It was a big deal when Terri Burns first started working for GV, then known as Google Ventures, as a principal on the investing team, and now she’s become the firm’s youngest and first Black female partner.
“There’s a part of me that’s like, ‘It’s really great that we are moving into space where different types of people—young people, folks of color—are getting a seat at the table and having lots of opportunities. But with these opportunities, she says, also comes “a little bit of weight, where you want to make sure that you are paving the way for others,” she tells CNBC Make It.
“This is an exciting moment that I’m grateful for and looking forward to but I also feel like there is still a lot of work to be done and that’s something that I feel very dearly and take very seriously.”
After graduating from New York University with a degree in computer science, Burns had her sights set on getting into Silicon Valley, initially starting her career with Twitter as an associate product manager. It was then that she got in contact with a partner at the firm who provided more insight into building a career in tech.
“When I started my career as a computer scientist and product manager, I was hyper-focused: there was always one project, one feature, and one team I was focused on,” she says on the GV website. “Today as a VC, I have the unique opportunity to really go broad and understand the greater entrepreneurial and technological market. As a person with many different interests, it’s the perfect balance for me.”
Burns went on social media to celebrate the huge news and accomplishment posting a cake honoring her success on Instagram.