WHAT MONEY CAN’T BUY: Uber may have a new CEO. But it’ll take a lot more than a fresh face—and money—to rebuild the company’s brand, which has been tarred by a long string of sexual harassment and mismanagement practices.
TechCrunch reports that Black Girls Code’s founder, Kimberly Bryant, has turned down $125,000 from Uber, citing that the move “seems a bit tone-deaf to really addressing real change in how they are moving towards both inclusion and equity. It appears to be more PR driven than actually focused on real change.” There were likely no financial regrets at passing up the offer, as Black Girls Code received more than $125,000 in direct donations since turning down Uber’s money.
A day earlier, Uber announced a 3-year, $1.2 million donation to Girls Who Code. As part of the gift, Uber’s Chief Branding Officer Bozoma Saint John will join the nonprofit’s board of directors. This move also drew criticism, appearing to some as a publicity stunt.
In its diversity report released in March, Uber said it would commit $3 million to efforts that focus on supporting female and underrepresented minorities in the tech industry.
