Ex-Executive Files Lawsuit Against Insight Partners Over Gender Discrimination Claims

A former vice president at Insight Partners has taken legal action against the venture capital firm, alleging wrongful termination and gender discrimination. Katherine Lowry claims that the firm has systematically prevented women from reaching its highest levels.

Lowry, a consultant and strategist in the tech industry who joined Insight in 2022, has filed a lawsuit citing multiple violations of employment law. These include accusations of disability discrimination and retaliation following her medical leave, as detailed in a state-court complaint lodged in San Mateo, California.

An Insight spokesperson has yet to provide a comment regarding the allegations outlined in the complaint.

Over the past few decades, the venture capital landscape has transformed from a niche sector into a vital engine for growth, particularly as technology companies have become integral to public markets. Despite increasing demands for gender and racial diversity, the VC industry remains predominantly white and male, especially in management roles, according to industry research.

A 2024 study from PitchBook revealed that women constitute only 17.3% of decision-makers at VC firms managing over $50 million in assets. At Insight, the disparity is evident, with 60 men and just 11 women holding positions as managing directors or operating partners.

Insight, which invests in startups and private equity deals, stands as one of the largest firms in the sector, boasting over $90 billion in assets. The firm has recently celebrated significant successes, including major investments in cybersecurity startups Wiz and Armis, both of which achieved multi-billion dollar acquisitions in 2025.

In October, Lowry released a book titled Unbreakable: How to Thrive Under Fear-Based Leaders. During a recent interview, she remarked, “VC is a very small space. People generally don’t file lawsuits. Everyone that has tried has been blackballed and can basically never work in the industry again.” She emphasized, “I want people to understand that just because someone is wealthy, they don’t get to operate outside the rules.”

According to her complaint, Lowry alleges that her compensation was approximately 30% below the market rate in 2024, although she did not specify the figure. After taking medical leave, she claims that Insight reduced her expected carried interest from $750,000 to $500,000.

Lowry’s lawsuit also states that she faced harassment from her manager, a female executive, who allegedly told her that “your work needs to be twice as good as male colleagues because you are a woman.” Another colleague reportedly informed Lowry that it was “impossible for women” to achieve promotions at Insight.

On Monday, Lowry shared on LinkedIn that she decided to file the lawsuit after an unsuccessful attempt to resolve the issue privately. “Insight chose not to come to the table, and instructed me to take things public if I wanted any meaningful outcomes,” she wrote. “And so I am.”

This case echoes the 2012 lawsuit filed by startup investor Ellen Pao against the VC firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers for gender discrimination, which captured significant attention in Silicon Valley. Pao lost her case when it went to trial in 2015.

The case is Katherine Lowry v. Insight Venture Management, 25-CIV-10151, Superior Court, San Mateo County, California.

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.

Topics
Lawsuits

A former vice president at Insight Partners has taken legal action against the venture capital firm, alleging wrongful termination and gender discrimination. Katherine Lowry claims that the firm has systematically prevented women from reaching its highest levels.

Lowry, a consultant and strategist in the tech industry who joined Insight in 2022, has filed a lawsuit citing multiple violations of employment law. These include accusations of disability discrimination and retaliation following her medical leave, as detailed in a state-court complaint lodged in San Mateo, California.

An Insight spokesperson has yet to provide a comment regarding the allegations outlined in the complaint.

Over the past few decades, the venture capital landscape has transformed from a niche sector into a vital engine for growth, particularly as technology companies have become integral to public markets. Despite increasing demands for gender and racial diversity, the VC industry remains predominantly white and male, especially in management roles, according to industry research.

A 2024 study from PitchBook revealed that women constitute only 17.3% of decision-makers at VC firms managing over $50 million in assets. At Insight, the disparity is evident, with 60 men and just 11 women holding positions as managing directors or operating partners.

Insight, which invests in startups and private equity deals, stands as one of the largest firms in the sector, boasting over $90 billion in assets. The firm has recently celebrated significant successes, including major investments in cybersecurity startups Wiz and Armis, both of which achieved multi-billion dollar acquisitions in 2025.

In October, Lowry released a book titled Unbreakable: How to Thrive Under Fear-Based Leaders. During a recent interview, she remarked, “VC is a very small space. People generally don’t file lawsuits. Everyone that has tried has been blackballed and can basically never work in the industry again.” She emphasized, “I want people to understand that just because someone is wealthy, they don’t get to operate outside the rules.”

According to her complaint, Lowry alleges that her compensation was approximately 30% below the market rate in 2024, although she did not specify the figure. After taking medical leave, she claims that Insight reduced her expected carried interest from $750,000 to $500,000.

Lowry’s lawsuit also states that she faced harassment from her manager, a female executive, who allegedly told her that “your work needs to be twice as good as male colleagues because you are a woman.” Another colleague reportedly informed Lowry that it was “impossible for women” to achieve promotions at Insight.

On Monday, Lowry shared on LinkedIn that she decided to file the lawsuit after an unsuccessful attempt to resolve the issue privately. “Insight chose not to come to the table, and instructed me to take things public if I wanted any meaningful outcomes,” she wrote. “And so I am.”

This case echoes the 2012 lawsuit filed by startup investor Ellen Pao against the VC firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers for gender discrimination, which captured significant attention in Silicon Valley. Pao lost her case when it went to trial in 2015.

The case is Katherine Lowry v. Insight Venture Management, 25-CIV-10151, Superior Court, San Mateo County, California.

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.

Topics
Lawsuits