Emil Michael has long been an advocate for women in the male-dominated tech industry. His protégée Katelin Holloway is now in what Emil Michael describes as “one of the most powerful female investment positions in the industry.” Holloway, the investor and founding partner at venture capital firm Seven Seven Six, was forever impacted by the positive experiences she had working with the former Klout COO in 2012, where she started as a human resources executive at the now-defunct social media analytics brand.
As the world celebrates Women’s History Month this March, it’s significant to note how Emil Michael, currently CEO of DPCM Capital, inspired Holloway to realize all the worth and talent she brings to the table and offered her support during some of her darkest times overcoming the emotional pain of miscarriage. After Holloway got pregnant again, Emil Michael continued his unwavering support and Holloway deemed him “incredible as a manager, as a friend, and as a mentor.”
Working with Emil Michael during that crucial time in her career led Holloway to implement a loss-of-pregnancy leave program when she started at her new company. Michael not only introduced Holloway to a new network of vital tech world executives, but he also celebrated her successes and encouraged her to keep going.
She continues to share her industry knowledge as an angel investor, adviser, speaker, advocate, and podcaster on her show “All Hands With Katelin Holloway” where she’s done episodes discussing the power of moms, the importance of supporting working mothers, advancing equity for women in the workplace, and building businesses with integrity.
However, not all tech bosses have been as understanding as Emil Michael.
According to CIO.com, about 78% of women in tech report they feel they have to work harder than their male co-workers to prove their worth. The site also states women in tech are four times more likely than men to see gender bias as an obstacle to promotion.
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Holloway admits she knows firsthand how uncomfortable it can be for women trying to climb the career ladder while also expressing a desire to start a family. Holloway says Emil Michael opened a dialogue where she felt safe. She admires how willing he is to learn more about his team member’s goals and aspirations beyond just day-to-day operations.
Emil Michael recalls conversing with Holloway about the challenges of women wanting to grow their careers while also starting a family. Holloway feels he did a phenomenal job building a rapport with his team.
Emil remembers those chats in 2013 about how women in the workplace can make sure they get a promotion and earn a fair salary while they’re building a family. “I feel like we learned that together,” he says of his time working with Holloway.
After following Emil Michael’s example, Holloway continues to uplift other women in the workplace who are pursuing starting a family by offering support on Twitter and continuing the conversation on how investing in relationships is critical.
Emil Michael says he’s always recognized the importance of working for a supportive boss and how being a nurturing business leader can lead to more triumphant employees.
“There’s a speed element and there’s so much competition because it’s easy to compete in tech,” Emil Michael says.
Doing away with the notion of work-life balance and swapping it for a more realistic work-life integration model is another way Emil Michael helped Holloway view her career from a different angle.
Still, others aren’t so lucky to have such a progressive-minded leader. “Your boss has to care about your work-life balance and has to care for you on how to manage some of these things and how to grow,” he says. “And if you’re a tech worker, competition for you is fierce. It’s a little more of a collaborative environment these days and young people are demanding that.”
Emil Michael has also been known to celebrate women’s career wins. He tweeted in support of Nikki Pechet on Feb. 15 when news broke that the Homebound CEO netted $75 million in Series C funding. “Big win for @NikkiPechet,” he wrote, giving props to the wife, mother, and CEO and co-founder of the startup, which is scaling custom home-building options.
How Emil Michael’s Daughter Influences How He Views the World
As a father to a daughter, Emil Michael continues to look at the world through optimistic eyes and hopes his daughter doesn’t have to “face such a polarized world and society” when she grows up.
He says he’s hoping his efforts mentoring powerful leaders such as Holloway will lead to more discussions to help the professional and personal development of women in the tech workspace.
“Having a young child, even though I am 49 years old, is totally inspirational,” Emil Michael says. “The optimism of the tech industry always makes me feel like we are just around the corner from the next innovation that could solve a large set of problems.”