Salamander Collection CEO sees success in diversity

Salamander Collection CEO sees success in diversity | IKEA uses AI to enhance its people-first culture | Harris Teeter president on what makes a great work culture Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( November 9, 2023 CONNECT WITH NEXTUP  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [X]( €‰€‰[Tik tok]( [NEW SmartBrief]( Gender equity news from NextUp, Advancing All Women in Business [SIGN UP]( â‹… [SHARE]( [] Top of the week [] [Salamander Collection CEO sees success in diversity]( [Salamander Collection CEO sees success in diversity]( Johnson (Shannon Finney/Getty Images) Salamander Collection CEO Sheila Johnson, the first African American female billionaire, built her hotel business on the idea of making everyone feel welcome. "I really felt as though I could be a good leader and role model by building a company that celebrated diversity and bringing in a clientele that will continue to support us," says Johnson. Full Story: [Business Traveler]( (11/3) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Today's leadership [] [IKEA uses AI to enhance its people-first culture]( [IKEA uses AI to enhance its people-first culture]( Biesert (Ingka Group) IKEA offers workers learning, development and reskilling opportunities to advance in their careers, and prioritizes a culture of kindness, collaboration and both mental health and emotional well-being, says Ulrika Biesert, chief human resources officer and global people and culture manager at IKEA operator Ingka Group. The Sweden-based furniture retailer has also deployed AI at 122 stores in six countries, with more locations to be added, to enhance operations, improve the customer experience and boost employee retention. Full Story: [Forbes (tiered subscription model)]( (11/3) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Harris Teeter president on what makes a great work culture]( [Harris Teeter president on what makes a great work culture]( (John Greim/Getty Images) Harris Teeter President Tammy DeBoer says company culture is at the core of the retailer's actions and recommends making guiding principles clear, ensuring leaders act as positive examples, listening to and empowering employees and rewarding outstanding results and actions. "It's really important to make people feel appreciated, recognized, heard and empowered," DeBoer said. "All of these things create a really powerful culture and environment that cultivates positivity and really brings out the best in everyone individually and collectively." Full Story: [Progressive Grocer]( (11/7) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Why leaders need to focus on who, what and how]( When Andrew Thompson, managing director and co-founder of Spring Ridge Ventures, coaches leaders, he helps them focus on "who, what and how," where leaders set the goal, the team decides who is accountable and the leader does not direct how the work gets done. "You never interfere with how, ever. Because once you're telling people how to do their jobs, they're never going to do it," Thompson says. Full Story: [LinkedIn]( (11/8) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Be clear and ask questions to improve communication]( Improve communication with your team and your boss by giving the most vital information they need first, ask questions to draw out insights and use language that's easy to understand and jargon-free, write Jennifer Sundberg and Pippa Begg, co-CEOs of Board Intelligence. "It also encourages you to own your message, displaying the accountability that is crucial for getting others to back you and your ideas," they write. Full Story: [CEOWorld Magazine]( (11/2) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Read the latest from SmartBrief [] - [How to turn lies about race inside out]( SmartBrief/Leadership (11/7) [] - [Leadership behaviors that negatively affect culture]( SmartBrief/Leadership (11/6) [] - [Journaling can be a tool for better decision-making]( SmartBrief/Leadership (11/3) [] Diversity & Inclusion Trends [] [ADCOLOR's Tiffany Warren: Don't let DEI slide]( Tiffany Warren, founder and president of ADCOLOR, talks about why it's essential that diversity, equity and inclusion remains a priority despite a shaky economy and damaging legislation. "Creative industries play a pivotal role in influencing DEI because of their direct interaction with consumers," Warren says, adding, "Internal DEI efforts in these industries will directly shape these creative executions and how they resonate in the marketplace." Full Story: [Ad Age (tiered subscription model)]( (11/8) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Horizon Media's Smith-Wilson: DEI is a business must]( Diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are under threat but must be prioritized by leadership as a business growth driver, writes Latraviette Smith-Wilson, executive vice president and chief marketing and equity officer at Horizon Media. "Move forward with a clear vision and use data to guide strategy and planning while leaving room for necessary adjustments along the way," writes Smith-Wilson, who adds employers should strive for innovative DEI models. Full Story: [Ad Age (tiered subscription model)]( (11/2) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Choosing is the key to inclusive marketing]( Sonia Thompson sets out to break the myth that inclusive marketing needs to be tailored to everyone at all times. "Choosing the identities you want to serve enables you to be more targeted with your efforts," Thompson writes, adding, "It helps you be clearer about the visual imagery you use, the influencers you partner with, the inclusive language and cultural references you use, and even the choices you make with regard to the team you build and the partners you collaborate with." Full Story: [Forbes (tiered subscription model)]( (10/31) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Social media startup Spill raises $2M]( Spill, a startup social media platform that positions itself as being more welcoming to the LGBTQ community and Black Americans, raised $2 million in a recent extension round. The company plans to exit beta next year, open its service to the general public and start paying creators for their contributions to the platform. Full Story: [TechCrunch (tiered subscription model)]( (11/7) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [] Even small expectations are part of the larger uncertainty -- waiting for an arrival, a phone call, a letter. [Shirley Hazzard](, writer [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( LEARN MORE ABOUT NEXTUPâ„¢: [About Us]( | [Events]( | [Regions]( | [Partners]( | [Learning](   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:nextup@smartbrief.com) | [ADVERTISE](mailto:cwarne@smartbrief.com) [SmartBrief Future]( SmartBrief, a division of Future US LLC © Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036