Trampled by Unicorns

Praise for TRAMPLED BY UNICORNS "Gavet has delivered a very important piece of work which highlights the issues around technology, information, democracy, and the human condition. Everyone will benefit from reading her analysis." —ROBERT SIEGEL, Lecturer in Management, Stanford Graduate School of Business "Gavet proposes a number of remedies—not quick fixes, but fundamental shifts into more equitable, long-term thinking that will actually make everyone much happier without the addictive highs of 100x returns and CEO worship." —ESTHER DYSON, Founding Chair, ICANN; Executive Founder, Wellville "Despite being a tech insider, Maëlle Gavet successfully applies outside-in thinking to the tech backlash. The future of tech depends on it." —CHRISTA QUARLES, Former CEO, OpenTable; Board Member, Kimberly-Clark and Affirm "Gavet doesn't just discuss the current and emerging problems confronting the tech industry and those of us who use their products; she recommends thoughtful and implementable solutions. This is a book for anyone who cares about the future of technology and the technology industry." —LARRY IRVING, Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce; Member, Internet Hall of Fame "Maëlle Gavet has written a book that should be an alert to us all—not by pointing a finger, but through sound diagnosis leading to a credible course of action. A great contribution to inform a public debate that needs to happen now." —RICHARD STRAUB, Founder and President, Global Peter Drucker Forum "Trampled by Unicorns is essential reading for anyone who leads or aspires to lead people and companies." —SHAN-LYN MA, CEO, Zola A Wall Street Journal BestsellerAn insider’s revealing and in-depth examination of Big Tech’s failure to keep its foundational promises and the steps the industry can take to course-correct in order to make a positive impact on the world. Trampled by Unicorns: Big Tech’s Empathy Problem and How to Fix It explores how technology has progressed humanity’s most noble pursuits, while also grappling with the origins of the industry’s destructive empathy deficit and the practical measures Big Tech can take to self-regulate and make it right again. Author Maëlle Gavet examines the tendency for many of Big Tech’s stars to stray from their user-first ideals and make products that actually profoundly damage their customers and ultimately society. Offering an account of the world of tech startups in the United States and Europe—from Amazon, Google, and Facebook to Twitter, Airbnb, and Uber (to name a few)—Trampled by Unicorns argues that the causes and consequences of Big Tech’s failures originate from four main sources: the Valley’s cultural insularity, the hyper-growth business model, the sector’s stunning lack of diversity, and a dangerous self-sustaining ecosystem. However, the book is not just an account of how an industry came off the rails, but also a passionate call to action on how to get it back on track. Gavet, a leading technology executive and former CEO of Ozon, an executive vice president at Priceline Group, and chief operating officer of Compass, formulates a clear call to action for industry leaders, board members, employees, and consumers/users to drive the change necessary to create better, more sustainable businesses—and the steps Western governments are likely to take should tech leaders fail to do so. Steps that include reformed tax codes, reclassification of platforms as information companies, new labor laws, and algorithmic transparency and oversight. Trampled by Unicorns’ exploration of the promise and dangers of technology is perfect for anyone with an interest in entrepreneurship, tech, and global commerce, and a hope of technology’s all-empowering prospect. An illuminating book full of insights, Trampled by Unicorns describes a realistic path forward, even as it uncovers and explains the errors of the past. As Gavet puts it, “we don’t need less tech, we need more empathetic tech.” And how that crucial distinction can be achieved by the tech companies themselves, driving change as governments actively pave the road ahead.