‘He replaced me for being brown’: Entrepreneur, former Google tech, alleges racial bias behind CEO replacement

Vidya Narayanan, a former Google employee and entrepreneur, has sparked controversy on social media after she shared a video detailing her exit from a company she co-founded and led for more than a decade. In a candid Instagram post titled “From Founding to Replacement as CEO: The Additions,” Narayanan claimed that she was removed from her position as CEO only because she was a “brown woman.”

Narayanan, who worked at Google between 2012 and 2014, co-founded three companies and served as CEO in two of them. She claims in her video that the board of one of her companies believed her race and gender would be a barrier when courting major investors.

She recalled specific incidents from that period that highlighted the challenges she faced. One particularly glaring example was that a board member told her he would not support equal pay for her and the newly appointed co-CEO if the company moved toward that structure.

Despite being fired, Narayanan said she was offered a lesser role. “I’ve been told that I’m fortunate enough to keep my position,” she said, referring to the board’s decision to keep her in a reduced position.

Her post quickly gained significant attention, attracting thousands of views and a wave of comments, many of them supporting her and highlighting systemic bias in tech and startups.

“Maybe they were counting on you never telling what happened to you, but that’s where they made a mistake. They messed with an articulate woman. Your storytelling is top notch. I love listening to you even though I have nothing to do with this world,” one user wrote.

Others were more explicit in their criticism of the council’s alleged motives. “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 and showing authenticity,” one comment read.

Another added: “If the white guy had the qualifications, I don’t think she would have a problem with it. I don’t think he got them by merit. The company just needed a white guy’s tag to sell. I hope they meet the criteria investors are looking for. Please don’t do his work for him.”

Narayanan’s story has resonated with many who see it as part of a broader pattern where women of color in leadership face unique and often unspoken obstacles in the startup ecosystem. Her decision to speak out has fueled conversations about bias, optics and meritocracy in boards of directors, conversations that many believe are long overdue.