Heather Hartnett says aspiring VCs should pair curiosity with a clear sense of where they add value. Don't ask for meetings just to ask. Instead, find white-space opportunities where you have unique insight and make founders' lives easier.
Chapters
What's one thing you think any aspiring venture capitalist can do to set themselves up for career success? Well, gosh, I should flip that onto you, Paige, because your entry was— I mean, I loved it so much that I had to invest in you. I was like, you know, yeah. So I'll let you answer it after me too. I like that what you said about curiosity and discovery. I think that's a big one. I really think you have to know Where you're adding value. And so many people think, oh, I need to get this job, or I want this job, or I want something from somebody else, or I want to interview for— and you're thinking about taking before you're thinking about giving. Why would that person take your meeting? Why are you going to make their life easier? What did you add to the ecosystem? Venture is one of those things where it's just, there's so much, there's so little structure. It's not like you have this like set bracket and career path, right? And so You really have to say, where is there a white space that I think I have a unique insight into? Why should you be in this field?
