'Thanks Ellen' ad runs in Palo Alto newspaper

SAN FRANCISCO — In an example of the strong feelings around the Ellen Pao case, a group of tech workers in Silicon Valley took out a full-page ad in the Palo Alto Daily Post Tuesday that read simply, "Thanks Ellen."

Pao lost her $16 million sexual discrimination suit against powerful venture capital firm Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers on Friday.

The men and women who paid for the ad don't know Pao personally. However, they wanted to show support for her because she has brought the issue of the lack of women in venture capital and tech to the fore.

Some are calling the Pao case tech's "Anita Hill moment," a point the discussion began in earnest.

"It just started with four of us sitting around on Sunday afternoon at Café Venetia in Palo Alto, Calif., said Lori Hobson, a businesswoman who works with a Silicon Valley product development firm.

The café is popular with many in tech and venture capital. During the conversation, several men came and went, all of whom said they thought the trial and the verdict was a setback for women.

"But none of the women thought that — they all thought it was great that she told her story and that the issues were raised," Hobson said.

One thing led to another. Kris Loew, a social media graphic designer, volunteered to create an ad. A Facebook page was launched and money was raised on PayPal to pay for the ad.

"It happened so fast because these people are just so amazingly talented," Hobson said.

"Ellen's story resonated, it hit a chord with so many women. We wanted to thank her publicly for being brave enough to tell it, and make it so other people might tell their stories," she said.

The Twitter tag "ThankYouEllenPao" has also been trending in the days since the trial ended.

The Palo Alto Daily Postis a local, print-only newspaper that is distributed for free in more than 1,000 locations in Silicon Valley.

"It's available in restaurants and lunchrooms around University Avenue and Sand Hill Road," Hobson said. Both are ground zero for venture capital and tech.

The ad hoc group felt that regardless of the outcome of the trial, the case has brought much-needed attention to the issues women who work for technology companies face.

It is not that they doubt the jury's verdict. "We respect the judicial process," Hobson said.

Rather, they are simply grateful the topic has been broached. They are very aware that "at great personal cost and risk to her own career, Pao brought to light a hidden aspect of the business culture in Silicon Valley," she said.

Many of the women she's spoken with say they've encountered these type of work environments or situations, but most choose "just to deal" with it. To have Pao take a stand touched a nerve, Hobson said.