Concerns over toxic leadership have resurfaced against Steve Baldwin, the former owner of the Washington Spirit, following the sudden dismissal of another female executive.
Jennifer Nelson, who recently held a senior position at Amazon, was abruptly removed from her role as Chief Operating Officer at Finch AI, a tech startup founded by Baldwin. Appointed in August 2023, Nelson returned from a brief period of leave only to be fired by Baldwin, who accused her of cultivating a toxic work environment.
The accusation is strikingly similar to those Baldwin levelled in 2023 against Michelle Kang, co- owner of the Washington Spirit and a respected figure in the healthcare industry. At that time, Baldwin sought to remove Kang from her position, alleging that she was responsible for creating a hostile atmosphere. However, players from the Washington Spirit countered with open letters, asserting that Baldwin himself was the source of the club’s toxic environment.
An investigation conducted by The Washington Post later revealed that at least four players had left the Spirit due to abusive behaviour by former head coach Richie Burke, whom Baldwin had appointed and protected. This investigation prompted the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) to launch its own inquiry, which…
