Erin Gleason Lane

I’m a lifelong Democrat whose grandmother immigrated from Mexico to the U.S. in search of a better life. My grandma raised me along with my mom. They were the two strongest women I’ve ever known.

They taught me, among other things, the value of hard work, the critical importance of knowledge and the power of compassion. Their teachings (and a lot of scholarship money) got me through Stanford and landed me where I am today.

In my role @foundersfund, I’m fortunate to work with some mind-blowingly smart founders. I’ve found that, counterintuitively, the brightest entrepreneurs are also the ones most welcoming of criticism and debate. This is certainly the case with Anduril’s founders.

I’ve worked w/ @traestephens for close to 5 years & I’ve spent the better part of a year getting to know the Anduril team. I’ve heard them thoughtfully discuss the implications of their work, & their vision for a safer, stronger America empowered to be a force for good.

Many people I love believe defense-related work is evil. I used to think the same. After taking the time to learn about Anduril firsthand, my opinions have changed. I’m far from a Trump supporter--I’ve never voted Republican--but I haven’t lost the ability to think for myself.

So, I just want to make the case for civil discourse. Take the time to respectfully engage. Look for common ground and solutions. Substantive critiques drive change, ad hominem attacks simply keep us in a constant state of partisan warfare.