Uber suspends head of diversity for 'Don't Call Me Karen' sessions

Uber puts Asian diversity chief on leave after employees complained about ‘Don’t Call Me Karen’ sessions that were intended to explore ‘American white women’s experience’

• Bo Young Lee was put on leave after complaints from black and Hispanic employees at Uber
• They said they felt like they were being ‘scolded’ and lectured during the session

Uber has placed its Asian diversity and inclusion officer on leave after employees complained about a ‘don’t call me Karen’ session she arranged that was intended to explore the ‘American white woman’s experience’. 

Bo Young Lee was hired by Uber in 2018 as its Chief Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officer. 

She is now on leave after employees – including some involved in a ‘Black at Uber’ organization – complained about the sessions.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi put Bo Young Lee on leave after black and Hispanic employees complained about the ‘Don’t Call Me Karen’ sessions

Titled Moving Forward: Don’t Call Me Karen, the sessions were designed to give white women who work at Uber the chance to share their perspectives

Titled Moving Forward: Don’t Call Me Karen, the sessions were designed to give white women who work at Uber the chance to share their perspectives. 

‘We will be diving into the spectrum of the American white woman’s experience from some of our female colleagues, particularly how they navigate around the Karen persona,’ an invitation for the event read. 

Panelists included Head of People Nikki Krishnamurthy, Director Meghan Musbach, Senior Director Kelly Seeman, and Director of Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Initiatives Diane Krieman. 

Lee, who advocates for gender neutral bathrooms LGBTQ rights and Black Lives Matter on social media in addition to in her job, moderated the conversation. 

Uber Director of Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Initiatives Diane Krieman (left) and Uber Senior Director Kelly Seeman (right) were among those on the panel 

The first session was in April and inspired a complaint from a black, female employee who said called it ‘tone-deaf, offensive and triggering’. 

Lee defended the decision, according to The New York Times, telling the woman that while the conversation may have been uncomfortable, ‘sometimes being pushed out of your own strategic ignorance is the right thing to do’. 

The second event happened last week on Zoom. 

During the session, Hispanic and black employees complained on designated Slack channels – ‘Los Ubers’ and ‘Black at Uber’ –  that they were being ‘scolded’. 

‘I just don’t even understand the premise of the meeting. 

‘I think when people are called Karen’s it’s implied that it is someone that has little empathy to others or is bothered by minorities others that don’t look like them.

Employees complained on Slack channels. Some said they felt like they were being ‘scolded’

Members of the company Slack channel ‘Black at Uber’ complained about the session 

The same Slack channel then celebrated Bo being put on leave

‘Like why can’t bad behavior not be called out?’ complained one employee. 

Screenshots of their conversations were obtained by reporter Richard Hanania. 

On May 18, the company announced Lee had been placed on leave. 

‘We have heard that many of you are in pain and upset by yesterday’s Moving Forward session. 

‘While it was meant to be a dialogue, it’s obvious that those who attended did not feel heard.

‘Given that, Dara and I have asked Bo to step back and take a leave of absence while we determine next steps,’ said Krishnamurthy.

The decision was celebrated on the Slack channels afterwards. 

‘Just want to say a huge, huge thank you to the amazing ERG leaders, especially Black@ who escalated Bo’s behavior to Dara and made sure that our outrage didn’t go unheard. 

‘You deserve a pay raise and/or time off for all this unpaid emotional labor,’ said one employee. 

Uber did not immediately respond to inquiries. It’s unclear how many other sessions Lee has held.

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