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Tinder's Forgotten Woman: Whitney Wolfe, Sexism, and Startup Creation Myths

businessweek.com

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Re: Tinder's Forgotten Woman: Whitney Wolfe, Sexism, and Startup Creation Myths

#51

Post by dmethvin »

potatolicious wrote: post #23
_delirium wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, the most interesting part of this article is that, if true, it seems like Tinder was kind of a pseudo-startup, a subsidiary of an established corporation given a more media-friendly backstory by positioning it as a startup. In retrospect I'm surprised that kind of thing isn't more common. (Or maybe it is?)

This sort of thing is, in my experience, quite common, but rarely successful. Large companies are aware of the innovator's dilemma and try to form skunkworks teams to find the Next Big Thing. But the problem is that most seem unable to assemble the right people, and give them the right autonomy, to really enable them to behave in a startup-like manner. Instead it just becomes recruitment joke where recruiters say "it…

It's really common for retailers and marketers to segment the population by demographic or price. Look at Gap, which also owns the Old Navy, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Athleta, and Piperlime brands. They're selling the same basic thing--clothing--but targeting different segments in ways that let them maximize profit by pushing the right buttons.

So why wouldn't that approach work for something like online dating?

Re: Tinder's Forgotten Woman: Whitney Wolfe, Sexism, and Startup Creation Myths

#52

Post by dbloom »

dang wrote: post #42
minimaxir wrote: post #2

Despite the linkbaity headline, this article actually adds new information and context to the controversy. Also, NSFW Instagram images.

We tried to edit the title to make it less linkbaity, but only partly. If anyone can suggest a better one (i.e. accurate and neutral), we can change it again.

It looks like the URL of the article has an alternative (older?) headline in it:

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-07-02/tinders-forg...

"Tinder's Forgotten Woman: Whitney Wolfe, Sexism, and Startup Creation Myths"

Re: Tinder's Forgotten Woman: Whitney Wolfe, Sexism, and Startup Creation Myths

#53

Post by jessaustin »

michaelochurch wrote: post #41

What seems like a side story is actually, I think, quite indicative. Tinder isn't a real startup, but a manufactured success for a couple of well-connected douchebags (who behave as if they're above the law). It's the Disneypreneur phenomenon ( http://michaelochurch.wordpress.com/2014/06/09/silicon-valle... ). If you look into it, both of these guys are invaders from the MBA culture. These phony startups, that are ac…

Can you provide other examples of this phenomenon?

Re: Tinder's Forgotten Woman: Whitney Wolfe, Sexism, and Startup Creation Myths

#54

Post by dang »

dbloom wrote: post #52
dang wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We tried to edit the title to make it less linkbaity, but only partly. If anyone can suggest a better one (i.e. accurate and neutral), we can change it again.

It looks like the URL of the article has an alternative (older?) headline in it: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-07-02/tinders-forg... "Tinder's Forgotten Woman: Whitney Wolfe, Sexism, and Startup Creation Myths"

Ah yes, the "extract alternative title from URL" trick.

My title fu is failing me, though. Is this one really better?

Re: Tinder's Forgotten Woman: Whitney Wolfe, Sexism, and Startup Creation Myths

#56

Post by ajb »

potatolicious wrote: post #23
_delirium wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, the most interesting part of this article is that, if true, it seems like Tinder was kind of a pseudo-startup, a subsidiary of an established corporation given a more media-friendly backstory by positioning it as a startup. In retrospect I'm surprised that kind of thing isn't more common. (Or maybe it is?)

This sort of thing is, in my experience, quite common, but rarely successful. Large companies are aware of the innovator's dilemma and try to form skunkworks teams to find the Next Big Thing. But the problem is that most seem unable to assemble the right people, and give them the right autonomy, to really enable them to behave in a startup-like manner. Instead it just becomes recruitment joke where recruiters say "it…

I was in one that worked. But it worked because the main company was dying and the startup was the escape pod, with the CEO on board and driving it.

Re: Tinder's Forgotten Woman: Whitney Wolfe, Sexism, and Startup Creation Myths

#57

Post by [deleted] »

nostrademons wrote: post #32
jacquesm wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Someone should tell Bill & Melinda Gates. You can make all the policies you want but human nature does not care much for policies. The best cure is an immediate transfer to another department of either of the two. That way you avoid all the claims of favoritism and possible fall-out in case the relationship goes sour. Also make sure that managers know that such relationships should immediately be reported to upper ma…

Or Sergey Brin & Amanda Rosenberg, or Larry Page and Marissa Mayer. That said, in all three of those cases they were dating an indirect report. That's still a bit of a no-no, but nowhere near as problematic as dating a direct report. Your manager has a huge influence on your career; the company CEO dating someone who works for the company is a little dodgy and will cause morale problems elsewhere, but it's much harde…

[deleted]

Re: Tinder's Forgotten Woman: Whitney Wolfe, Sexism, and Startup Creation Myths

#59

Post by randyrand »

ColinCera wrote: post #31
jpeg_hero wrote: post #21

So they were dating? IAC is screwed. Dating an direct report is essentially sexual harassment in the eyes of the court. I am adding "anti-fraternization" policy to my employee handbook today. Seriously, does anybody know how to handle the hr on discovering a supervisor / direct report are dating? I've been told that best practices is to immediately suggest one or the other resign, and if they don't, fire both for vio…

> Dating an direct report is essentially sexual harassment in the eyes of the court. That's not even remotely true. No court has ever held that merely dating a subordinate is ipso facto sexual harassment. Accordingly, many companies do not have an official policy against it.

You're right, but this area is so incredibly gray it might as well be one in the same. Sexual harassment laws were not created with relationships in mind, but co-workers.

I have the opposite opinion in that I think that sexual harassment cases involving exes in the work place should almost always be thrown out, but alas...

It's nearly impossibly to date someone and not sexually harass them in some way. It's doubly hard to break up with someone and not sexually harass them in some way.

Considering most of her allegations are words/phrases that he called her, and considering many people call significant others very bad things when they are breaking up, it's almost impossible to draw the line between sexual harassment and break-up banter.

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