Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Magazine’s Post

This past semester I took Diverse Voices, a class that discusses how different we all are, but at the same time, we are also just human. However, minorities are put in harder positions and struggle to be taken seriously in the workforce. This class has taught me numerous things, such as how our unconscious bias affects our perception of the world. Moreover, even just being a woman in a male-dominated field is a challenge. I have learned that we will not have real change until companies work more toward a diverse workforce. Through this class, I looked into e.l.f.'s DEI initiatives and discovered its Change The Board Campaign. This campaign aims to double the amount of women and diverse candidates on corporate boards by 2027. According to e.l.f., only 27% of the Board of Directors are women. Cathrine Hernandez-Blades's journey shows what it is like to be a woman in a male-dominated field and as she said. "It's really about tone at the top and promoting the most qualified people, or bringing the most qualified people into your organization regardless of whether or not they look like you." Here is a link with more information on e.l.f's Change The Board Campaign. https://lnkd.in/etUEcadT #DiverseVoices

Check out our weekly events update below to find information about upcoming training opportunities and partner events. Next Thursday's webinar topic is "Kentucky Minority & Women Business Enterprise Certification Program Overview" with guest speaker Paula Weglarz of the Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet. Like what you see? Visit https://buff.ly/3qPxebJ to subscribe to our newsletter and receive important news, stories, tips and event info!

What does ten years of honoring Detroit women mean for MCR? We explore our Power of One Dedicated Woman awards and its impact in our new blog post. Read it to learn about why our ceremony on August 20th is a milestone for us. https://hubs.li/Q02LnhG80

Wondering about who to nominate? Learn more about two past UMKC Women's Council board members who were given this honor in 2023 in this blog I put together. Through this piece, I enjoyed learning about how far we have come and the women who led us here: https://lnkd.in/g6KQieYk #womensupportingwomen #nonprofit #blogarticle #blog #blogger

Empowered and inspired after attending an incredible women's leadership breakfast this morning. Surrounded by dynamic and accomplished women, I took away valuable insights on leadership, resilience, and lifting each other up. Grateful for moments like these! Here's to embracing our strengths, supporting one another, and making a positive impact in our spheres of influence. 💪🙌 #womenleaders #Empowerment #LeadershipJourney What do you want to leave behind?

As we step into Women’s History Month, the theme for this year—“Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion”—is one that resonates strongly with me. In the emphasis it places on advocacy, and its incalculable importance in the fight for women’s rights. The way it invites us to prioritize equity in our DE&I efforts. How it speaks so clearly to the power and potential of *this* moment in history. But it also hits me on a deeper, more personal level. When I was named DeVry’s first-ever female President and CEO this past September, I understood what a powerful accomplishment it was. Both in my own career and for the university itself—and the many people for whom our institution has become an integral part of their lives. What’s harder to fathom is just how many people have ADVOCATED for me. Not just my family, friends, sponsors, mentors and colleagues. But the millions of women whose words, deeds and sacrifices helped make my journey possible. Some we know well. Many we never will. But all of them made a difference. This year and every year, let us celebrate #whm by honoring this legacy of advocacy. By using our voices and platforms to not only acknowledge the progress of the past, but to continue pushing for the kind of change that will make women’s equality a true cornerstone of society.  #womenshistorymonth #leadership #diversityequityinclusion #advocacy #changemakers

Check out our latest blog post highlighting women in our own backyard!

To cap-off a Minnesota Women Lawyers-heavy week, I want to publicly disseminate an idea for a new affinity group within MWL: The Rainmakers Affinity Group. During the last week, MWL materials and events have discussed "parity." When speakers are talking about parity, they are often talking about the number of men versus the number of women in law school, in private practice, in leadership, etc. While these statistics are important and should be tracked, what these statistics ignore is who in our industry holds and controls the wealth. To ultimately achieve equity, women in private practice need to become rainmakers. That's why I want to create a group where women can join once per month to create community, hold each other accountable, and build strategies for achieving their business development goals. If you are interested, or have ideas, please reach out!

One of the greatest disservice one can do to themselves is surround themselves is to surround themselves with "yes" people. While no one is suggesting filling your inner circle with contrarians, Iya important to have people around you who are not afraid to "check" you if you need checking. Find you a truth teller. For some, that's a friend, colleague or mentor. For others that may look like hiring an Executive Coach who helps identify your blindspots and holds you accountable to your goals. However you get them, get someone who is not afraid to tell you the truth. Your leadership depends upon it.

E.L.F. BEAUTY is genuinely changing the Board game. Their new campaign highlights how many publicly traded companies LACK women and diversity on their Board of Directors. The stats are startling: • Women make up only 27% of US corporate boards • The average US corporate board is 88% white • There are 2x more men named Dick than Hispanic women. • Black women and Asian women barely outnumber men named Dick. • There are 19x more men named Dick than women of Middle Eastern descent. • There are only 3 Native American women serving on these boards. E.L.F.'s "So Many Dicks" campaign is proving that diverse Boards create profitability for everyone. https://lnkd.in/eiYupqb3