Former Reddit CEO to write book on tech’s ‘toxic culture’

Ellen Pao, the former interim chief executive of Reddit who sued one of tech’s top venture capital firms alleging discrimination, is writing a book about the tech industry’s “toxic culture.”

Recode reported the deal for the memoir “RESET,” which a press release says will expose “the toxic culture that pervades the tech industry and defined her experiences both as a Kleiner Perkins venture capitalist and Reddit CEO.”

{mosads}The release, posted by Recode, said that “in telling her story as one of the few visible, prominent women of color who have reached the C-suite in corporate America and have dared to speak out about her experience, Pao … aims to spark a movement to empower other women and minorities.”

Pao was behind an unsuccessful suit against venture firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, alleging that she had been the victim of discrimination. Though a jury didn’t rule in her favor, the case raised major questions about diversity in Silicon Valley.

She fought the battle while serving as interim CEO of community site Reddit. While there, she helped to institute more anti-harassment measures for the site’s infamously aggressive threads. But she left the company after users revolted when she dismissed a popular employee.

Last month, she was one of a number of women in Silicon Valley to launch Project Include — which is aimed at helping startups deal with diversity questions. Silicon Valley companies have long struggled with racial and gender diversity, attracting attention from some policymakers in Washington.