Transformation Time: 4 Ways To End Centuries of Gender, Race Bias in Leadership

Change the work culture, change the system, change the path forward for all female leaders and it is possible to change not only the workplace, but the world.

A new study in Nature outlines distinct patterns of attitudes and behaviors in organizations that prevent and stymie a fair and inclusive workplace for women of color, particularly Black women.

“Our findings suggest that the compound influence of racial and gender biases hinders the advancement of minority female leadership by perpetuating stereotypical behavioral schemas, leading to persistent discriminatory outcomes. We argue for the necessity of organizations to initiate a cultural transformation that fosters positive experiences for future generations of female leaders, recommending a shift in focus from improving outcomes for specific groups to creating an inclusive leadership culture,” the report shows.

Career success, Ambition / Intention, Career choicesMichele WeldonJanuary 5, 2024women of color, career pathComment

🚀 Fuel the Future: Champion Women’s Leadership in 2024

Issue 249— January 1, 2024

I loved this question posed on social media by Sophia Yen, a longtime friend and the founder of Pandia Health. She asked us to “Brag to me about one thing you did in 2023.”

Take a minute and think about your answer.

The SumGloria FeldtJanuary 1, 2024New Year, 2024, LeadershipComment

Pivot To 2024: 6 Tips for Leaders to Succeed in New Year

It’s time to strategize.

Looking to pivot to a successful 2024, here is the latest research on trends in social media, ecommerce, AI, workplace culture, and customer concerns that can help you shape your plans this year.

Put effort into social media content. A new study from StoryChief.io evaluating 44 U.S. firms, all are in the top 10 companies for sales in their industries, shows a mix of high engagement and poor engagement rates on social media platforms. Accenture seems to do it right with more than 913,000 Facebook likes per post.

Changing the Workplace, Leadership tools and tipsMichele WeldonDecember 29, 2023New Year, Tools and TipsComment

Just Listen: The Secret Power of Conflict and Controversy

Issue 248 — December 18, 2023

Oftentimes well-meaning men ask me how they can help women to advance in their careers.

I answer, “Listen. Just listen.”

Now comes a breathtaking example of what can happen when men don’t listen to women:

The SumGloria FeldtDecember 18, 2023Peacekeeping, controversy, ParityComment

Take A Stand: 8 Strategies To Navigate Transparency In Global Workplace Statements

Colleagues, teams, clients, customers and mentees are looking to leaders now for direction in difficult global times. The words and phrasing all leaders and managers use in every discussion at work and in public statements are of crucial importance. Reactions can lead to firings, resignations—or support.

Care and fairness is critical. This is where leadership can shine or dissolve.

When Leadership Requires Keeping Your Hand On the Plow

Issue 247 — December 11, 2023

“I never doubted that equal rights was the right direction. Most reforms, most problems are complicated. But to me there is nothing complicated about ordinary equality.” — Alice Paul, suffragist leader and author of the Equal Rights Amendment, which a century later still is not published into the U.S. Constitution.

The SumGloria FeldtDecember 11, 2023Equal Rights Amendment, The Sum, gender equalityComment

Sizeism at Work: What You Need To Know To Make Workplaces Safe, Inclusive

It’s holiday party time at work.

If you are spending your days in an office, or you are going in from your remote office for the special in-person occasion of a year’s end celebration, there will be an abundance of buffets, holiday treats and goodies.

That can be wonderful and it can also be dreadful, particularly if you are labelled as overweight, a person in a larger body and fatshaming, fatphobia and sizeism are prevalent in your workplace culture. Subtle or overt comments such as, “Thats a full plate!” or “Why not try the fruit instead of the cookies?” may make anyone want to opt out of any celebration.

Sizeism is defined as bias or discrimination against an individual based on their weight or size. Women and weight is a toxic workplace stew with millions affected.

Changing the Workplace, Career success, MediaMichele WeldonDecember 8, 2023Sizeism, Workplace Culture, InclusivityComment

Yay Or Nay: 5 Questions To Help You Decide To Take Promotion Or Pass

Z friend was recently agonizing to a handful of us at a party about her great job offer in the company where she has worked for seven years. The offer included a title promotion, raise, cost of living expenses, global travel and high visibility.

What was the problem?

She would have to move almost immediately to New York from Chicago, a city where she enjoyed her personal and professional life with a great apartment, positive workplace culture plus family and friends close by.

Changing the Workplace, Career success, Career choices, Ambition / IntentionMichele WeldonDecember 1, 2023career path, career goalsComment

Wear the Shirt of Change: Representing the Power of Women's Leadership This Giving Tuesday

Issue 246 — November 27, 2023

No doubt you have noticed that Giving Tuesday 2023 is today, November 27. I’m challenging you to share what’s on the shirt of your convictions about women’s leadership.

My personal favorite shirt is historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich’s well-used quote, “Well behaved women rarely make history.” But today I’m wearing the shirt designed by Michael Stars for this Giving Tuesday.

The SumGloria FeldtNovember 27, 2023Giving Tuesday, Women's LeadershipComment

Something’s Gotta Give: 6 Ways For GivingTuesday To Benefit Women’s Changing Philanthropy

More women give. But women give less. And the causes and organizations strictly benefiting women and girls receive a tiny percentage overall. That needs to change.

Yes, women are more frequent givers, as 65 % of donors on GivingTuesday are women, according to Forbes. But the sites and causes that cater to women and girls earn less than 2% of all donations in the U.S., according to Philanthropy Women.

Why the disparity?

Women Career SuccessMichele WeldonNovember 24, 2023#GivingTuesday, PhilanthropyComment

Triple Win: 3 Ways to Succeed Owning Multiple Businesses as a Female Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurship is a dream that many individuals desire to pursue for a variety of reasons, from acting on a passion project to leaving a job that no longer aligns with their career goals. After the pandemic, entrepreneurship boomed – with women having a major part in leading that charge.

Female entrepreneurship, from startups to buying existing businesses, has continued to change the business world landscape, and women taking the entrepreneurial charge has been the biggest difference between 2019 and 2023 business rates.

Christena GardunoNovember 22, 2023Comment