British CEO Slams Indian-Origin Man’s Sexist Remark

British CEO Louisa Klouda publicly called out Indian-origin professional Nirmal Patel after he refused to work with women and signed off with "Be well sweetheart," sparking widespread backlash.

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British CEO Slams Indian-Origin Man’s Sexist Remark

A British CEO, Louisa Klouda, has condemned an Indian-origin professional, Nirmal Patel, for his sexist response during a business exchange. Patel, who describes himself as an “Sfo deal syndicate middleman” on LinkedIn, refused to work with women and ended his message with an unprofessional “Be well sweetheart.”

Exchange That Sparked Outrage

The interaction began in December 2024, when Patel messaged Klouda, saying:

“Happy to take a call as I don’t like to connect without knowing the person.”

Receiving no response, he followed up on January 6, 2025, with a single question mark (“?”).

Klouda then responded professionally:

“Hi Nirmal, I hope you’re well. Happy New Year. Would you be available for a Teams call next week? If so, please share times & days that are convenient for you.”

Patel’s reply, however, was met with shock and outrage:

“Thanks, as interesting and successful as your business is, I tend not to work with women. Be well sweetheart.”

CEO Calls Out Sexism on LinkedIn

Infuriated by the response, Klouda shared a screenshot of the exchange on LinkedIn, stating:

“Well, I woke up today and learned something groundbreaking: Some people still think women shouldn’t be in business. Wild. It’s 2025, we’ve got AI writing novels, people vacationing in space, and yet… here we are.”

Widespread Criticism of Nirmal Patel

Klouda’s post quickly went viral, with many LinkedIn users condemning Patel’s misogynistic and condescending remarks.

  • “You really don’t want to work with this guy. But shocking either way,” commented one user.
  • “I believe this message constitutes harassment,” wrote another.

Professionalism vs. Sexism in Business

The incident has sparked discussions about gender bias in the corporate world and the importance of professionalism in business communications. Many emphasized that such attitudes have no place in modern workplaces, where diversity and inclusivity are core values.

As of now, Patel has not responded to the backlash, and it remains unclear if any further action will be taken against him.