SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – A woman behind a high-profile sexual discrimination lawsuit against one of Silicon Valley’s most prestigious venture capital firms testified Monday that female employees were treated disrespectfully – and some were not even invited – when the company held a series of events.
Plaintiff Ellen Pao also told the jury at the civil trial that she complained to management about the atmosphere at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers after learning a female colleague had complained about alleged sexual harassment.
Pao took the witness stand for the first time in the case that has shined a spotlight on gender imbalance in the venture capital and technology sectors, where women are grossly underrepresented.
The trial has also brought some of the nation’s most accomplished venture capitalists into the courtroom, where they have faced tough questions the behavior of men in the workplace.
Pao testified that it seemed like none of the female junior partners at Kleiner Perkins were going to be promoted, and the company took no action regarding the sexual harassment claim by her colleague.