As the only female in my company, I started a conversation about gender in the workplace and the larger implications of potential unconscious gender bias. 
 I suggested an open dialogue where we discuss how we can not only set a standard but also put actionable steps in place for implementing more diversity, equity, and inclusion into our company at this early stage. 
I was very nervous to have this conversation, and I am proud to be part of a team who made me feel I have an equal voice. 
We are taking active steps to learn about DEI from perspectives we don’t have in order to implement practices at as foundational a level as possible as we grow.