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Jun 8, 2018 · 25m · mad

A Smart Approach to Diversity & Inclusion // Daniel Chait, Greenhouse (FirstMark's Data Driven)

Daniel Chait · 21m spoken Matt Turck · 23s spoken
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Greenhouse Founder and CEO Daniel Chait delivers a presentation at FirstMark's Data Driven NYC event explaining how behavioral science, real-time nudges, and specialized analytics are used to build inclusive hiring software. He discusses overcoming key product challenges, mitigating unconscious bias in recruitment, and driving organizational change through structured data.

How this conversation actually went

Every chapter scored 0–10 on four independent dynamics. Hover any point for the reasoning behind the score. Matt holds 1.9% of the talking time here. How this is scored →

Matt as informed peer 0.6 Guest teaching 1.9 Guest disagreement 0.1 Matt pushing back 0.0
05100:0010:0020:000:51–4:02 · Matt as informed peer 0/10 Background on Greenhouse and Recruiting Platform This segment is a presentation monologue by Daniel Chait detailing Greenhouse's company background and mission. As the host does not speak, host expertise and pushback are scored zero.4:02–8:07 · Matt as informed peer 0/10 Three Key Challenges in Diversity and Inclusion Data Chait outlines the first challenge regarding small data in recruiting and how Greenhouse uses academic research from MIT, Stanford, and Yale. The host is silent during this monologue segment.8:07–10:42 · Matt as informed peer 0/10 Overcoming Challenge 2 - Real-Time Nudges and Leading Indicators Chait explains real-time nudges and leading indicators designed to address long hiring timelines. Host participation is absent, requiring zero host scores.10:42–14:55 · Matt as informed peer 0/10 Overcoming Challenge 3 - Mitigating Controversy with Research and Context Chait describes strategies for navigating D&I controversies, including limiting product scope to unconscious bias. Host does not participate in this monologue section.14:55–18:18 · Matt as informed peer 2/10 Moderated Discussion on Product Features and Analytics Matt Turck steps in with friendly follow-up questions asking about product details and general analytics. Chait explains the risk profile of hiring compared to buying standard physical goods.18:18–22:49 · Matt as informed peer 1/10 Audience Q&A - Business Value and Unconscious Bias An audience member asks probing questions about business ROI and minority candidate adjustments. Chait uses a cognitive experiment on bias to educate the room in a calm, constructive tone.22:49–25:22 · Matt as informed peer 1/10 Audience Q&A - Pricing Model and Conclusion After brief banter about Greenhouse socks, an audience question prompts Chait to discuss early access pricing and go-to-market strategy before the host concludes the session warmly.0:51–4:02 · Guest teaching 1/10 Background on Greenhouse and Recruiting Platform This segment is a presentation monologue by Daniel Chait detailing Greenhouse's company background and mission. As the host does not speak, host expertise and pushback are scored zero.4:02–8:07 · Guest teaching 1/10 Three Key Challenges in Diversity and Inclusion Data Chait outlines the first challenge regarding small data in recruiting and how Greenhouse uses academic research from MIT, Stanford, and Yale. The host is silent during this monologue segment.8:07–10:42 · Guest teaching 1/10 Overcoming Challenge 2 - Real-Time Nudges and Leading Indicators Chait explains real-time nudges and leading indicators designed to address long hiring timelines. Host participation is absent, requiring zero host scores.10:42–14:55 · Guest teaching 1/10 Overcoming Challenge 3 - Mitigating Controversy with Research and Context Chait describes strategies for navigating D&I controversies, including limiting product scope to unconscious bias. Host does not participate in this monologue section.14:55–18:18 · Guest teaching 3/10 Moderated Discussion on Product Features and Analytics Matt Turck steps in with friendly follow-up questions asking about product details and general analytics. Chait explains the risk profile of hiring compared to buying standard physical goods.18:18–22:49 · Guest teaching 4/10 Audience Q&A - Business Value and Unconscious Bias An audience member asks probing questions about business