Alber is the longest-tenured female CEO in Fortune 500

Miss Maude founder: Women need to empower each other | Bose CEO: Be authentic and take risks to grow as a leader | Alber is the longest-tenured female CEO in Fortune 500 Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( October 18, 2023 [WFF Leadership SmartBrief]( Advancing and Empowering Women Leaders [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE]( ADVERTISEMENT A Leader's Edge [] [Miss Maude founder: Women need to empower each other]( Many woman entrepreneurs still face a significant bias when trying to get a loan, hire legal representation or purchase property, underscoring the need for women to support each other and lift each other up, says Jess Leonard, founder of fine chocolate brand Miss Maude. Leonard offers five tips for other female founders, including hiring great people, persevering through challenges and being open to learning from mistakes. Full Story: [Medium (tiered subscription model)]( (10/17) NEW Idahoan® Unseasoned Tater Tumblers Our NEW Idahoan® SHREDS Tater Tumblers® Unseasoned Mix are ready to inspire with endless combinations of mix-ins, toppings, and dipping sauces. Providing the perfect combination of ease and versatility, [request your FREE sample today!]( ADVERTISEMENT: [] Career Progression: Developing Leaders [] [Bose CEO: Be authentic and take risks to grow as a leader]( Female leaders should be role models for other women who want to advance to the C-suite, says Bose CEO Lila Snyder, who recommends being authentic and stepping outside your comfort zone to take risks that can move you forward. "Taking those risks is how you fail, how you learn, and how you develop new capabilities. And in a finite career, the faster you can develop yourself and your skills, the farther you'll go," Snyder says. Full Story: [McKinsey]( (10/16) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Alber is the longest-tenured female CEO in Fortune 500]( Alber is the longest-tenured female CEO in Fortune 500 Alber, CEO of Williams-Sonoma (Bloomberg/Getty Images) Laura Alber became Williams-Sonoma's CEO at age 40 and has held the job for 13 years -- making her the longest-tenured female chief executive in the Fortune 500 -- and has focused on innovation, expansion and growth. A company employee for more than 20 years and just its third CEO in 67 years, Alber has led Williams-Sonoma to top-line revenue growth of more than $5 billion during her tenure and stock growth of 40% this year. Full Story: [Fortune (tiered subscription model)]( (10/11) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Strategies to beat imposter syndrome, self-doubt]( Strategies to beat imposter syndrome, self-doubt (Pixabay) Imposter syndrome and self-doubt are prevalent in the workplace, particularly among women, with a Moneypenny survey saying that 30% of men and 35% of women report feelings of inadequacy, writes career counselor Caroline Castrillon. However, it's possible to reframe that mindset by identifying what talents you bring to the table, celebrating small victories, avoiding comparisons with other people and changing your inner dialogue, among other strategies, Castrillon writes. Full Story: [Forbes (tiered subscription model)]( (10/15) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [How one CEO alleviates the loneliness of leadership]( Being a CEO can be isolating, because "people are a little bit more hesitant to tell you what's happening," says Sonia Millsom, CEO of healthcare firm Oxeon, who recommends encouraging those around you to be open and share what they've learned. "It's the balance of building trust with your team, but then also having to make difficult decisions for the betterment of the business," Millsom says. Full Story: [LinkedIn]( (10/17) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Confidence trumps smarts in getting ahead]( Confidence is a key ingredient to success in leadership, outperforming competence and IQ, and can be honed by transforming our thinking habits, writes Grace Ueng, founder of leadership consultant Savvy Growth. "Perfectionism keeps us from action," Ueng writes, adding that she advises clients "giving key stakes presentations, to throw away their notes." Full Story: [WRAL TechWire (Raleigh, N.C.)]( (10/17) [] Read the latest from SmartBrief [] - [It's not too early to talk about winter flavor trends]( SmartBrief/Food (10/18) [] - [Getting the most out of urban grocery store design]( SmartBrief/Food (10/12) [] - [Building the refrigeration technician workforce of tomorrow]( SmartBrief/Food (10/6) 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 and Inclusion [] [5 ways the CDO position may evolve]( The rapid addition of chief diversity officers to organizations in 2020 amid the national emergence of the Black Lives Matter has dissipated three years later as factors including cost-cutting, organizational disconnects with diversity imperatives and legal restrictions have interfered, writes Mita Mallick, chief diversity equity and inclusion officer at Carta. The worst outcome would be the loss of the function completely, but other alternatives include transitioning the role into the title of chief impact officer, writes Mallick, who outlines five possibilities. Full Story: [Fast Company (tiered subscription model)]( (10/16) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Brands working to promote DEI In franchising]( A number of brands are focused on promoting diversity in franchising by hiring executives into DEI positions, working to build awareness and taking other steps. In addition, the IFA Foundation has a Diversity Institute that notes that enhancing diversity and inclusion "has the power to accelerate the mission of franchising." Full Story: [Franchise Times (Minneapolis)]( (10/2023) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Southeastern Grocers aims to build a mosaic of diversity]( Southeastern Grocers has unveiled the Mobility, Support, Accessibility and Inclusion in the Community -- MOSAIC -- resource group, an initiative that aims to support and champion the diverse abilities of all associates through educational outreach. "We are building a mosaic of diversity, unity and opportunity for all - and that's what winning together looks like," said chief people officer Raymond Rhee. Full Story: [Progressive Grocer]( (10/13) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Women and Innovation in the Workforce [] [DEI, people-first approach work in tandem for Shake Shack]( Shake Shack's Director of Diversity, Equity Inclusion and Engagement Idris Stover shared her recipe for DEI success at this year's Fast Casual Executive Summit, noting how being intentional with a people-first culture diversified its leadership roles with a 33% increase of women and 18% increase of people of color. "When you give something attention, you see results," said Stover. Full Story: [FastCasual]( (10/10) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] WFF News [] [Caregiving responsibilities help build skills employers need]( Women have long faced the double bind of carrying the lion's share of unpaid caregiving responsibilities at home and then being penalized in the workplace for those commitments. But research now shows that many of the skills developed through caregiving lead to stronger employees and better leaders. Competencies developed in providing care for elders, children and those in need of daily support include empathy, efficiency, persistence and priority setting. Finding ways to highlight the skills your caregiving responsibilities have given you, and acknowledging them in team members, can help organizations better understand the value these roles bring to member's lives, and how they translate to the workplace. [Read more](. [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( LEARN MORE ABOUT the WFF: [About the WFF]( | [Join the WFF]( | [WFF Programs]( [] [] The highs are really high, and the lows are really, really low. And I guess if you're lucky, it all balances out in the middle. 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