AT&T to honor women-owned small businesses

AT&T to honor women-owned small businesses | Birk Creative's JinJa Birkenbeuel talks mentors | How one CEO has built a feedback process for employees Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( July 13, 2023 CONNECT WITH NEXTUP  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( €‰€‰[Tik tok]( [NEW SmartBrief]( Gender equity news from NextUp, Advancing All Women in Business [SIGN UP]( â‹… [SHARE]( [] Top of the week [] [AT&T to honor women-owned small businesses]( AT&T is starting a competition designed for women who own small companies. Women athletes from the WNBA and the US Soccer Women's National Team will star in a promotion for the contest that includes an augmented reality element. The winner will receive $20,000, 12 months of AT&T service with a new device, plus a dedicated episode of "She's Connected by AT&T." Full Story: [MediaPost Communications (free registration)]( (7/7) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Today's leadership [] [Birk Creative's JinJa Birkenbeuel talks mentors]( JinJa Birkenbeuel, president and CEO of Birk Creative, talks about founding her own business and the importance of mentors, offering advice on how to find the right one. "It really is making sure you're in the right rooms and surrounding yourself with the right people," Birkenbeuel says, adding that joining nonprofit boards is a great way to find a mentor, noting, "creativity lives in unexpected places." Full Story: [Muse by Clio]( (7/5) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [How one CEO has built a feedback process for employees]( Weekly meetings over Zoom have helped CEO Cheri Beranek stay in touch with her team at Clearfield, a supplier of fiber-optic products and services. Beranek outlines how she uses "snapshots" to stay in touch with colleagues and encourages "skip meetings," which allow employees to "meet with anyone in the company and bring their problems unfiltered." Full Story: [Forbes (tiered subscription model)]( (7/10) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [How to lead like a collaborator instead of a crusader]( Become a collaborative leader, as opposed to a crusader, by focusing on meaningful changes, seeking feedback, being open to different perspectives and building relationships, write executive coach Luis Velasquez and Veracyte's Kristin Gleitsman. "Building lasting change requires maintaining focus on the long-term objective," they add. Full Story: [Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model)]( (7/10) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Read the latest from SmartBrief [] - [A management lesson Marx Brothers style]( SmartBrief/Leadership (7/12) [] - [Why compassionate accountability is the next leadership superpower]( SmartBrief/Leadership (7/11) [] - [3 common traps of mentoring other leaders]( SmartBrief/Leadership (7/10) Free eBooks and Resources Free eBooks and resources brought to you by our sponsors - [Nonverbal Communications Skills -- The 10 Skills You Need to Learn]( - [70+ Excel Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows (Free Cheat Sheet)]( - [Best Practices for Email Etiquette]( - [11 Habits That Will Give You A Complete And Successful Life]( - [Creating Positive Habits - The Ultimate Guide]( [] Diversity & Inclusion Trends [] [DEI leaders: Keep up with equity, inclusion efforts]( Support workplace equity and inclusion by promoting people fairly, making sure everyone has a voice and establishing mentoring programs, say diversity, equity and inclusion leaders, who point out employers often tend to emphasize diversity without properly addressing equity and inclusion. "If you're going to have any longevity of growth, it's not only about the people that you bring in, but it's about the people that you already have," says Farren Roper, DEI head at Qualtrics. Full Story: [Society for Human Resource Management (tiered subscription model)]( (7/11) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Cordillera Chocolates focuses on female empowerment]( The new ATENEA program from Colombia's Cordillera Chocolates aims to empower women who work along the country's cocoa supply chain with financial and entrepreneurial training. The program also wants to break down other barriers that lead to income and gender inequality. Full Story: [ConfectioneryNews (France)]( (7/11) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [How Walmart uses marketing to connect with communities]( [How Walmart uses marketing to connect with communities]( (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images) Walmart's millions of daily shoppers encounter data-driven, personalized campaigns, thanks to marketing chief William White, who connects the retailer with influencers and furthers racial equity and other diversity initiatives. White also taps social media to keep up with online and in-store shoppers in the 4,700 local communities where Walmart operates. Full Story: [Adweek]( (7/10) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] - [Gucci achieves gender parity certification for pay, 5 other factors]( Women's Wear Daily (7/10) [] - [Workforce participation rate for women hits all-time high at 77.8%]( CNN (7/7) [] [] A person cooking is a person giving: Even the simplest food is a gift. 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