Ellen Pao: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively ← Previous edit Next edit →Content deleted Content addedVisual WikitextInline

Revision as of 00:39, 28 March 2015 editSilver163 (talk \| contribs)93 edits Undid revision 653823722 by Fred Bauder (talk)← Previous edit		Revision as of 01:01, 28 March 2015 edit undoRobofish (talk \| contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers99,579 edits split out content on lawsuit into Ellen Pao gender discrimination lawsuit Next edit →
Line 39:		Line 39:

	==Gender discrimination lawsuit==		==Gender discrimination lawsuit==
			{{main\|Ellen Pao gender discrimination lawsuit}}
	The case, ''Ellen Pao v. Kleiner Perkins et al'', went to trial in late February 2015 with ] on Monday, February 23, and ]s on Tuesday, February 24.<ref name=recode022415>{{cite news\|author1=Liz Gannes\|title=Venture Capitalist Trae Vassallo to Testify She Was Harassed by Same Partner as Ellen Pao\|url=http://recode.net/2015/02/24/venture-capitalist-trae-vassallo-to-testify-she-was-harassed-by-same-partner-as-ellen-pao/\|accessdate=March 7, 2015\|work=Re/code\|date=February 24, 2015}}</ref> The trial, lasting 24 days, resulted in a verdict for Kleiner Perkins.<ref name=NYT032715>{{cite news\|author1=David Streitfeld\|title=Ellen Pao Loses Silicon Valley Gender Bias Case Against Kleiner Perkins\|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/28/technology/ellen-pao-kleiner-perkins-case-decision.html\|accessdate=March 27, 2015\|work=The New York Times\|date=March 27, 2015\|quote=In a sign that the struggle over the place of women in Silicon Valley is only beginning, gender discrimination suits have recently been filed against two prominent companies, Facebook and Twitter.}}</ref>{{Failed verification\|date=March 2015}} It was covered by the national media and elicited broad comment regarding the issues raised.<ref name=NYT03615>{{cite news\|author1=Claire Cain Miller\|title=A Racy Silicon Valley Lawsuit, and More Subtle Questions About Sex Discrimination\|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/07/upshot/a-racy-silicon-valley-lawsuit-and-more-subtle-questions-about-sex-discrimination.html\|accessdate=March 7, 2015\|work=The New York Times\|date=March 6, 2015\|format=Upshot blog\|quote=the real drama is in the more mundane charges, about slights familiar to any woman in any workplace that are rarely aired in public, much less in a courtroom.}}</ref> The case was live blogged and tweeted constantly, to the point that the constant coverage provided both humorous and serious feedback to lawyers and witnesses.<ref name=recodemedia32515>{{cite news\|author1=Nellie Bowles and Liz Gannes\|title=Lawyers Reading Mean Tweets: How the Media Influenced the Ellen Pao Trial\|url=http://recode.net/2015/03/26/lawyers-reading-mean-tweets-how-the-media-influenced-the-ellen-pao-trial/\|accessdate=March 26, 2015\|work=Re/code\|date=March 26, 2015\|quote=In this historic and high profile case, the media coverage has had a strangely powerful influence on the court proceedings. Though the jury may have to live in a self-imposed media-free vacuum, the judge, lawyers and witnesses do not. They’re glued to the press. Trials do not often get this much attention. The lawyers follow each story carefully.}}</ref> Two additional gender discrimination cases have been filed by women employees against ] firms, Twitter and Facebook.<ref name=NYT032715/>		The case, ''Ellen Pao v. Kleiner Perkins et al'', went to trial in late February 2015 with ] on Monday, February 23, and ]s on Tuesday, February 24.<ref name=recode022415>{{cite news\|author1=Liz Gannes\|title=Venture Capitalist Trae Vassallo to Testify She Was Harassed by Same Partner as Ellen Pao\|url=http://recode.net/2015/02/24/venture-capitalist-trae-vassallo-to-testify-she-was-harassed-by-same-partner-as-ellen-pao/\|accessdate=March 7, 2015\|work=Re/code\|date=February 24, 2015}}</ref> The trial, lasting 24 days, resulted in a verdict for Kleiner Perkins.<ref name=NYT032715>{{cite news\|author1=David Streitfeld\|title=Ellen Pao Loses Silicon Valley Gender Bias Case Against Kleiner Perkins\|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/28/technology/ellen-pao-kleiner-perkins-case-decision.html\|accessdate=March 27, 2015\|work=The New York Times\|date=March 27, 2015\|quote=In a sign that the struggle over the place of women in Silicon Valley is only beginning, gender discrimination suits have recently been filed against two prominent companies, Facebook and Twitter.}}</ref>{{Failed verification\|date=March 2015}} It was covered by the national media and elicited broad comment regarding the issues raised.<ref name=NYT03615>{{cite news\|author1=Claire Cain Miller\|title=A Racy Silicon Valley Lawsuit, and More Subtle Questions About Sex Discrimination\|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/07/upshot/a-racy-silicon-valley-lawsuit-and-more-subtle-questions-about-sex-discrimination.html\|accessdate=March 7, 2015\|work=The New York Times\|date=March 6, 2015\|format=Upshot blog\|quote=the real drama is in the more mundane charges, about slights familiar to any woman in any workplace that are rarely aired in public, much less in a courtroom.}}</ref> The case was live blogged and tweeted constantly, to the point that the constant coverage provided both humorous and serious feedback to lawyers and witnesses.<ref name=recodemedia32515>{{cite news\|author1=Nellie Bowles and Liz Gannes\|title=Lawyers Reading Mean Tweets: How the Media Influenced the Ellen Pao Trial\|url=http://recode.net/2015/03/26/lawyers-reading-mean-tweets-how-the-media-influenced-the-ellen-pao-trial/\|accessdate=March 26, 2015\|work=Re/code\|date=March 26, 2015\|quote=In this historic and high profile case, the media coverage has had a strangely powerful influence on the court proceedings. Though the jury may have to live in a self-imposed media-free vacuum, the judge, lawyers and witnesses do not. They’re glued to the press. Trials do not often get this much attention. The lawyers follow each story carefully.}}</ref> Two additional gender discrimination cases have been filed by women employees against ] firms, Twitter and Facebook.<ref name=NYT032715/>

	===Causes of action===
	The original case was filed under the ] and contained 3 causes of action:<ref name = Complaint />
	*Employment discrimination based on gender: {{Cquote\|12940. It is an unlawful employment practice, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification, or, except where based upon applicable security regulations established by the United States or the State of California:
	(a) For an employer, because of the race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, or military and veteran status of any person, to refuse to hire or employ the person or to refuse to select the person for a training program leading to employment, or to bar or to discharge the person from employment or from a training program leading to employment, or to discriminate against the person in compensation or in terms, conditions, or privileges of employment.<ref name = 12940etseq ></ref>}}
	*Workplace retaliation: {{Cquote\|(h) For any employer, labor organization, employment agency, or person to discharge, expel, or otherwise discriminate against any person because the person has opposed any practices forbidden under this part or because the person has filed a complaint, testified, or assisted in any proceeding under this part.<ref name = 12940etseq />}}
	*Failure to take reasonable steps to prevent gender discrimination: {{Cquote\|(k) For an employer, labor organization, employment agency, apprenticeship training program, or any training program leading to employment, to fail to take all reasonable steps necessary to prevent discrimination and harassment from occurring.<ref name = 12940etseq />}}
	Following her termination the complaint was amended and a 2nd count of retaliation, termination, was added.<ref name = Complaint /> In addition to a demand for ] of $16 million there is a plea for ].<ref name = PDRECODE > Liz Gannes ''Re/code'' March 17, 2015, accessed March 18, 2015]</ref>

	===Trial===
	The trial is heard before a jury<ref name=Fortune03515>{{cite news\|author1=Shalene Gupta\|title=Meet the jury that will decide Silicon Valley's biggest sex bias case\|url=http://fortune.com/2015/03/05/jury-discrimination-kleiner/\|accessdate=March 6, 2015\|work=Fortune\|date=March 5, 2015}}</ref> of 6 women and 6 men drawn from diverse employment and ethnic backgrounds<ref name = Jury >4th entry from the bottom </ref> and Judge ]<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://recode.net/2015/02/26/tech-startups-on-the-stand-z-a-a-r-l-y-z-u-o-r-a-and-t-u-m-b-l-r/\|title=Ellen Pao Lawsuit: Tech Startups on the Stand - Re/code\|work=Re/code}}</ref> at ].<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/23/technology/ellen-pao-suit-against-kleiner-perkins-heads-to-trial-with-big-potential-implications.html\|title=Ellen Pao Suit Against Kleiner Perkins Heads to Trial with Big Potential Implications\|newspaper=]\|accessdate=2015-03-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_27592432/opening-arguments-ellen-pao-vs-kleiner-perkins-touch \|title=Ellen Pao vs. Kleiner Perkins: Opening arguments touch on sex, power and money - San Jose Mercury News \|publisher=Mercurynews.com \|date= \|accessdate=2015-03-06}}</ref> Kleiner Perkins is represented by ] and Pao is represented by Alan Exelrod of Rudy Exelrod Zieff & Lowe.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/02/24/ellen-pao-trial-kleiner-perkins-discrimination-silicon-valley-venture-capital/23908291/ \|title=Ellen Pao lawyer: Kleiner Perkins 'not a level playing field' \|publisher=Usatoday.com \|date=2015-02-26 \|accessdate=2015-03-06}}</ref> She is also represented by Therese Lawless of Lawless & Lawless.<ref name = lawless >{{cite web\|url=http://recode.net/2015/02/25/all-male-ski-trip-and-no-women-at-al-gore-dinner-kleiners-chien-takes-the-stand-in-pao-lawsuit/\|title=Ellen Pao Lawsuit Day 2 - Re/code\|work=Re/code}}</ref>

	Pao’s suit alleges that: men were paid more than women at Kleiner Perkins, men were promoted ahead of women, men were allowed to serve on several ] while women were only allowed to serve on one board, and women who experienced sexual harassment had little support. Alan Exelrod, Pao's lawyer claimed that KPCB had promoted only one woman to senior partner in it's 40 year history. <ref>http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/mar/13/ellen-pao-gender-lawsuit-silicon-valley</ref> Kleiner Perkins denied the allegations and alleged that many of the ].<ref name = DefendentBrief /><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://observer.com/2012/05/female-partners-venture-capital-firms-fem-kleiner-perkins/ \|title=The Depressing Gender Gap at the Nation’s Top 71 Venture Capital Firms [SLIDESHOW \|publisher=Observer \|date= \|accessdate=2015-03-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/03/02/ellen-pao-kleiner-perkins-ted-schlein-cocky/24267571/ \|title=Man Ellen Pao accused of retaliation had bonus docked \|publisher=Usatoday.com \|date=2015-03-02 \|accessdate=2015-03-06}}</ref>

	It is a trial to a ] of 12 who, under the rules of the court, are permitted to submit written questions to witnesses. The judge is also permitted to question witnesses. Witnesses have previously been disclosed and ] prior to the trial and transcripts of their depositions are available to counsel for the opposing sides and may be compared to the testimony of the witness in the courtroom. There are hundreds of ] consisting of documents and emails which the court has audio-visual equipment to display to the witness, jury, and audience.

	====Plaintiff's case====
	The ] presented her case first, leading off with testimony by Tracy “Trae” Vassallo, a successful senior partner who had been employed by the firm, who testified about ] by Ajit Nazre, the married man who is alleged to have engaged in retaliation against the plaintiff, after she ended their consensual sexual relationship.<ref name=recode021415a>{{cite news\|author1=Liz Gannes\|title=VCs in Bathrobes, Women Asked to Play Secretary, Angry Texts: Day One of Pao v. Kleiner Perkins\|url=http://recode.net/2015/02/24/vcs-in-bathrobes-women-asked-to-play-secretary-and-angry-texts-day-one-of-pao-v-kleiner-perkins/\|accessdate=March 8, 2015\|work=]\|date=February 24, 2015}}</ref>

	The testimony and ] of the plaintiff occupied most of the second week. For the most part the plaintiff's case, and her testimony, involved actions by the defendant and its employees which disadvantaged her in the workplace such as inappropriate gifts, invitations, or conversation; positioning of sitting at meetings or office space in the defendant's offices; contradictory evaluations such as "too bold," "too quiet;" and failure of collegiality by junior and senior partners resulting in exclusion from meetings and information about investing opportunities. One cited example of this was an all-male dinner held at former Vice President Al Gore's apartment.<ref name="PreTrial-Feb2">{{cite news\|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_27444497/ellen-pao-seeking-16-million-sex-discrimination-lawsuit?source=pkg\|title=Ellen Pao seeking $16 million in sex discrimination lawsuit against Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers\|work=San Jose Mercury News\|author=Heather Somerville\|date=2 February 2015\|accessdate=20 March 2015}}</ref> Another was the failure to give her a board seat at ], an investment by the firm that she and general partner Randy Komisar had worked on was an issue.<ref name = RKRECODE > Liz Gannes ''Re/code'' March 17, 2015, accessed March 18, 2015]</ref> According to the plaintiff, despite the defendant hiring an outside investigator, ] who was characterized as "antagonistic",<ref>http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/epaper/2015-03/12/content_19792994.htm</ref> it failed to adequately address the gender issues and harassment which had impacted the plaintiff and other women in the workplace.<ref name = recodesum >See live blogs for the first two weeks of the trial at http://recode.net/tag/pao-trial/ accessed March 16, 2015</ref>

	The plaintiff called Allison West of Employment Practices Specialists who strongly criticized defendant's investigation of gender issues at the firm,<ref name = AWEPS > Re/code March 16, 2015</ref>

	====Defendant's case====
	First witness for the defense was David Lewin, professor of human resource management at UCLA, who testified as an ] regarding Ellen Pao's job search and prospects.<ref name=USAT031615>{{cite news\|author1=Elizabeth Weise\|title=Mary Meeker: No discrimination at Kleiner Perkins\|url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/03/16/ellen-pao-kleiner-perkins-alison-west/24782815/\|accessdate=March 17, 2015\|work=USA Today\|date=March 16, 2015\|quote=it wouldn't have been hard for her to find a new job and quickly make up any potential lost income}}</ref> The defendant then called ], a senior partner in the firm and a highly successful woman with extensive Wall Street experience. According to her, "Kleiner Perkins is the best place to be a woman in the business."<ref name = RCMM ></ref> John Doerr, one of Kleiner Perkins's top venture capitalists and Pao's former boss, when asked about Pao being fired rather than promoted, replied that of the approximately 25 people who had been hired into the same level position as Pao, ("junior partner") only five were promoted, while the other 20 were similarly dismissed.<ref name="Doerr testifies">{{cite news\|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_27645378/jurors-ellen-pao-discrimination-case-question-key-witness?source=pkg\|title=Ellen Pao trial: Doerr says tech, VC firms would do better 'if they hired more women'\|work=San Jose Mercury News\|author=Heather Somerville\|date=4 March 2015\|accessdate=19 March 2015}}</ref> "The junior partner is an up-or-out role. We have no lifetime junior partners." - John Doerr<ref name="Doerr testifies" />

	Kleiner has a larger, albeit low, ratio of women in the company, with 11 female partners and 20% of its staff female, than most other VC firms, which are 7-11% women, based on surveys done in 2011 & 2013.<ref name="EP KP face off">{{cite news\|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_27561160/former-vc-ellen-pao-and-powerhouse-firm-kleiner?source=pkg\|title=Ellen Pao, Kleiner Perkins face off in $16M sex discrimination trial\|work=San Jose Mercury News\|author=Heather Somerville\|date=20 February 2015\|accessdate=23 March 2015}}</ref>

	====Punitive damages====
	Defense lawyer Lynne Hermle asked Judge Harold Kahn to dismiss punitive damages, but Judge Kahn declined the request and ruled that here was sufficient evidence from which a reasonable juror could conclude that Kleiner Perkins engaged in intentional gender discrimination and that Pao may be awarded punitive damages.<ref>http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-32019790</ref> If she is awarded punitive damages it could push the total towards $160 million.

	Punitive damages can be as much as nine times the figure awarded for compensatory damages and are meant as a punishment for the discriminating party. Under California law, they can be awarded in cases where the defendant is found to have acted with "malice, fraud or oppression", and are usually reserved for the worst of the worst behavior.
	<ref>http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/03/23/ellen-pao-kleiner-perkins-sex-discrimination-160-million/25214583/</ref>

	====Partial list of witnesses====

	* Chi-Hua Chien (for the plaintiff)<ref>http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/mar/13/ellen-pao-gender-lawsuit-silicon-valley</ref>
	* Andrew Jody Gessow<ref name="Wired-Too_Opinionated">{{cite news\|url=http://www.wired.com/2015/03/kleiner-keeps-trying-butcher-paos-claims/\|title=Kleiner Witness Says Ellen Pao Was ‘a Bit Too Opinionated’\|work=Wired Magazine\|author=Davey Alba\|date=19 March 2015\|accessdate=20 March 2015}}</ref>
	* ] (defense witness)<ref>http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/03/05/ellen-pao-kleiner-perkins-stephen-hirschfeld/24453557/</ref>
	* ] (for the plaintiff) <ref>http://www.theverge.com/2015/3/9/8146253/kleiner-perkins-ellen-pao-pattern-matching</ref>
	* David Lewin, professor of human resource management at UCLA
	* ]
	* Ellen Pao, the plaintiff
	* Tracy “Trae” Vassallo, a senior partner employed by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
	* Allison West of Employment Practices Specialists
	* Rhoma Young<ref name="Wired-Too_Opinionated" />

	====Jury instructions====
	Plaintiff's claims:
	#Kleiner Perkins discriminated against Ellen Pao because of her gender.
	#Kleiner Perkins retaliated against her because of conversations in December 2011 and her memorandum in January 2012.
	#Kleiner Perkins failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent discrimination against her.
	#Kleiner Perkins retaliated by firing her after her conversations and memorandum.
	There are no sexual harassment claims.<ref name=RC032415/>

	The standard of proof is ].<ref name=RC032415/> The standard is met if the proposition is ] to be true than not true.

	Claim 1 must be proven before claim 3 can be considered.<ref name=RC032415/>

	Ellen Pao was an ] who could be fired without warning at any time for any reason or for no reason but not for the wrong reasons such as a ] where "actions or inactions were substantially motivated by gender discrimination and/or retaliation”. "Substantial motivating reasons and factors are more than remote or trivial motivating reasons and factors."<ref name=RC032415>{{cite news\|author1=Liz Gannes and Nellie Bowles\|title=Live: Closing Arguments in Ellen Pao’s Gender Discrimination Case Against Kleiner Perkins\|url=http://recode.net/2015/03/24/live-closing-arguments-in-ellen-paos-gender-discrimination-case-against-kleiner-perkins/\|accessdate=March 24, 2015\|work=Re/code\|date=March 24, 2015}}</ref>

	Compensatory damages are an estimate of her past and future lost earnings. Other, more complicated and technical, compensatory damages are reserved for future determination if there is a favorable verdict for plaintiff.<ref name=RC032415/>

	If the jury feels the defendant's actions involved malice, fraud and oppression they may consider punitive damages after the initial verdict is returned. There is a 7 page verdict form.<ref name=RC032415/>

	====Closing arguments====
	Alan Exelrod made the ] for plaintiff, saying defendants leaders “ran Kleiner Perkins like a boys’ club.” Lynne Hermle made the closing statement for defendant, focusing on the issues of the numbers of women employed and the allegedly discriminatory events.<ref name=RC032415/> According to her, plaintiff was fired because, while she is an excellent executive, she is not able to perform in venture capital at a senior level. Therese Lawless presented the rebuttal on behalf of the plaintiff:<ref name=RC032515>{{cite news\|author1=Liz Gannes and Nellie Bowles\|title=Live: Day Two of the Ellen Pao v. Kleiner Perkins Case Summations\|url=http://recode.net/2015/03/25/live-day-two-of-the-ellen-pao-v-kleiner-perkins-case-summations/\|accessdate=March 25, 2015\|work=Re/code\|date=March 25, 2015}}</ref>{{cquote\|“Women will be judged in one way and men in another. That’s not how it works in this country.”}}

	====Submitted to the jury====
	The case was submitted to the jury about noon on March 25, 2015. A ] is expected in a few days.<ref name=RC032515/> A unanimous verdict is not required, only support of 9 of the 12 jurors.<ref name=WP032415>{{cite news\|author1=Andrea Peterson\|title=The sex discrimination trial that rocked Silicon Valley is almost over. Here’s what you need to know.\|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2015/03/24/the-sex-discrimination-trial-that-rocked-silicon-valley-is-almost-over-heres-what-you-need-to-know/\|accessdate=March 25, 2015\|work=The Washington Post\|date=March 24, 2015\|quote=If the jury rules in favor of Kleiner Perkins, Pao will get nothing. To issue a verdict, nine jurors out of 12 must agree on whether or not there was discrimination.}}</ref>

	====Verdict====
	The initial verdict was announced shortly after 2 p.m. on Friday, March 27. The jury found 9-3 in favor of Kleiner Perkins on the first 3 claims. The jury, which found 8 to 4 in favor of Kleiner Perkins on the fourth claim of retaliation by termination, was directed to continue to deliberate on that claim as the finding did not meet the required threshold of 75%. The jury deliberated for a short time then returned a final verdict of 9-3 in favor of Kleiner Perkins on all claims.<ref name=Recodeverdict>{{cite news\|author1=Liz Gannes and Nellie Bowles\|title=Live: Ellen Pao Loses on All Claims in Historic Gender Discrimination Lawsuit Against Kleiner Perkins\|url=http://recode.net/2015/03/27/live-the-pao-v-kleiner-perkins-verdict/\|accessdate=March 27, 2015\|work=Re/code\|date=March 27, 2015\|quote=That’s the full verdict. No on all claims.}}</ref>

	==Personal life==		==Personal life==

Revision as of 01:01, 28 March 2015

Ellen K. Pao
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Princeton University (Electrical Engineering, 1991) Harvard Law School (Juris Doctor, 1994) Harvard Business School (MBA, 1998)
Occupation(s)	Attorney, executive
Spouse	Buddy Fletcher (m. 2007)

Ellen K. Pao is an American lawyer and interim chief executive officer of Internet company Reddit Inc. Pao was previously a junior investing partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, LLC, and a corporate director at Flipboard.

On May 10, 2012, Pao filed a gender discrimination suit against Kleiner Perkins which went to trial in late February 2015 in California state court, in San Francisco. She lost on all counts.

Early life and education

Pao, along with her two sisters, was born to Chinese immigrant parents. Her father, Young-Ping Pao, was a professor at New York University's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences. Pao was raised in Maplewood, New Jersey. She speaks English and Mandarin fluently.

Pao graduated from Princeton University with a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering in 1991, Harvard Law School with a juris doctor in 1994, and Harvard Business School with an MBA in 1998.

Career

From 1994 to 1996, Pao worked as a corporate attorney at Cravath, Swaine & Moore. In 1998, Pao worked at WebTV. Pao worked at several companies in Silicon Valley including BEA Systems as Senior Director, Corporate Business Development from 2001 until 2005.

In 2005 Pao joined Kleiner Perkins, an established venture capital firm in San Francisco, as technical chief of staff for John Doerr, a senior partner, a job that required degrees in engineering, law, and business, and experience in enterprise software. Her base pay was $220,000 plus substantial bonuses. In 2007 she was appointed a Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute on the recommendation of Doerr, a trustee. Also in 2007 she became a junior investing partner with Ted Schlein as her boss but was eventually passed over for a senior partner position. According to Pao, she had the job title of junior partner from her date of hiring and was promised an opportunity to move into an investing role. Doerr, who is aware of the gender gap at venture capital firms, mentored Pao, liberally providing feedback, but, in the end, was forced to agree with the other senior partners who had made negative evaluations of her work at the firm. It is Pao's contention, in her suit for gender discrimination, that men with similar profiles were, nevertheless, promoted.

On May 10, 2012, Pao filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against her employer alleging workplace retaliation by a male junior partner resulting from their personal relationship. She continued to work at the firm until October 1 when, according to her, she was terminated and, according to the defendant, offered a 5-month transition, with pay, to an operating role, but, when she rejected their offer, terminated effective October 31, 2012. Her lawyer said she was fired in retaliation for her lawsuit. The complaint was amended to add that cause of action. The firm said Pao was terminated for performance reasons unrelated to the lawsuit.

Pao joined Reddit in 2013 and became interim CEO in November 2014 after Yishan Wong resigned.

Gender discrimination lawsuit

Main article: Ellen Pao gender discrimination lawsuit

The case, Ellen Pao v. Kleiner Perkins et al, went to trial in late February 2015 with jury selection on Monday, February 23, and opening statements on Tuesday, February 24. The trial, lasting 24 days, resulted in a verdict for Kleiner Perkins. It was covered by the national media and elicited broad comment regarding the issues raised. The case was live blogged and tweeted constantly, to the point that the constant coverage provided both humorous and serious feedback to lawyers and witnesses. Two additional gender discrimination cases have been filed by women employees against Silicon Valley firms, Twitter and Facebook.

Personal life

Pao was married to Roger Kuo but later divorced. Pao married Buddy Fletcher a few months after she met him at Aspen Institute functions in Aspen during the summer of 2007, after they were both appointed Crown Fellows. Fletcher was an, arguably, successful hedge fund manager and philanthropist but now faces legal difficulties. Pao and Fletcher have a daughter, Matilda Pao Fletcher.