'Difficult' woman sues after Broadcom fires her

Gouri Rayabhari, a 58-year-old Broadcom senior engineer, alleged she was stereotyped as “difficult,” subjected to gender-based harassment, and discriminated against over years. She said she built her Wi-Fi chip division from the ground up, developing more than 30 products and helping position Broadcom as a market leader across multiple Wi-Fi generations. She claimed discrimination began in 2011 and intensified in 2023, including promotions of less qualified men. She identified three senior leaders as responsible for holding her back and said a new supervisor in 2024 badgered her and made her life miserable. She said she asked for an investigation into the “difficult” narrative, but it was dismissed as office gossip, and she was fired in January 2025.

"“Despite this record of success, Ms. Rayabhari was subjected to years of gender-based harassment, discriminatory treatment and systematic efforts by senior male leaders to undermine her authority and advancement,” her lawsuit said. “Management repeatedly labeled her 'difficult,' a stereotype frequently applied to women in leadership positions who display the same assertiveness praised in their male counter-parts.”"

"Rayabhari said the gender discrimination started in 2011 and escalated significantly in 2023. She said lesser qualified men were promoted before her. She blamed three senior leaders for holding her back: Mark Gonikberg, Rohit Gaikwad and Rahul Magoon."

"Rayabhari said Magoon was installed as her direct supervisor in November 2024, even though they had the same title. He allegedly badgered her and “made her life miserable,” and Rayabhari tried to resign in June 2025. But Gonikberg urged Rayabhari to remain at Broadcom, telling her she was “family,” the suit said."

"Lead up to firing Rayabhari asked Gonikberg to investigate the “difficult” narrative being spread about her on Jan. 17, but Gonikberg dismissed the complaint as “office gossip,” the suit said. Gonikberg fired Rayabhari on Jan. 29. He said that she had “undermined” him by asking an employee not to support a project that she was supposed to be"

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