Jennifer Nelson, a former senior Amazon executive, was suddenly terminated by Steve Baldwin as the Chief Operating Officer of the new tech startup Finch AI last week. Nelson, who was appointed as COO of Finch as recently as August 2023, returned from a few days of leave and was summarily fired by Baldwin who alleged she created a toxic work environment.
This is the same allegation Baldwin made in 2023 against Washington Spirit co-owner Michelle Kang, an accomplished healthcare executive, when he tried to have her removed. However, the Washington Spirit’s own female players countered in a series of open letters that it was Baldwin who was responsible for creating a toxic environment.
A Washington Post investigation found that at least four Spirit players departed the team on account of abuse by former head coach, Richie Burke, who Baldwin appointed and protected. In the wake of the report, the NWSL launched its own investigation, which eventually uncovered an “old boys’ club” culture that was toxic for the women who worked there, according to The Post. 27 Spirit players then signed a letter asking Baldwin to step down as CEO and co-owner of the Club.
Finch AI on its website claims to provide an AI product that “Drive smarter decisions, reduce noise, increase productivity, and enhance trust — at speed and scale.” However, several current and former female employees at Finch AI said the same is not true of Baldwin’s management style as Founder and CEO of the company.
According to the female employees, who spoke anonymously because of fear of retribution, Baldwin is perpetuating the same toxic culture that prevailed under him as CEO of the Washington Spirit at Finch AI.
The female employees are shocked by Baldwin’s dismissal of Nelson. Nelson previously successfully led Amazon’s cloud computing work with the intelligence community building a team and multibillion dollar business that transformed Amazon’s government business. Nelson is said to have been targeted by Baldwin because she voiced concerns about the abuse of women inside his new business and false and misleading representations Baldwin was making about his AI product to potential government clients.
A 2023 survey by Women Who Tech found that discrimination against women in the tech sector remains a serious problem. 57% of women founders said they have been discriminated against in the last 12 months. 42% of women surveyed had sexual slurs directed at them by male colleagues at work.
Several Washington Spirit players have now come forward demanding that the investigation into Baldwin by the NSWL be re-opened. In a letter to the NSWL the players are raising concerns that Baldwin has never been held accountable for the abuse that happened at the Washington Spirit. The players expressed fear that he is now continuing the same abuse in the tech sector. A spokesperson for the NSWL said the League’s investigation into the abuse of players is ongoing.