ROI and minority candidate adjustments. Chait uses a cognitive experiment on bias to educate the room in a calm, constructive tone.22:49–25:22 · Guest teaching 2/10 Audience Q&A - Pricing Model and Conclusion After brief banter about Greenhouse socks, an audience question prompts Chait to discuss early access pricing and go-to-market strategy before the host concludes the session warmly.0:51–4:02 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Background on Greenhouse and Recruiting Platform This segment is a presentation monologue by Daniel Chait detailing Greenhouse's company background and mission. As the host does not speak, host expertise and pushback are scored zero.4:02–8:07 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Three Key Challenges in Diversity and Inclusion Data Chait outlines the first challenge regarding small data in recruiting and how Greenhouse uses academic research from MIT, Stanford, and Yale. The host is silent during this monologue segment.8:07–10:42 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Overcoming Challenge 2 - Real-Time Nudges and Leading Indicators Chait explains real-time nudges and leading indicators designed to address long hiring timelines. Host participation is absent, requiring zero host scores.10:42–14:55 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Overcoming Challenge 3 - Mitigating Controversy with Research and Context Chait describes strategies for navigating D&I controversies, including limiting product scope to unconscious bias. Host does not participate in this monologue section.14:55–18:18 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Moderated Discussion on Product Features and Analytics Matt Turck steps in with friendly follow-up questions asking about product details and general analytics. Chait explains the risk profile of hiring compared to buying standard physical goods.18:18–22:49 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Audience Q&A - Business Value and Unconscious Bias An audience member asks probing questions about business ROI and minority candidate adjustments. Chait uses a cognitive experiment on bias to educate the room in a calm, constructive tone.22:49–25:22 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Audience Q&A - Pricing Model and Conclusion After brief banter about Greenhouse socks, an audience question prompts Chait to discuss early access pricing and go-to-market strategy before the host concludes the session warmly.0:51–4:02 · Matt pushing back 0/10 Background on Greenhouse and Recruiting Platform This segment is a presentation monologue by Daniel Chait detailing Greenhouse's company background and mission. As the host does not speak, host expertise and pushback are scored zero.4:02–8:07 · Matt pushing back 0/10 Three Key Challenges in Diversity and Inclusion Data Chait outlines the first challenge regarding small data in recruiting and how Greenhouse uses academic research from MIT, Stanford, and Yale. The host is silent during this monologue segment.8:07–10:42 · Matt pushing back 0/10 Overcoming Challenge 2 - Real-Time Nudges and Leading Indicators Chait explains real-time nudges and leading indicators designed to address long hiring timelines. Host participation is absent, requiring zero host scores.10:42–14:55 · Matt pushing back 0/10 Overcoming Challenge 3 - Mitigating Controversy with Research and Context Chait describes strategies for navigating D&I controversies, including limiting product scope to unconscious bias. Host does not participate in this monologue section.14:55–18:18 · Matt pushing back 0/10 Moderated Discussion on Product Features and Analytics Matt Turck steps in with friendly follow-up questions asking about product details and general analytics. Chait explains the risk profile of hiring compared to buying standard physical goods.18:18–22:49 · Matt pushing back 0/10 Audience Q&A - Business Value and Unconscious Bias An audience member asks probing questions about business ROI and minority candidate adjustments. Chait uses a cognitive experiment on bias to educate the room in a calm, constructive tone.22:49–25:22 · Matt pushing back 0/10 Audience Q&A - Pricing Model and Conclusion After brief banter about Greenhouse socks, an audience question prompts Chait to discuss early access pricing and go-to-market strategy before the host concludes the session warmly.

