Ellen Pao is an American lawyer, business executive, and diversity advocate. She co-founded Project Include, a nonprofit organization aimed at accelerating diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. Previously, Pao served as the interim CEO of Reddit, where she implemented policies to curb harassment on the platform. She gained national attention in 2012 for filing a gender discrimination lawsuit against venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins, highlighting issues of bias in Silicon Valley. Pao holds degrees in electrical engineering from Princeton University and both law and business from Harvard University.

Prior to her prominence as an advocate for diversity and inclusion, Ellen Pao built a multifaceted career in law, business, and technology. After earning her electrical engineering degree from Princeton University, she worked as a corporate attorney at Cravath, Swaine & Moore. Pao then pursued an MBA and JD at Harvard University, which led her to roles in business development at BEA Systems and as a technical chief of staff at Kleiner Perkins. These experiences provided her with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges within the tech industry, particularly regarding workplace diversity and inclusion.

Ellen Pao's rise to prominence began with her 2012 gender discrimination lawsuit against Kleiner Perkins, which, despite being unsuccessful, sparked a national conversation about bias in Silicon Valley. In 2014, she became the interim CEO of Reddit, where she implemented policies to combat online harassment, demonstrating her commitment to creating inclusive environments. In 2016, Pao co-founded Project Include, aiming to provide meaningful diversity and inclusion solutions for tech companies. Through these endeavors, Pao has established herself as a leading advocate for equity in the technology sector. ​