Thank You Tim Cook -- Monica C. Smith

amp8220We pave the sunlit path toward justice together brick by brick This is my brickamp8221 I am not a rainbow rager or a banner carrying lesbian woman As a matter of fact there are a few times I have verbally spoken up on the topic As a matter fact there have been very few and this is one of themYesterday morning Tim Cook gave the LGBT community a gift but he gave me a brick As a woman in technology I feel most days alone But as a gay woman in technology I know I am alone Last week at the Venture Summit for Innovation and Technology I was in what they called speeddating rounds I was to meet 12 people that are interested in potentially investing in technology companies specifically in the advertisingtech space Before the Summit I had already raised over 45mm for my company half from seed and the other half from me The product I created is strong the traction is good and itamp8217s now time to raise some more money to spur growth and cement first mover status So the road show is beginningAt this Summit ten people showed up to the meeting One person refused to sit with me One person did not want to listen to me Eight were good meetingsOne of the meetings was a great connection a megabrand and a good fit for us He asked all the right questions and I was in the zone He was impressed with the growth and trajectory of my first startup and even more impressed with the ace of the second He asked amp8220What made you get into startupsamp8221I said amp8220I was firedamp8221He replied amp8220Why were you firedamp8221I said amp8220I came outamp8221He looked surprised and even shockedI went on to say amp8220I am sorry I am not trying to be shocking but I do not want to lieamp8221He said amp8220No I am shocked clearly uncomfortable that employers can do thatamp8221I said amp8220Well it was 15 years agoamp8221That conversation was over and there was no follow upI am not crying in my soup Look I am struggling here not with being gay but I did leave that place wondering amp8220Do I share itamp8221 The point is this I feel great that Tim Cook came out because I did not expect it He did not get caught he just came out in a well written real way Tim Cookamp8217s revelation doesnamp8217t get me funded As a matter of fact it doesnamp8217t mean much in the world I am in But it told me I was not alone That the tech field just got a little more real at least to meHere is my reality When I told the PR person in my office I wanted to write about this I was essentially asking permission I own multiple companies and I am successful but I am asking permission When that gal said amp8220okamp8221 another guy chimed in and said amp8220You should the stock market didnamp8217t even really move on the newsamp8221 I was in awe not about the news of the stock market but that we even thought it would I get that I might not get funded because I am a woman or my pedigree or because I am gay As a matter of fact the obstacles in front of me are tremendous But that is not going to stop me from trying to get funded and to find those who are passionate about the ad tech spaceBottom line those that do fund me will be rewarded not because I am woman or that I am gay or for any other reason Itamp8217s because I am tough I am fearless and I am proven I have beaten the odds already and I have bet on myself time and time again and won Being who I am has made me strong but coming out has given the courage to face any scenarioI believe in standing up and having the courage to be judged To be mocked and to be denied in order to be who you are is a gift from God Today even Tim Cook said in his piece amp8220to be who you are is a giftamp8221 I feel the same way Today I know I am not alone because the CEO of one of the most powerful brands on the globe gave me a proverbial brick to lay down on my path as I join drive forward and lead other woman technologists into a space that is ripe for disruption and opportunityTim Cook I hope I will make you proud because you have made me proud Thank youMonica C Smith is a serial entrepreneur with two industryacclaimed marketing startups one 501c3 nonprofit and numerous philanthropic endeavors under her belt Her latest entrepreneurial venture is iPredictus a demandside television platform that is transforming the TV media buying industry bringing a new perspective to the world of attribution marketing automation and customer data warehousingCheck us out on Facebook at MediaBizBloggerscomFollow our Twitter updates at MediaBizBloggerThe opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaBizBloggerscom management or associated bloggers MediaBizBloggers is an open thought leadership platform and readers may share their comments and opinions in response to all commentaries

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Thank You Tim Cook -- Monica C. Smith

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