I've been in recruiting for seven years, and every time we push for more women in tech, someone brings up whether merit or quotas should drive hiring. We had a candidate last year who was brilliant but lacked a degree, and a woman who was qualified but not the absolute top scorer on our test. We hired the woman, and honestly, I still wonder if we did the right thing. Quotas can open doors, but they also plant a seed of doubt about whether someone earned their seat. Is it fair to prioritize diversity metrics when that might mean passing over a slightly more 'meritocratic' pick?