In a small ecosystem, many people are afraid of the consequences of speaking up - fearing that what they say will ripple back and undermine them down the line.

Inertia. Choked innovation. Learned helplessness. False narratives that, gone unchallenged, become accepted wisdom. Pleasant gatherings and polite applause followed by furious back-channel conversations and kangaroo courts held in small group chats.

A few times, I’ve bucked this trend and rocked the boat.

I’ve criticised the undervaluing of community management skills by an organisation that purports to be community-powered. I’ve called out token attempts to add diversity to boards. I’ve questioned whether programs for women in venture capital launched by senior leaders duplicated the grassroots efforts driven by more junior operators.

I do pick my battles. First and foremost - I only punch up. I call out high-status people, in revered positions. I always try to be respectful, reasonable, and constructive.

Every time I “go off” - a bunch of people message me: “Thank you for saying all the things we’re thinking, hissing under our breath, but don’t have the balls to say publicly.”

This is the problem. It shouldn’t be transgressive to call a spade a spade.

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In effect, our culture of niceness silences those with the least social capital: those most fearful of losing their job or social standing; those with the least buffer to cushion any backlash for their transgression.

After all, in a small ecosystem, many people are afraid of the consequences of speaking up - fearing that what they say will ripple back and undermine them down the line. Not everyone can afford to take it on the chin.

So what’s my rallying cry? If you’re lucky enough to be in a position to - speak up. Be honest. Call out bullshit, hypocrisy, and vacuous grandstanding. Give people real feedback - the unvarnished truth - to show you respect their intellect and value their time.

Let’s stop being nice. Let’s show that we care. “Nice” is the opiate of an ecosystem that will stagnate.

Jessy Wu is an investment principal at AfterWork Ventures, a local early-stage venture capital fund. The views expressed are her own and do not necessarily reflect the views of her employer.

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