I launched eeva in early 2022, so I’ve officially been a CEO for 2 whole years. And what a wild ride! I went from being a lone wolf to leading a kickass team of six. We're on the brink of pushing out our beta, and honestly, we’re all buzzing with excitement.
Reflecting on my journey, especially around International Women’s Day last week, I felt a whirlwind of emotions. My team showered me with appreciation and everywhere I looked online I saw cheers for women.
But deep down, there’s a part of me that's just pissed off.
Despite the visible efforts to promote gender equality and all the initiatives to support women in business, my day-to-day experiences often reflect a vastly different reality. I’m still regularly challenged by outdated norms and ingrained biases that overshadow my professional achievements and capabilities.
The venture capital world is particularly rife with these systemic issues. I have pitched to, and been shut down by, an all-male panel for a fund specifically designed for women-led businesses. I’ve also witnessed the obvious and impactful ways the very few women in those organizations are sidelined by men, right in front of my eyes.
And let’s not forget the casual sexism women face on a daily basis, aside from being an entrepreneur. In the last 48 hours alone, I’ve been asked if I’m screwing my male co-founder, and ignored in favour of his perspective during a talk that I was giving.
These instances are not isolated; they're part of a much larger pattern that perpetuates the deep roots of sexism still very much alive today.
This reality shaped my decision to bring on a male co-founder. Jarrod, with his exceptional skills and insights, has been instrumental in eeva's journey. Here’s to the good, supportive men out there. Because Jarrod knows that I rely on him to open doors that remain surprisingly closed off to me, and he’s happy to. He’s out there blending in and building bromances—doing the whole casual beer-meet with potential partners—because that’s the game. And though I'm not thrilled about it, I’ll play the game if it means getting eeva where it needs to be.
I started eeva because the household, an area historically overseen by women, has not yet benefited from the powerfully innovative technologies that have transformed the corporate world, an area historically overseen by men.
This is why we’re dead set on empowering real people with great solutions that will level the playing field between the workplace and the household. And believe me when I tell you, we’re coming with a vengeance.
As we push forward, eeva's mission is crystal clear. We're not just launching a product. We're challenging the status quo and igniting a movement, and making sure it’s fair game for everyone.
So, here's to the rollercoaster ride of building eeva, to defying norms, and to all the women fighting the good fight. This journey is more than just business. eeva is a statement about our values, our resilience, and our commitment to change.
And I'm all in, ready for whatever comes next, with my team by my side. Our sights are set on a brighter, more inclusive future - and we’re not afraid to call out those who stand in our way.
Reaction from Jarrod
"Being a white man in business you know about the gender inequalities, racial inequalities, and the privilege that comes from just being born a certain way. I’ll be the first person to tell you that I don’t really feel special in any way, shape, or form on the day to day. That is until something like what Adrienne experiences on the day to day happens right in front of me, and I’m often left gobsmacked not quite knowing what to say or do. I tell people all the time that Adrienne is the best CEO I’ve ever had the pleasure and honor of working with. I mean that.
Adrienne didn’t need me to start eeva, she didn’t need me to build an incredible team, and she absolutely shouldn’t have needed me to help raise funds for this amazing project. There is very clearly still a lot of work to be done in filling the gender gap. While she didn’t bring me on exclusively for my gender, it shouldn’t have had any basis in her asking me to join her on this journey. I hope everyone who reads this feels a knot in their stomach because you should, being a woman in business is still far harder than it should be and that absolutely needs to change."
-Jarrod