J.M. Smucker recognized as inclusive workplace

How a jewelry CEO makes Mejuri a force for good | Michelle Gass to succeed Chip Bergh as Levi's CEO in Jan. | When a promotion isn't in the offing, provide a roadmap Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( December 14, 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]( ADVERTISEMENT Top of the week [] [How a jewelry CEO makes Mejuri a force for good]( [How a jewelry CEO makes Mejuri a force for good]( Sakkijha (Presley Ann/Getty Images) Mejuri co-founder and CEO Noura Sakkijha takes every opportunity to learn from others and improve her leadership style, including soliciting anonymous feedback from employees through ReadMe. She also uses the company to make a difference, investing in recycling projects, gemstone polishing scholarships for Zambian women, emissions reduction efforts and responsible sourcing. Full Story: [Women's Wear Daily]( (12/12) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Harvard Online Leadership Courses Learn More. Earn More. Flexible, 100% online certificate courses that help you develop the leadership and management skills to get things done and bring out the best in your team, whether you're an aspiring, new, or seasoned leader. [View Certificate Courses.]( ADVERTISEMENT: [] Today's leadership [] [Michelle Gass to succeed Chip Bergh as Levi's CEO in Jan.]( [Michelle Gass to succeed Chip Bergh as Levi's CEO in Jan.]( Gass (Wwd/Getty Images) Levi Strauss President Michelle Gass will take the CEO reins on Jan. 29, succeeding Chip Bergh, who will remain as executive vice chair of the board until April 26 and continue on as senior adviser until November 2024. Gass joined the company in January after more than four years as CEO of Kohl's, with the plan to succeed Bergh, who has been chief executive since 2011 and led the company through milestones including its 2019 initial public stock offering. Full Story: [CNBC]( (12/8), [The Wall Street Journal]( (12/7) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [When a promotion isn't in the offing, provide a roadmap]( [When a promotion isn't in the offing, provide a roadmap]( (mikkelwilliam/Getty Images) Being passed over for a promotion can discourage an employee, but leaders who express empathy and help them map out a plan for future advancement can give them a new sense of motivation, writes Luis Velasquez, the founder and managing partner of Velas Coaching LLC. That roadmap should include an assessment of their current skills and exactly what areas they'll need to master to advance in the organization, Velasquez recommends. Full Story: [Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model)]( (12/11) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [3 challenges CEOs must meet going into the new year]( Heading into the uncertain conditions of 2024, CEOs need to clarify their purpose to build trust within their organization, be sure their executive leadership team has the necessary skills to meet whatever comes and create a culture of innovation at every level, write Korn Ferry's Elise Schroeter, Lars Ronn and Lydia Glover. "Transformational companies require enterprise leaders who, through empathy and compassion, can unite the organization behind a common purpose," they write. Full Story: [Chief Executive]( (12/12) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [How this executive uses AI to spot opportunities]( Data and AI can help leaders understand and tackle problems, turning them into opportunities for improvement, says Lydia Wu, senior director of people strategy and operations at Panasonic Energy of North America. "You almost have to drill yourself into [the] discipline of looking for the problems to be able to propel the organization forward and do better for your workforce and the organization," Wu says. Full Story: [Betterworks]( (12/11) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [The best leaders will always be learning and evolving]( Good leaders are constantly evolving, discarding old ways of doing and thinking, shedding leaders who no longer fit their organization and elevating those who can take them into the future, says Mark McClain, the founder and CEO of SailPoint Technologies. "And it shouldn't always be me coming to that conclusion. I would encourage people to sometimes come to that conclusion themselves," McClain says. Full Story: [LinkedIn]( (12/13) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Read the latest from SmartBrief [] - [Success is a slog -- but how sweet it is]( SmartBrief/Leadership (12/13) [] - [Make 2024 more meaningful with help from a mentor]( SmartBrief/Leadership (12/12) [] - [Successful change management has these 6 facets]( SmartBrief/Leadership (12/8) 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 [] [J.M. Smucker recognized as inclusive workplace]( The Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Corporate Equality Index has awarded the J.M. Smucker Co. a score of 100 for creating an LGBTQ+-inclusive culture. "We have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to cultivating an inclusive work environment where every employee feels welcome, supported and celebrated, and this recognition is a powerful reflection of the progress we have made," said CEO Mark Smucker. Full Story: [Candy & Snack Today]( (12/7) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Does your DEI program focus on personnel or the system?]( Diversity, equity and inclusion efforts should focus on fixing systemic corporate problems and be approached as a long-term journey instead of a quick fix, writes Undraye Howard, vice president of equity, diversity, inclusion and engagement at Social Current. "Organizations should create a culture of belonging across all aspects of the workplace, ensuring that all employees feel seen, heard and valued," Howard writes. Full Story: [Stanford Social Innovation Review]( (11/30) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Ideas for making marketing more diverse]( Incorporating DEI into marketing isn't a one-and-done effort, and members of the Rolling Stone Culture Council emphasize the importance of thoughtful DEI in marketing, advising on strategies such as diversifying teams, seeking feedback from diverse focus groups and celebrating diversity in campaigns to resonate with a broader audience. They also stress the need to understand and embody DEI principles, offering solutions that address societal issues and diversifying representation throughout the marketing process. Full Story: [Rolling Stone]( (12/4) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Amplify inclusive marketing with these easy fixes]( Sonia Thompson, an inclusive marketing consultant, offers ways brands can tweak online marketing experiences to boost inclusivity and effectiveness. Make the Spanish-language version of websites easy to reach, avoid all caps in site text to improve readability and accessibility, and display values in the main site navigation "so it's clear to the people you serve what you're about and why you do what you do," Thompson writes. Full Story: [Inc. (tiered subscription model)]( (12/3) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [] Words bounce. Words, if you let them, will do what they want to do and what they have to do. 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