"Reset" by Ellen Pao is a powerful and personal account of her experience as a woman of colour in the tech industry and her subsequent high-profile discrimination lawsuit against a prominent Silicon Valley venture capital firm.
Pao sued a powerhouse Silicon Valley venture capital firm, calling out workplace discrimination and retaliation against women and other underrepresented groups. Her suit rocked the tech world – and exposed its toxic culture and its homogeneity. Her message overcame negative PR attacks that took aim at her professional conduct and her personal life, and she won widespread public support – Time hailed her as “the face of change.” Though Pao lost her suit, she revolutionised the conversation at tech offices, in the media, and around the world. In Reset, she tells her full story for the first time.
Pao provides readers with a candid and detailed account of the sexism, racism, and harassment that she experienced throughout her career in tech. She exposes the toxic culture of Silicon Valley, where a lack of diversity and inclusion has resulted in a culture that is hostile to women and people of colour. "Reset" offers a critical analysis of the tech industry and its impact on society.
Pao highlights the ways in which the industry's focus on innovation and disruption has resulted in a disregard for ethics and social responsibility. She also provides a roadmap for how we can create a more equitable and inclusive tech industry, including strategies for improving diversity, accountability, and transparency.
Her writing is powerful and engaging, making the book a compelling read. She uses her own personal experiences to illustrate the broader issues facing women and people of colour in tech, while also providing insights into the legal system and the challenges of taking on a powerful industry.
"Reset" is an essential read for anyone interested in the intersection of technology, diversity, and social justice. Pao's courageous and honest account provides a much-needed perspective on the challenges facing marginalised communities in the tech industry, while also offering hope for a more inclusive and equitable future.
