Allison Baum Gates: The Disruptor's Journey: From Trading Floor to VC

I’m thrilled to welcome Allison Baum Gates to episode 470 of #thePOZcast! She is ann early‑stage technology investor, accomplished author, and future‑of‑work expert who’s on a mission to reshape how we think about career, capital, and innovation. As a General Partner at SemperVirens, she’s raised hundreds of millions of dollars and backed over 70 companies—including nine unicorns, 24 successful exits, and serves on ten boards. Along the way, she’s built her reputation as not just an investor, but a trusted voice in VC—featured in Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and TechCrunch—and as an educator at Columbia Business School and UC Berkeley‑Haas, empowering future leaders to break into venture. Allison’s journey spans high‑pressure trading floors at Goldman Sachs, early roles at Maveron and General Assembly. In 2023, she distilled her experience into Breaking into Venture, a field‑guide‑style book that demystifies the venture capital world and has sold tens of thousands of copies. Fluent (ish) in three languages and having lived across five global cities—from New York and San Francisco to Hong Kong, Paris, and Tokyo—Allison brings a refreshingly global and human perspective to the complex interplay of finance, technology, and the future of work. Let’s get into it. Check out her book: Breaking Into Venture https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Into-Venture-Capitalist-Life-Changing/dp/1264698941/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2GROZTJYEQF5N&keywords=breaking+into+venture+by+allison+baum+gates&qid=1681763930&sprefix=breaking+into+venture+by+allison+baum+gates%2Caps%2C121&sr=8-1 Connect w/ her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonbaumgates/