Ellen Pao

Ellen Pao
Name	Ellen Pao
Caption	Pao in 2015
Birth date	10 February 1970
Birth place	Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S.
Education	Princeton University (BS), Harvard Law School (JD), Harvard Business School (MBA)
Spouse	Buddy Fletcher, 2007

Ellen Pao is an American technology executive, investor, and advocate for diversity and inclusion in the technology industry. She gained national prominence for her 2012 gender discrimination lawsuit against the prominent venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins and later served as the interim CEO of the social media platform Reddit. Her career spans roles in law, corporate strategy, and venture capital at firms including Microsoft, BEA Systems, and KPMG, and she is a co-founder of the diversity initiative Project Include.

Early life and education

Born in Hoboken, New Jersey, to immigrant parents from China, she demonstrated academic prowess from an early age. She attended Princeton University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Following her undergraduate studies, she simultaneously pursued graduate degrees at Harvard University, receiving a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.

Career

Her professional journey began in corporate law and strategy, with early roles at the consulting firm KPMG and the technology company BEA Systems. She later worked at Microsoft in corporate strategy before transitioning into the venture capital industry. In 2005, she joined the renowned Silicon Valley firm Kleiner Perkins as a junior partner and chief of staff to famed investor John Doerr. Her work there involved investments in and board positions for technology companies across various sectors, setting the stage for her later legal challenges within the firm.

Kleiner Perkins lawsuit

In 2012, she filed a high-profile lawsuit against Kleiner Perkins, alleging gender discrimination and retaliation. The case, *Pao v. Kleiner Perkins*, went to trial in San Francisco Superior Court in 2015, capturing intense media scrutiny and sparking a broader conversation about sexism in Silicon Valley. Although the jury ultimately ruled in favor of the firm, the trial was widely seen as a landmark event that exposed systemic issues within the venture capital world. The case influenced subsequent diversity efforts and inspired other women in tech, including the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Uber orchestrated by attorney Lynne Hermle.

Reddit tenure

Following the trial, she was appointed interim CEO of Reddit in late 2014, succeeding Yishan Wong. Her tenure was marked by significant controversy as she attempted to enforce stricter community guidelines and curb harassment on the platform, leading to the banning of several controversial subreddits. These actions triggered a user revolt known as "Reddit Blackout 2015" and intense criticism from parts of the Reddit community. She resigned from the position in 2015, with Steve Huffman returning as CEO, but her efforts were later credited with initiating necessary reforms for the platform's long-term health.

Project Include and diversity advocacy

After leaving Reddit, she co-founded Project Include in 2016 with other prominent tech leaders like Freada Kapor Klein and Tracy Chou. The nonprofit organization provides open-source resources and data-driven recommendations to help technology companies build more inclusive workplaces. She has also served as a venture partner at Kapor Capital and authored the memoir "Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change," which details her experiences with discrimination. Her advocacy work has influenced diversity policies at major firms like Google and Facebook and she frequently speaks at events such as the Grace Hopper Celebration.

Personal life

She is married to Buddy Fletcher, a former hedge fund manager, and they have two children. The couple has been involved in various philanthropic and legal endeavors, including a notable lawsuit against Harvard University concerning the administration of a charitable fund. She serves on the board of the Kapor Center and remains an active voice on issues of equity in technology through public speaking, writing, and her ongoing work with Project Include.

Category:American technology executives Category:American women chief executives Category:American diversity and inclusion activists Category:People from Hoboken, New Jersey Category:Harvard Law School alumni Category:Harvard Business School alumni Category:Princeton University alumni