This interview was originally published on the Topknot Blog on September 15th, 2020.
Daphne Larose (she/her) comes to Topknot from Niantic, where she was a Technical Lead Manager working on Pokemon GO. She was previously at Apple, started her career at Lexmark, and has worked with various startups. Daphne’s accomplishments and talents are widely recognized. She’s been a featured speaker twice at Apple’s WWDC, was invited to the Obama White House’s LGBT Tech & Innovation Briefing, and was named one of Forbes’ Top 50 American Women in Tech. Daphne also founded the Black Feminist Book Club, which boasts 600+ members in the Bay Area and an additional chapter in DC. Daphne studied CS at Barnard College and earned her masters from Georgia Tech. She is an artist, storyteller, gamer, and an inspiration to all who meet her.
We asked Daphne a few questions in the spirit of the work that happens on Topknot.
What brought you to Topknot?
I believe in this team and what we can build together. That may sound typical or the expected answer, but it’s the real real reason I joined Topknot. There were two opportunities I considered most strongly. I was lucky in that I knew both teams, so ultimately it came down to the vision of the company and my connection to the product. I participated in a Topknot pilot back in March and the experience was powerful. My group still meets to this day. That won me over. The thing that makes me most excited now is the opportunity to build a team, something you just can’t do at an established company.
What do you need to feel fulfilled in your work?
The first two words that come to mind are autonomy and agency. Big picture: representation matters, visibility matters, but true ownership and decision-making are what moves the needle. I have seen so many companies struggle to build diverse teams and I truly believe that the first step in getting a multicultural org is having it run by a BIPOC. Companies should put BIPOC in positions of power and let them use it; their presence alone does not enact change. I cannot wait to build an org that doesn’t suffer from these issues because we are intentional and BIPOC-led from the start.
For daily fulfillment, I need structure like to-do lists. I thrive with mapping things out and crossing things off. I like to start every day with something warm to drink — it’s the simple joys. I also need to be connected with my teammates. I like check-ins that allow for talk about life outside of work, and just fun.
What are activities you value outside of work?
People conjure a certain image of engineers and I probably fit none of their stereotypes. I love to read, so much so that I started the Black Feminist Book Club to create a space to share my passions with others. A book that I read recently that impacted me deeply was Two Moons: Stories by Krystal Smith. It’s absolutely gorgeous writing. The stories are Afro-futuristic and each features a Black queer protagonist. It was such a powerful read. I have also actively claimed my identity as a gamer. Not a day goes by that I am not playing something, whether it be on my phone, PS4, or Switch. I also love to make art. I paint and draw, and my home is filled with works I’ve made.
What’s a goal that you’ve set for yourself?
I’m not sure how to say this — it feels both hard and woo woo at the same time — but I’ve felt my higher self extending an invitation recently to become a better version of me, and I’m accepting that invitation.
Editor’s note: We’re not sure we’ve seen a more beautiful goal.
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