• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Jensen Huang says ‘a lot’ of six-figure jobs in plumbing and construction will soon be unlocked because someone needs to build new AI centers

2

Millennials say they’ll refuse to care for aging boomer parents—but they’ll be forced to as their inheritance shrinks to 40 cents on the dollar

3

The rise of 'conspicuous waiting': The 19th-century economic theory that explains why Gen Z posts their place in line

1

Jensen Huang says ‘a lot’ of six-figure jobs in plumbing and construction will soon be unlocked because someone needs to build new AI centers

2

Millennials say they’ll refuse to care for aging boomer parents—but they’ll be forced to as their inheritance shrinks to 40 cents on the dollar

3

The rise of 'conspicuous waiting': The 19th-century economic theory that explains why Gen Z posts their place in line
MPWThe Wing

Audrey Gelman apologizes for leadership mistakes at The Wing after months of ‘inward’ reflection

Emma Hinchliffe
By
Emma Hinchliffe
Emma Hinchliffe
Most Powerful Women Editor
Down Arrow Button Icon
Emma Hinchliffe
By
Emma Hinchliffe
Emma Hinchliffe
Most Powerful Women Editor
Down Arrow Button Icon
October 14, 2020, 1:45 PM ET
Audrey Gelman, cofounder and former CEO of women’s coworking space chain The Wing, posted an apology letter to former Wing staff via her Instagram account on Oct. 14.
Audrey Gelman, cofounder and former CEO of women’s coworking space chain The Wing, posted an apology letter to former Wing staff via her Instagram account on Oct. 14.Roy Rochlin—WireImage/Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Our mission to help you navigate the new normal is fueled by subscribers. To enjoy unlimited access to our journalism, subscribe today.

More than four months after employees called for her resignation, Audrey Gelman, the cofounder and former CEO of The Wing, responded Wednesday to protests by the women’s coworking space’s staff.

Workers who staffed The Wing’s front desks, cooked and cleaned in its kitchens, and handled other customer-facing jobs spoke to the New York Times in March about mistreatment they experienced while working at the venture-backed startup, including by Gelman directly. In June, many of those workers formed “Flew the Coup,” a collective of former Wing employees who shared experiences with racism and other issues. (With the chain’s spaces closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, no spaces staff were still working when Flew the Coup formed.)

Following these efforts, The Wing’s corporate staff and members organized two more similar protests calling for change in leadership; Gelman stepped down from her post as CEO in June.

“I chose to create a business model that was a continuation, not a radical reimagining of the service industry,” Gelman wrote in a letter directed to Flew the Coup, which she posted on her Instagram account on Oct. 14. “I sought to gain personal financial success, stature, and the self-worth associated with scaling a startup so fast and so well. I also sought to prove it was possible for young women to be just as successful in blitzscaling a business as men, and to inspire other women to do the same. Unfortunately, this came at the expense of a sustainable and healthy culture…No wonder our employees experienced the same indignities you’d expect at a restaurant, cafe, or country club in their day-to-day work.”

Gelman noted that she has stepped down from the company’s board of directors, which was a demand made by both members—who paid up to $2,700 a year to frequent Wing spaces—and employees. (Members also called for Gelman to dissolve her equity stake in the company; she did not mention that demand.) Gelman did not address protests by headquarters staff or by members in her letter, responding solely to spaces staff with Flew the Coup.

The indignities former Wing employees described gained attention in large part because of the conflict between the treatment of the women who worked for the business and the company’s stated feminist mission: to center and uplift women. Spaces staff called out that tension, which Gelman addressed in her letter. “The Wing positioned itself as an antidote to male supremacy and a patriarchal system while playing within that same system by promoting the continued social and material advantages of the women who could afford to become members,” she wrote. “We billed ourselves as an answer to the problem while failing to address that we were continuing to inflict it.”

In a statement to Fortune on Wednesday, a spokesperson for The Wing said, “Audrey Gelman resigned as The Wing’s CEO in June and has since left the board of directors. We are encouraged to hear of Audrey’s time of reflection and growth.” The company declined to specify when Gelman departed her board seat.

