask better, challenging questions and maintain a healthy skepticism of untested technology. Swirnow also sees signs that women founders are still making real gains in the startup and venture world. “I think there are people doing remarkable things out there, likewho founded Maven, who are doing amazing work on women's health.
Diversity, particularly in board membership, is also vital. As noted in the documentary, Theranos’s board was entirely white, male and old. Jennings again pointed out that a diverse board of advisors is an important hedge against risk. “You don't know what you don't know,” Jennings said. “If a product isn't particularly useful to a demographic that you aren't a part of, it's hard to understand the context in which it isn't useful.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
What do 90-somethings regret most? Here's what I learned about how to live a happy, regret-free lifeA minister interviewed a handful of 90-somethings about their deepest regrets, fears and lessons on aging. Their surprising and unexpected answers offered wisdom on how to live a happy life.
Read more »
Roger Federer praises Prince George's 'good' tennis skills after private lessonsRoger Federer has opened up about his private tennis lessons with Prince George at Wimbledon after Kate Middleton revealed they had played together
Read more »
Elle Fanning Delivers a Lesson in French Fashion History at Cannes.ElleFanning delivers a lesson in French fashion history at Cannes.
Read more »
‘Super Mario Maker 2’ and its unexpected lessons in corporate life“Super Mario Maker 2” ignores the old-timey fable-like quest — rescue the princess — in favor of a sharp critique of our work-obsessed lives. From Toddmartens:
Read more »
5 timeless lessons for success from the early years of Warren Buffett's annual shareholder lettersWarren Buffett took control of Berkshire Hathaway in 1965, when it was then a lagging textile mill in Massachusetts. Today, the investment conglomerate has a market capitalization of over $500 billion and Buffett is a multibillionaire.
Read more »