Gender Not 'substantial Reason' Ellen Pao Not Promoted At Kleiner

Ellen Pao's gender was not a "substantial reason" why she wasn't promoted at the storied venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, a California jury said Friday, according to reports. The high profile gender-discrimination lawsuit brought by Pao, a former Kleiner junior partner, has sparked a broad debate about sexism and gender discrimination in Silicon Valley. Pao sued Kleiner for gender discrimination and retaliation, saying she was asked to sit in the back of the room and take notes, passed over for promotion, and eventually dismissed because she spoke out about unfair treatment at the firm due to her gender. Kleiner stressed its leadership in promoting women in venture capital, and sought to paint Pao as not a good fit for her job.