What drives me
beyond investing.
Diversity in technology. Climate and the environment. And a few things that have nothing to do with work at all.
Bias runs deeper than most think.
For Women in Tech, Bias Runs Deeper Than Most Think
My most shared published content on social media. In this article, I took a strong position on one of the most rare forms of diversity: highly technical women by education who are founders of highly technical companies.
Women In The Boardroom: We Know They Are Great CEOs, But They Are Great CTOs Too!
I approached my dear friend Jay Rosenzweig to co-write an article with me: he is a thought leader on female diversity, and I have a passion for seeing more diverse people in technology. We are proud of this content that focused on the most under-represented CxO level role for women.
From a Polluted Hometown
I was raised in Cornwall, Ontario — in the 1980s, one of the most polluted cities in Canada, with an economy based on pulp & paper (Domtar), paint (CIL), and textiles (Courtaulds). Mercury concentrations in river sediments averaged 0.33 µg/g. That formative experience informs how I think about the role of technology in the energy transition. Software can make hard industries cleaner, more efficient, and more accountable — and that's a part of the thesis behind Whipsmart Ventures' investment thesis in the Energy sector. This image is not stock photography — it's the actual postcard used to promote Cornwall in the 1980s.
Volunteering for Cancer Research
Active volunteer with the Terry Fox Foundation in New York, supporting cancer research. Also a volunteer with Canadians Associated with New York (CANY). One memorable CANY night earned a personal thank-you from Wayne Gretzky himself: "Lylan, thanks for your support tonight!"
An Unlikely Path to Venture Capital
My father was a cattle farmer and then a miner in a mining town. Neither of my parents — nor any of my grandparents — graduated from high school. We got our food from food shelters and bought our clothes on 25-cent days at the Salvation Army. I'm a first-generation high school and college graduate. The path from Cornwall to New York City venture capital wasn't obvious — but it shaped a perspective that few in the industry share.
Off the Clock
Backgammon
An avid player of one of the world's oldest games. Strategy, probability, and the willingness to take calculated risks — not unlike venture capital.
Fantasy Football
Plays fantasy football with the dedication of a general manager. Draft strategy, waiver wire analysis, and the occasional heartbreaking loss on Monday Night Football.
Sports Fan
A passionate Seattle Seahawks fan. Also cheers for the Toronto Blue Jays, Montreal Canadiens, and Toronto Raptors — and a lifelong GSP fan.
Proud Canadian
Born and raised in Cornwall, Ontario. Educated at Waterloo. Now a proud New Yorker — but the Canadian roots run deep.
Early Adopter
First ordered a pizza online in 1997 and told everyone that online ordering was the future. No one believed me.
23andMe
23andMe's results changed my life in ways I never expected. If their insights changed yours too, I'd love to hear about it.