5 Things / Authenticity

This week I delivered my keynote Follow the ARC to a professional medical association, and my talk happened to fall on Lesbian Visibility Day. As I shared on LinkedIn, I come out during every keynote (and make fun of myself a little bit) because it’s more fun for everyone when I’m authentic.

I’m grateful to have a career where my authenticity is rewarded, especially when plenty of folks don’t have that privilege. I don’t take it for granted – so, thank you for reading 5 Things, for the kind messages you send, and for hiring me! And for all you do to build an inclusive world.

Another quick note: if you haven’t reached out to Rita or I about a Pride workshop, do it! We’re booking up really quickly.

Good Vibes:

Delta Flight Attendants Will Be Paid During Boarding—A First For U.S. Airlines

In a first for a U.S. airline, Delta flight attendants will now be paid during boarding, not just after the cabin doors close. I found this story shocking because how could they not be paid??? This amounts to many hours of unpaid labor by mostly women over the course of a year. This matters because it’s about equity, about making things right, plain and simple. Let’s hope the other airlines aren’t far behind.

Major Retailers Boost Black Female Entrepreneurship as Employment Gap Lingers

This week I was encouraged to read that Target, Sephora, and Ulta Beauty continue to invest in Black women founders through incubator programs, professional mentorships, and financial support. These programs could have easily faded away in the two years since racial justice commitments were made, but instead, the programs are receiving increased investment. This matters because investing in these startups creates jobs, brings new products to market that better serve diverse audiences, and ultimately can reduce the racial wealth gap.

Meet Ameera, the Newest Muppet Who Teaches Kids Affected by Conflict and Crisis

Sesame Street has a new Muppet named Ameera who is in a wheelchair and is a displaced refugee. Ameera will air on Ahlan Simsim, the version of Sesame Street created for the Middle East and North African audiences. Ameera is really funny and loves basketball and science because we are more than our circumstances. I didn’t realize that Sesame Street shot an alternate version of the show in Jordan, but this matters because it helps children in those regions see themselves represented.

Tyson Foods Announces It Will Pay For Its Employees’ College Education

Tyson Foods will now pay 100% of its 120k employees’ college education. While this doesn’t seem especially notable because I’ve written here before about how many other companies (like Walmart) do this – except that Tyson Foods will also pay for masters degrees, in addition to associates, bachelor’s, certificates, and more. This matters because it shows employees that they’re valued, creates greater equity, and provides a path forward for these employees’ careers.

Airbnb Says Employees Can Work Remotely Forever

With many other companies requiring employees to return to the office, at least some of the time, Airbnb announced that all employees can work remotely forever. While that flexibility is great, my favorite part of the story is that employees who live in lower cost of living places will not be paid less (which is what some other companies do). This matters because studies show that women and BIPOC prefer the flexibility offered by remote work. The challenge here, and with other companies is to ensure that employees who are remote still receive the same visibility and access as those who are in the office full time.