Brad Feld and I are writing a book, Startup Boards, where we raise the fundamental question – can you proactively build an all-star, high-performing board?

By Mahendra Ramsinghani (Contributor, Forbes)

Today, no woman is giving a spirited “I have a dream…” speech to founders and entrepreneurs, seeking a balanced startup board. Such issues are best left for public company boards, non-profits or the likes of girl-scout cookie boards.

Because startup boards are formed in a hurry, we need to close that Series A round in a hurry, ship products in a hurry and sell the company in a hurry! Who has time for this diversity kumbaya? Dancing in moonlight? Nah… not me. I am busy making a dent in the world. Let someone else down the road worry about a gender-balanced board.

That’s what most founders will say. And its time we faced the truth – in the name of speed (or fill in the blank lame excuse) , we are being utterly lazy and irresponsible to our own startups. Not to mention our customers, our stakeholders and society at large – indeed, as Dan Shapiro of Google says, to handicap yourself by 50% of the population is insanity.

» Read the full article at Forbes.