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The entrepreneur recalled how an investor once asked her directly, asking her if her “skin color or gender” was preventing the company from raising more money.
The woman shared a post on Instagram
A video shared by a businesswoman has gone viral on social media after she claimed she was removed from her position as CEO of the company she co-founded because she was a “black woman.” She revealed in the video that the company’s board of directors decided to replace her with a white man, citing concerns that her identity, gender, and skin color could discourage potential investors.
The clip sparked debate about diversity, representation and discrimination in business leadership. Many social media users expressed their anger and support at what they described as an example of racial and gender bias in corporate culture.
“They chose a white man to replace me.”
Sharing her experience, the entrepreneur said, “In July 2024, the board selected a white man to replace me as CEO of a company I co-founded and have run for 10 years. I’ll tell you why it’s important to have a white man replace me.”
She went on to explain the mindset that, in her opinion, influenced the decision. “Your first big institutional investor will set the tone for the type of investors you can later attract to the company,” she said. “When you accept a big check from a Tier 2 or Tier 3 investor.”
The entrepreneur recalled how an investor once asked her directly, asking her if her “skin color or gender” was preventing the company from raising more money. “Let’s put a pin on it,” she added.
According to her, when the board later chose to appoint a new CEO, some members expressed concern about the “image” of a white man replacing a black woman. “When they tried to convince the rest of the board that the swap should be made, apparently, one of the female board members was very uncomfortable with the idea of a white man replacing a black woman as CEO,” she said.
After discussions, the Board of Directors proposed that both of them run the company as co-CEOs. But she said that arrangement quickly collapsed. “Not all board members agreed with this idea,” she explained. “I received a phone call from one of them who said they would not be able to give equal pay to both executives.”
She further claimed: “Now they were bringing in a new CEO with a certain salary. He had the audacity, in 2024, to call me and tell me that as a black woman I couldn’t get the same salary as a white man. The board couldn’t come to a decision, so they just picked him as CEO.”
Social media reaction
The businessman’s honesty and courage to speak out has struck a chord online. Many users praised it for its openness on a topic that remains largely unspoken in the corporate world.
One user commented: “I never thought I’d see such honesty on this platform – love it!”
Another wrote: “Thank you for sharing your story. More women need to talk about things like this.”
A third user added: “It’s all about optics for them because deep down they always believed the white man makes the difference! Thank you for sharing your story so beautifully.”
The video sparked a broader debate about racial and gender discrimination in leadership roles.
Anushka Vats is a sub-editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. It covers national and international news. For more stories you can follow… Read more
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10 October 2025, 8:27 PM IST
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