zlacker

I don't think the author needed to bring "false accusation" into the picture here, and in fact it weakens the point. I think male investor saying to a female CEO that her male colleague is better suited to the CEO role would be taken, ipso facto, as sexism. No falsehoods need enter the picture.

>>cbduma+(OP)
If the recommendation was based on data other the genders involved, it’s not sexism, but could be accused as such (falsely).

There are any number of ways person B could be more qualified than person A to be the CEO.

If an investor is going to give good-on-average advice in one case but not the other almost identical situation, the author is right to be concerned.

>>cbduma+(OP)
But in this case it would be a false accusation. That's kind of the entire point - he's afraid to give honest feedback out of fear of a false accusation.