The role of digital transformation in leading today

intro | Women-led tech startups are on a nonprofit mission | Paving a wider path to tech roles for women Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( April 27, 2023 CONNECT WITH NEW  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( €‰€‰[Tik Tok]( Gender equality news for retail, CPG, financial services and tech [SIGN UP]( â‹… [SHARE]( ADVERTISEMENT The role of digital transformation in leading today [] intro (Pixabay) From artificial intelligence to digital commerce to the high-speed capabilities of 5G networks, technology and innovation are taking on bigger roles in business. Leaders and aspiring leaders in every industry have more reasons than ever to keep up with changing times, in an arena that can often feel confusing and peppered with unfamiliar jargon. In this NextUp SmartBrief Special Report, read about how some women executives are taking the lead in tech, how companies are balancing innovation and budgets and the latest tech that's likely to transform the jobs of executives and the employees they lead. Help your colleagues and friends stay informed on key issues related to women and leadership by inviting them to [sign up to receive NextUp Smartbrief in their inbox every Thursday.]( And check out [SmartBrief's original coverage on leadership.]( Real Talk: a 5G discussion series. Join T-Mobile for Business and other industry experts as we explore the ways 5G is optimizing operations, empowering teams, enhancing customer experiences, and accelerating new products and services—all in five minutes or less. [Watch now.]( ADVERTISEMENT: [] Leading in today's digital world [] [Women-led tech startups are on a nonprofit mission]( The organization Fast Forward fosters tech nonprofits with an annual accelerator and 60% of the ventures in this year's cohort are led by women, many of whom are working to create tech-driven solutions to problems that have affected them personally. Immigrant Cielo Villa created a chatbot called Road to Uni that guides low-income students through the college application process and Rachel Miller's own experiences with mental health issues led her to create Closegap, a platform that helps students access mental wellness services. Full Story: [Forbes (tiered subscription model)]( (4/24) [] [Paving a wider path to tech roles for women]( The global gender gap for women in tech careers narrowed between 2019 and 2022, and governments and industry can do more to encourage women to consider jobs and leadership roles in the tech sector, IFS President and Chief Strategy Officer Marne Martin writes. "The future can look even brighter for women in technology leadership roles - both when it comes to getting to the top, and feeling well-supported to stay there and inspire wider industry changes," Martin writes. Full Story: [Business Chief North America]( (4/2) Real Talk: a 5G discussion series. Join T-Mobile for Business and other industry experts as we explore the ways 5G is optimizing operations, empowering teams, enhancing customer experiences, and accelerating new products and services—all in five minutes or less. [Watch now.]( ADVERTISEMENT: [] Empowering employees [] [Why relationship building is a key leadership skill]( Nobody needs a high-profile title to prove their leadership skills, which start with cultivating and maintaining relationships, executive coach Robin Camarote writes. Camarote advises would-be leaders to understand the needs of their employees, make relationships the first priority and stick them out even when the going gets tough. Full Story: [Inc. (tiered subscription model)]( (4/24) [] [CIOs increasingly share responsibilities with CDOs]( A growing number of CIOs are sharing data-related responsibilities with C-suite newcomers such as chief data officers, says Ryan Bulkoski, global head at Heidrick & Struggles. Some friction may be inevitable, particularly when roles and responsibilities are not clearly defined or functions overlap, and TaskRabbit data and technology chiefs Chi-Yi Kuan and Ron Forrester say collaboration is important. Full Story: [The Wall Street Journal]( (4/14) [] [Companies' approach to IT grows more conservative]( As IT budgets have tightened and appetite for risk has declined, companies are seeking CIOs who prioritize the basics of IT management and can deliver uptime, security and optimized costs, according to executive recruiters. Some companies have shortchanged core functionality and back-office basics as they sought innovative customer-facing features and products, and Scott McKenna, CIO of Nova Scotia Health Authority, says that while innovation is