Today marks a grim milestone in history: a convicted and legally defined sexual predator returns to the most powerful office in the world. For many, this feels like a nightmare ripped straight from the 1950s. But it’s 2025, and the world of tech isn’t far behind in its own retrograde slide - where power excuses cruelty and justice rarely serves the marginalized. 

 

On the same day Mark Zuckerberg mused about the need for 'masculine energy' on Joe Rogan’s podcast, Meta announced changes that align disturbingly with the agenda of the incoming administration. Among these changes was a rollback of hate speech policies, now allowing users to call women 'household objects' and to target LGBTQ+ individuals with dehumanizing slurs. In a single breath, the tech giant celebrated aggression while signaling to billions of users that misogyny and homophobia are back on the table. This isn’t just a cultural regression—it’s a deliberate embrace of the very ideologies that make workplaces and communities unsafe. And it’s not limited to Meta—it’s an industry-wide problem.

 

Canada’s tech industry loves to parade itself as a beacon of innovation, but it’s built on a foundation of mimicry, where the culture rewards parroting the thoughts of the loudest dude-bro in charge. Leaders champion "boldness" and "disruption" while ignoring how those very ideals are wielded to excuse cruelty, aggression, and abuse. The industry has perfected the art of separating the “genius” from their behavior, treating toxic leaders like flawed but necessary visionaries rather than holding them accountable for the harm they cause.

 

Take for instance, the ongoing sexual assault trial of Hamed Abassi, the co-founder and former CEO of Toronto-based payments company Plooto. Abbasi was arrested in November 2023 on charges of sexual assault, yet he remained in his leadership position for several months. It wasn't until March 2024 that he stepped down, according to a recent BetaKit report, with the company's board citing "personal reasons" for his departure, effectively shielding him from public scrutiny. Despite the serious allegations, reports indicate that Abbasi continues to attend board meetings and gets regular business updates.

 

The same industry that prides itself on disruption has somehow convinced itself that the man at the helm is untouchable, his behavior beyond reproach as long as the profits roll in and he happened to be born male.

 

But this isn’t just about who is in charge. It impacts us all. According to a recent research report by the Dais Institute, the gender pay gap in Canada’s tech sector has nearly tripled between 2016 and 2021, with men now earning an average of $20,000 more annually than women, compared to $7,200 in 2016. Even when controlling for education, experience, parental leave and job roles, women still face significant pay disparities, highlighting that systemic issues like gender bias and discriminatory practices are deeply entrenched. This inequity not only limits women’s potential but also stifles the diverse innovation the industry claims to champion.

 

When Mark Zuckerberg speaks about the value of “masculine energy,” it’s not just a statement—it’s a script that tech leaders around the globe eagerly follow. They mimic his language, his priorities, and his deliberate erasure of accountability, all while ignoring the toxic culture that such behavior reinforces.

 

The message is clear: the product is what matters, not the people who make it or the culture that shapes it. If a leader is aggressive, exclusionary, or harmful, it’s dismissed as the cost of innovation. The end justifies the means, even when it leaves women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized groups feeling unsafe, unwelcome, and undervalued.

 

If male leaders truly care about equality, they must speak up—not just when it’s convenient but when it’s uncomfortable. Intentions mean nothing without action. 

 

What actions will you be taking to protect women during this time? Not from rattlesnakes or bears, but from your friends and colleagues?

 

If you are a woman in tech, we will be holding a virtual support group today at 12pm MT / 2pm ET. Toast members can find join information in our Slack channel. If you are not a member but need a safe space today, please email for the join link. 

 

❤️ Sending love and strength to everyone who needs it. 

- April & Marissa