Female leaders face biases that squelch their skills

Hudson's Bay president takes mentoring to heart | How empathy works as a communication tool | James Beard winners reflect on how they've changed Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( June 14, 2023 [WFF Leadership SmartBrief]( Advancing and Empowering Women Leaders [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE]( [] A Leader's Edge [] [Hudson's Bay president takes mentoring to heart]( Sophia Hwang-Judiesch, president of Hudson's Bay and its e-commerce unit The Bay, says she puts a priority on mentoring women "from all walks and levels of life." Hwang-Judiesch says she still admires stoic leaders but is "also okay with showing when I need support or am feeling uncertain." Full Story: [Footwear News]( (6/7) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Hire and support staff with the right tech Technology tools can make it easier to recruit, train and engage with employees, but choosing the right tools and implementing them in the most effective way is essential to success. Join SmartBrief for a discussion about how to choose and use tech tools for workforce engagement. [Register here.]( ADVERTISEMENT [] Career Progression: Developing Leaders [] [How empathy works as a communication tool]( Empathy can make difficult conversations easier and lower the heat on others, say Robert and Terri Bogue of organizational consulting firm Thor Projects. "Understanding someone else's values helps decrease conflict and improve conversation," Terri says, while Robert adds that "[p]utting forth the effort to overcome discomfort and have the difficult conversations is part of the job of leadership." Full Story: [Society for Human Resource Management (tiered subscription model)]( (6/11) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [James Beard winners reflect on how they've changed]( This year's James Beard Foundation award winners looked back on how they have changed over the past 10 years, including Best Chef: Great Lakes winners Genie Kwon and Tim Flores, who said they have learned to let go and trust in others and understand the importance of communication and coordination. "I used to rush and had to do everything very fast," said Damarr Brown, who won this year's Emerging Chef award. "Today, I move a little slower. I'm more patient and intentional about what I'm doing with my energy, which I think is showing with the food. It's feeling more mature now." Full Story: [Plate]( (6/8) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Read the latest from SmartBrief [] - [Consumer trade-offs in the face of inflation]( SmartBrief/Food (6/7) [] - [What is driving candy and snack purchases?]( SmartBrief/Food (6/2) [] - [Plant-based steak, seaweed products and customizable drinks on display at restaurant show]( SmartBrief/Food (5/25) Free eBooks and Resources Free eBooks and resources brought to you by our sponsors - [2023 State of B2B Content Consumption and Demand Report for Marketers]( - [Best Practices for Email Etiquette]( - [70+ Excel Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows (Free Cheat Sheet)]( - [Creating Positive Habits - The Ultimate Guide]( [] Diversity and Inclusion [] [Cracker Barrel's Pride social post sets off "woke" criticism]( [Cracker Barrel's Pride social post sets off "woke" criticism]( (Bloomberg/Getty Images) Cracker Barrel has become the target of conservative backlash on Twitter that accused the company of going "woke" after it posted a rainbow-colored rocking chair on Instagram in celebration of Pride Month. "Our teams work hard to create a culture of hospitality that's welcoming, respectful and inclusive to everyone who walks through our doors," the company stated on its diversity, equity and inclusion website. Full Story: [Fox Business]( (6/10) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Pepsi celebrates Black-owned restaurants with Keith Lee]( At-table QR codes and a TikTok invitation from Keith Lee, a critic with 13 million followers, are part of Pepsi's campaign to promote Black-owned restaurants. People can use the Pepsi Dig In service to nominate their favorite local establishments for "Restaurant Royalty" prizes that include funding, consulting and a Las Vegas spotlight for the grand prize winner's signature dish. Full Story: [Digiday (tiered subscription model)]( (6/8), [Adweek]( (6/7) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Do you encourage the proper use of employees' pronouns?]( [Do you encourage the proper use of employees' pronouns?]( (Pixabay) Help transgender employees feel welcome by using employees' pronouns correctly, say diversity leaders and other executives, who suggest encouraging new employees to provide their preferred pronouns, including them in workplace communications, using them on the job and making pronoun use part of company policy. "It's like adding your name to an HR system or your email or your T-shirt size," says Jes Osrow, co-founder of The Rise Journey. Full Story: [Senior Executive]( (6/12) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Ferrara DEI VP: How to set and achieve DEI goals]( Advancing DEI goals in a company takes time and strategy and begins with solid data and realistic expectations, writes Natasha Miller Williams, Ferrara's vice president for DEI. Another essential is a cross-functional leadership team from across the organizations that can integrate DEI goals and track progress, Miller Williams writes. Full Story: [Forbes (tiered subscription model)]( (6/7) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Women and Innovation in the Workforce [] [Reem's Calif. owner spreads ownership with co-op model]( Chef Reem Assil is on a mission to expand the ownership of her restaurant and serve as a model for others by turning Reem's California into an employee-owned co-op. "Some people have to give up [their] privilege for workers to own more, because if we're gonna keep people in this industry, the people who are most hurt by it have to have ownership in it," said Assil, who has more than a decade of experience in community organizing. Full Story: [Food & Wine]( (6/5) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Women leaders face biases that squelch their skills]( [Women leaders face biases that squelch their skills]( (Pixabay) Women report that they face discrimination over characteristics such as age, appearance, cultural identity and communication styles, according to researchers, who say such criticisms are often an excuse for underlying gender bias. Companies shortchange themselves when women are discriminated against and can benefit from more female leaders to take advantage of their unique perspectives, efficiency, empathy and crisis-management skills, writes Smiti Bhatt Deorah, the COO and co-founder of Advantage Club. Full Story: [CNBC]( (6/7), [CXOToday]( (6/8) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Why employers should care about postpartum depression]( Between 6% to 20% of mothers experience postpartum depression, according to the National Institute of Health, and 46.5% of sufferers didn't receive treatment during the pandemic, according to Evernorth Health. Evernorth Research Institute's Urvashi Patel explains how employers can help, saying women "need access to effective behavioral health care, and really more guidance with experts who can help them through this period in their lives." Full Story: [Employee Benefit News (free registration)]( (6/7) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] WFF News [] [Get the feedback you need to advance]( Solid feedback about both performance and potential is one of the most important ways managers can support a team member's development, but research shows women receive less actionable feedback than men. That can stifle growth and advancement. How can you improve and prepare for what's next if you don't know how well you're doing now? But getting much-needed feedback can be tricky due to biases in how male and female leaders often assess women's performance. [Read more](. [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( LEARN MORE ABOUT the WFF: [About the WFF]( | [Join the WFF]( | [WFF Programs]( [] [] Conventionality is not morality. [Charlotte Bronte](, writer [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( SmartBrief publishes more than 200 free industry newsletters - [Browse our portfolio]( [Sign Up]( | [Update Profile]( | [Advertise with SmartBrief]( [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy policy]( CONTACT US: [FEEDBACK](mailto:wff@smartbrief.com) | [ADVERTISE](mailto:cwarne@smartbrief.com) SmartBrief, a division of Future US LLC © Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036