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Gwyneth Paltrow was rejected by Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer for a Yahoo Food contributing editor role because she lacks a college education. Although Paltrow launched the lifestyle blog Goop and wrote two bestselling cookbooks, Mayer reportedly “balked” at hiring her because she never earned a bachelor’s degree.
According to a lengthy piece in The New York Times, Paltrow was being courted by the company for the position, but Mayer ultimately “disapproved of the fact that Paltrow did not graduate college.” It was noted that the CEO “habitually asked deputies where they attended college.”
Paltrow briefly studied anthropology at the University of California at Santa Barbara before she dropped out to pursue her acting career. She went on to star in hits like Seven and Emma, eventually earning an Oscar for her performance in Shakespeare in Love.
Mayer, a former Google executive, was brought in to remake the once-great Yahoo in the 2012. Over the course of two years, she hired Elle’s former creative director Joe Zee and The New York Times’ former tech columnist David Pogue in an attempt to create must-read content.
She also met with Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour about possible partnership opportunities between the famed fashion magazine and Yahoo’s site for women, Shine. Mayer struck a $5 million per year deal with former CBS “Evening News” anchor and “Today Show” host Katie Couric as Yahoo’s “global anchor.” Despite her efforts, Mayer’s ideas have yet to gain popularity and she continues to face criticism. What do you think of Mayer rejecting Paltrow because she never graduated from college?
