5 Things / A Shortcut
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With such a deluge of executive orders and click-bait headlines about the end of DEI, we're going to need to counter misinformation through 1:1 conversations. Join my free workshop to learn how to do that.
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I gave a speech this week where I talked about my divorce and how the distraction led to mistakes at work. Because I didn’t tell anyone, I never gave them a chance to be understanding or empathetic.
During the speech, someone privately messaged me, saying she hasn’t told anyone at work about her separation. Vulnerability is hard, especially when we feel like a failure.
I’ve learned that talking about the hard stuff—without oversharing—can be a shortcut to trust and connection. A simple heads-up can show humility, resilience, even humor and warmth.
In turn, you can earn trust faster. This works in both work and life (but don’t do it performatively). Gen X, I see you: try talking about the hard this week. And for those on the receiving end, be open and kind.
Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:
Breaking Barriers, Winning Rings
Autumn Lockwood who became the first Black woman to coach in a Super Bowl two years ago, just became the first Black woman to be a Super Bowl champion coach. She’s the Philadelphia Eagles' associate sports performance coach and has been instrumental in developing elite athletes since joining the team in 2022. ♐Representation in coaching remains rare for Black women in the NFL. Lockwood’s success paves the way for future diversity in elite sports leadership.
Game-Changer On and Off the Field
Jalen Hurts just won the Super Bowl and his all-women management team made history in the NFL. Jalen shared, “It's something that happened organically. I was seeking out the best, and that's how it happened.” This is a rarity in the male-dominated sports world and in the broader landscape of sports management. His agent, Nicole Lynn, orchestrated a record-breaking $255M contract, the largest by annual value at the time. ♐This win cements the power of diverse leadership at the highest levels.
Hollywood’s Leading Ladies Achieve Parity
For the first time in history, women achieved gender parity on the big screen in 2024. A groundbreaking 42% of the top 100 films featured female leads—matching male-led films—while another 16% were ensemble-led. Hits like Wicked, Inside Out 2, and Mean Girls proved that female-driven films are both critically and financially successful. ♐ Gender parity isn’t just possible—it’s profitable. Hollywood must now ensure diversity across all demographics.
Ghosting Is Out, Accountability Is In
With over 14 million job applications ignored in one quarter, hiring platforms are stepping in to demand accountability. LinkedIn, Indeed, and Greenhouse now highlight employer responsiveness, while Greenhouse’s new badges reward fair and structured hiring practices. Ghosting and biased hiring disproportionately impact underrepresented groups, but tools like anonymized resumes and structured interviews help level the playing field. Companies that embrace transparency are already seeing faster hiring and higher offer acceptance rates. ♐Fair, transparent hiring isn’t just ethical—it’s the future of competitive and diverse workplaces.
DEI Pickleball Court
@VivienRuss wrote on Threads: “Had an amazing experience with Diversity, Equity & Inclusion today in my pickleball league. We have 4 new players who are deaf or hearing impaired. They can’t hear when a score is called, or a line call is made. So all 60 of us agreed to the hand signals we would use.
Diversity=encouraging hearing-impaired players to join our league
Equity=using hand signals so we all know the score and line calls
Inclusion=asking them to teach us the sign language for numbers so we could say/sign the score!!”
As a pickleball nut, I love this story! DEI is as simple as that. (h/t to Karen Catlin for the share)
Good Vibes to Go:
Want some Girl Scout Cookies? Consider buying them from trans girls thanks to this list curated by Erin Reed.