important, "the balance may need to lean to ensuring the core operations and foundational digital investments are reliable and current, as there is less room for failure." Full Story: [The Wall Street Journal]( (4/24) [] Opportunities to optimize [] [Why AI can't completely replace human writers]( Artificial intelligence tech and tools like ChatGPT are likely to take over many mundane writing tasks in the future, but that evolution won't diminish the benefits to people of learning to write well, experts say. Writing helps us learn more about ourselves and the topics we're exploring and brings new and innovative ideas to the surface. Full Story: [Inc. (tiered subscription model)]( (4/10) [] [Data is making e-commerce hyper-personal]( Artificial intelligence enables marketers to hyper-personalize their campaigns by using data to target a "consumer of one," while assuring their privacy, writes Nathan Eddy. In the highly competitive e-commerce sector, brands can leverage consumer data to identify patterns and make projections about shopping decisions. Full Story: [CMSWire]( (4/25) [] [5 challenges wholesalers can tackle with digital tools]( Adopting the right digital tools can help business-to-business wholesalers maximize profits and provide the best customer experience, according to Emporix Digital CEO Eberhardt Weber, who writes, "[d]igital transformation is the fuel needed to accelerate growth." Weber outlines five challenges that wholesalers can overcome using digital tools, including inventory issues and lack of product profitability transparency. Full Story: [Digital Commerce 360]( (4/17) [] [Virtual try-on's appeal for luxury shoppers]( Virtual trumps in-store try-on for luxury customers early in the purchase process, global online fashion marketplace Farfetch has found. The method also gets customers into stores with a shortlist whittled by virtual try-on, as well as boosting awareness and engaging existing shoppers, experts say. Full Story: [Glossy (tiered subscription model)]( (4/24) [] Unlocking the future [] [Tech companies test 5G use for VR, AR devices on the go]( Companies are starting trials to determine whether 5G networks can provide the large, sustained data streams needed to make virtual reality and augmented reality devices usable outside of homes and offices. Among the methods being tested are offloading computing to the edge or the cloud. Full Story: [The Wall Street Journal]( (4/23) [] [Update your digital marketing for 2023]( Update your digital marketing for 2023 (Pixabay) Online content that addresses customers' problems, together with using artificial intelligence tools to create it, are at the forefront of digital marketing for 2023, writes Andy Betts, global adviser and consultant. "Old content strategies must be updated for multiple new digital experiences across critical moments in the customer journey," Betts writes. Full Story: [Search Engine Journal]( (4/24) [] [10 women working to shape perceptions on synthetic biology]( Pioneers in the field of synthetic biology face the added challenge of convincing the public about its potential benefits to society, and among them are ten women leaders who are sharing their stories, including Christina Agapakis of Ginkgo Bioworks and LanzaTech Director of Communications Kit McDonnell. Agapakis also serves as executive editor of GROW by Ginkgo, a creative outlet dedicated to showing how design and biology intertwine. Full Story: [Forbes (tiered subscription model)]( (4/17) [] [CEA adviser on the importance of mechanics]( LED lighting and artificial intelligence technology might be the bright shiny objects of controlled environment agriculture, but HVAC systems and other lower-tech construction aspects are also vital to a vertical farm's success, said CEA consultant and engineer Erika Summers. Summers talks about the challenges and concerns involved in figuring out the mechanical side of building an indoor farm. Full Story: [Ag Funder News]( (4/21) [] News from NEW [] [NextUp announces the appointment of Lisa Baird as new CEO]( NextUp has named experienced business and leadership veteran Lisa Baird as its new CEO, succeeding Sarah Alter who is moving on after six years at the helm. "[Lisa's] record of career achievements, combined with her vision to grow the impact of our organization, make her the right choice to lead us in our mission to empower all women in their careers," NextUp Board Chair Abbe Luersman said. LEARN MORE ABOUT NEXTUPâ„¢: [About Us]( | [Events]( | [Regions]( | [Partners]( | [Learning]( [] [] I can use my voice in a much stronger way than I ever have. 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