Edition No 124. Happy Black History Month!
The WIE Suite
A membership community for women leaders and culture creators (we're hiring)
DEAR WOMEN WHO DO,
It’s the start of Black History Month and the world is experiencing a crisis of leadership. DEl is coming under fire at the political, societal, corporate and institutional levels and we cannot let that be our legacy. We need to own and drive the narrative that DEl is critical for business success, innovation, customer growth and employee retention and expansion. That's why today we are sharing the advice and insights of so many female leaders from within our community who have proved the value of the efficacy of inclusive policies.
Please read on for advice from activist legends such as Bethann Harrison, CEOs like Debra Lee, executive leaders like Pfizer's Yolanda Lyle and more. And, take a moment to read what WIE Suite Founder and CEO Dee Poku has to say about trusting your instincts. When she learned to trust her gut, it created positive transformation across the board in 2023.
WIE SUITE WOMEN
Black Female Leaders Share Their Leadership Secrets
On the start of Black History Month, we couldn't pick just one incredible WIE Suite Woman. Here's a sample of the trailblazers we've interviewed this year.
Stacie Henderson Capece Minutolo, CMO of the Americas at Tod's, on the Future of Luxury
Black Lives Matters Ayọ (fka Opal) Tometi On Being A Force For Change
Bethann Hardison, American Model and Activist, On Going After What You Want
Krista Bourne, Former Chief Operating Officer of Verizon's Consumer Group, About the Benefits of Staying Loyal to A Company
Yolanda Lyle, Chief of Staff to the Chairman and CEO at Pfizer, On Aiming Higher
Entrepreneur Sarah Anyieth of Nhair Chocolates Shares Tips for Those Scaling A Side Hustle
MOVE THE NEEDLE
Learn to trust your instincts.
WIE Suite Founder and CEO Dee Poku shares her lessons from 2023.
Instincts. Trusting in them requires a deep seated confidence and faith in your ideas, your vision and your innate abilities. It requires you to ignore the naysayers, the accepted wisdom and even the data to forge ahead with what you believe to be right. It’s what separates those who achieve outsize success from the rest. It is what differentiates great leaders from the merely good. And it’s a trait women have in abundance despite a society that consistently forces us to second guess ourselves.
MASTERCLASS MOMENTS
Recommended by LinkedIn
What's Going On With DEI?
The WIE Suite has had dozens of experts share insights on DEI. Now with DEI programs under fire, we wanted to share their education and insights with you.
DEI Strategist TaChelle Lawson on Smart DEI Strategies. (Link)
Corporate Boards: How to Join One And Ensure Board Diversity With BETs Former CEO Debra Lee. (Link)
Kimberly E. Paige On Inviting Diverse Consumers. (Link)
Christina Hawatmeh on Why Diversity in Stock Images Matters. (Link)
How Employers Can Create Sustainable Diversity in Hiring and Retention. (Link)
Lorine Pendleton on Making the Business Case for Diverse Founders. (Link)
Clare Vivier on how prioritizing diversity and sustainability is good for business (Link)
Lenore Champagne Beirne on Creating an Inclusive Economy. (Link)
MUST READ NEWS
OUR WEEKEND READING LIST.
The Pandemic Small-Business Boom Has Real-World Legs. (Fortune)
How to Master Your Money For Business Success. (Entrepreneur)
U.S. Economy Grew Faster Than Expected (Fox)
Community News
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