According to Flew the Coup’s Instagram account, the collective has recently held conversations with current Wing leadership. (The group has not publicly revealed the identities of the former employees who make up its membership.) The group then began to reiterate its demands online, which included public apologies from Gelman and her cofounder Lauren Kassan, who is now one of three executives running the business through an “Office of the CEO,” as well as for workers to be released from nondisclosure agreements they signed. The group has also put its resources behind raising money for former Wing workers who have faced unemployment throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Gelman ended her letter with a graphic, stating: “I am the former CEO of The Wing and I support Flew the Coup.”

About the Author
Emma Hinchliffe
By Emma HinchliffeMost Powerful Women Editor
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Emma Hinchliffe is Fortune’s Most Powerful Women editor, overseeing editorial for the longstanding franchise. As a senior writer at Fortune, Emma has covered women in business and gender-lens news across business, politics, and culture. She is the lead author of the Most Powerful Women Daily newsletter (formerly the Broadsheet), Fortune’s daily missive for and about the women leading the business world.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in MPW

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

Latest in MPW

n
North AmericaTaxes
Gavin Newsom has been earning up to $2 million per year since 2022, records show
By Sophie Austin and The Associated PressAugust 1, 2026
10 hours ago
israel
North AmericaIsrael
Most Jewish Americans under 45 get the ick from Israel, polling shows
By Giovanna Dell'Orto and The Associated PressJuly 31, 2026
1 day ago
Meet the jet-setting fashion editor who turned a New York manicure at 23 into Nails.Inc—Despite selling for $40 million, she still wakes at 5:45 a.m.
SuccessFortune The Good Life
Meet the jet-setting fashion editor who turned a New York manicure at 23 into Nails.Inc—Despite selling for $40 million, she still wakes at 5:45 a.m.
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJuly 31, 2026
2 days ago
Elevance Health’s CEO started her career as a pro basketball player. Now she’s the highest‑ranking woman on the Global 500, leading a $199B giant
C-SuiteSports
Elevance Health’s CEO started her career as a pro basketball player. Now she’s the highest‑ranking woman on the Global 500, leading a $199B giant
By Sarah GlodekJuly 31, 2026
2 days ago
The only thing more surprising than Cracker Barrel CEO’s exit may be its pick to replace her
C-Suitechief executive officer (CEO)
The only thing more surprising than Cracker Barrel CEO’s exit may be its pick to replace her
By Phil WahbaJuly 30, 2026
2 days ago
howard
North AmericaColleges and Universities
Howard University reinstates hundreds of students after mass unenrollment
By Corey Williams and The Associated PressJuly 30, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

Jensen Huang says ‘a lot’ of six-figure jobs in plumbing and construction will soon be unlocked because someone needs to build new AI centers
Success
Jensen Huang says ‘a lot’ of six-figure jobs in plumbing and construction will soon be unlocked because someone needs to build new AI centers
By Preston ForeAugust 1, 2026
9 hours ago
Millennials say they’ll refuse to care for aging boomer parents—but they’ll be forced to as their inheritance shrinks to 40 cents on the dollar
Personal Finance
Millennials say they’ll refuse to care for aging boomer parents—but they’ll be forced to as their inheritance shrinks to 40 cents on the dollar
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 31, 2026
2 days ago
The rise of 'conspicuous waiting': The 19th-century economic theory that explains why Gen Z posts their place in line
Retail
The rise of 'conspicuous waiting': The 19th-century economic theory that explains why Gen Z posts their place in line
By Tatiana SatauaJuly 31, 2026
2 days ago
'Retiring backwards': How cold economic reality forced Gen X into something like the reverse of baby boomers' golden years
Success
'Retiring backwards': How cold economic reality forced Gen X into something like the reverse of baby boomers' golden years
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 31, 2026
1 day ago
Jensen Huang says this is the greatest time in history to start a business—and his advice is to stop overthinking it: 'How hard can it be?’
Success
Jensen Huang says this is the greatest time in history to start a business—and his advice is to stop overthinking it: 'How hard can it be?’
By Preston ForeJuly 31, 2026
1 day ago
Polar bears roll in beds of ice cubes at Prague Zoo as Europe battles record heat
Environment
Polar bears roll in beds of ice cubes at Prague Zoo as Europe battles record heat
By The Associated PressJuly 30, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.