speaking balance: gold is Matt, purple is the guest (3 minute bins)

0:00 · Matt 0% · guest 100%0:00 · Matt 0% · guest 100%3:00 · Matt 0% · guest 100%3:00 · Matt 0% · guest 100%6:00 · Matt 0% · guest 100%6:00 · Matt 0% · guest 100%9:00 · Matt 0% · guest 100%9:00 · Matt 0% · guest 100%12:00 · Matt 0.8% · guest 99.2%12:00 · Matt 0.8% · guest 99.2%15:00 · Matt 7.3% · guest 92.7%15:00 · Matt 7.3% · guest 92.7%18:00 · Matt 1.8% · guest 98.2%18:00 · Matt 1.8% · guest 98.2%21:00 · Matt 4.3% · guest 95.7%21:00 · Matt 4.3% · guest 95.7%24:00 · Matt 4.9% · guest 95.1%24:00 · Matt 4.9% · guest 95.1%
Sharpest disagreement ▶ 20:00 Audience challenge on diversity business value

In an otherwise completely collaborative talk, audience member Edward questions whether diversity yields positive business results and if the product adjusts scoring for minorities.

 Hardest push from Matt ▶ 15:00 Host redirect to product details

Matt politely pushes the guest to focus on the actual software product after Chait intentionally avoided making his presentation sound like an advertisement.

 Biggest teaching moment ▶ 17:40 Hiring decisions vs. physical purchasing decisions

Chait educates the room by pointing out that companies make six-figure annual bets on hires based on gut feeling, while demanding datasheets for inexpensive office equipment.

 Matt holds his own ▶ 17:06 Host connecting product capabilities to broader analytics

Matt Turck demonstrates domain knowledge by asking whether Greenhouse's funnel analytics extend beyond D&I into general recruiting metrics.
the scores for every segment, with the reasoning behind each
ChapterTopicMatt as informed peerGuest teachingGuest disagreementMatt pushing backWhy
Background on Greenhouse and Recruiting Platform 0100 This segment is a presentation monologue by Daniel Chait detailing Greenhouse's company background and mission. As the host does not speak, host expertise and pushback are scored zero.
Three Key Challenges in Diversity and Inclusion Data 0100 Chait outlines the first challenge regarding small data in recruiting and how Greenhouse uses academic research from MIT, Stanford, and Yale. The host is silent during this monologue segment.
Overcoming Challenge 2 - Real-Time Nudges and Leading Indicators 0100 Chait explains real-time nudges and leading indicators designed to address long hiring timelines. Host participation is absent, requiring zero host scores.
Overcoming Challenge 3 - Mitigating Controversy with Research and Context 0100 Chait describes strategies for navigating D&I controversies, including limiting product scope to unconscious bias. Host does not participate in this monologue section.
Moderated Discussion on Product Features and Analytics 2300 Matt Turck steps in with friendly follow-up questions asking about product details and general analytics. Chait explains the risk profile of hiring compared to buying standard physical goods.
Audience Q&A - Business Value and Unconscious Bias 1410 An audience member asks probing questions about business ROI and minority candidate adjustments. Chait uses a cognitive experiment on bias to educate the room in a calm, constructive tone.
Audience Q&A - Pricing Model and Conclusion 1200 After brief banter about Greenhouse socks, an audience question prompts Chait to discuss early access pricing and go-to-market strategy before the host concludes the session warmly.

Statements from this episode (7)

Insight
Recruiting lacks classic big data scale because hiring happens individually
“When you talk about data, like people are always talking about big data in hiring and recruiting, you often don't have like classically think of as big data. You often do things one at a time.”
Daniel Chait Jun 8, 2018 ▶ 4:15
Disclosure
Greenhouse limited its diversity product scope to target unconscious bias
“The third is that we consciously chose, no pun intended to limit the scope of the product around solving issues of unconscious bias.”
Daniel Chait Jun 8, 2018 ▶ 12:21
Insight
Chait: Providing corporate diversity data without context creates business risk
“And we thought if we just gave them data without the context behind the data, that that would open them up and by extension ourselves up to potential problems.”
Daniel Chait Jun 8, 2018 ▶ 14:35
Insight
Chait: Diversity hiring issues stem from downstream processes, not candidate pipelines
“One of the insights that we had from the research was that most people sort of offhandedly perceive diversity is a top of funnel problem. They say, oh, there's not enough women engineers out there. Well, it turns out that's not necessarily always the case. Oft…”
Daniel Chait Jun 8, 2018 ▶ 16:24
Insight
Chait: Hiring is a six-figure bet made with shockingly little data
“Every time you make a hire, you're basically placing a six figure annual bet on that person. And I can't think of another place in any organization where you make as big of a decision with as much financial impact with as little information as when most compan…”
Daniel Chait Jun 8, 2018 ▶ 17:50
Disclosure
Greenhouse enforces structured hiring by requiring identical questions for all candidates
“Like we take a position on structured hiring that you should have a hiring process. You should ask every candidate for a job, you know, the same questions in the same order. And give the ability to compare apples to apples.”
Daniel Chait Jun 8, 2018 ▶ 18:56
Insight
Chait: Heads of D&I are generally not software buyers
“They may have a head of D and I but that person is generally not in the business of buying software.”
Daniel Chait Jun 8, 2018 ▶ 23:55
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