While the statistics around women in business are discouraging, I feel blessed to have the opportunity to represent women while I’m in rooms filled with men. I’ve learned how to thrive despite obstacles, and am dedicated to sharing the space in these rooms with more women. My startup is fortunate to have a group of both men and women who are almost equally represented on our cap table. Jay Rosenzweig is one of those investors and advisors. He has always encouraged our founding team to be conscious of diversity in our workplace. Having Jay as our mentor has really helped us shape how we think about our hires, partners, advisors, and investors. He’s the motivating force that keeps my head up when I face challenges in the workspace due to my gender.

–	Sophia Parsa, Founder & CEO, toot