Bernadette Smith 9/20/24 Bernadette Smith 9/20/24

5 Things / Cruising

This week I took my first cruise vacation. Wow, cruises are great for people-watching, although around huge groups of strangers, I’m quite reserved at first. My partner’s the chatty one. I realized that I don’t always feel safe to open myself up to judgment by strangers who may or may not accept me.

Bernadette Smith 9/13/24 Bernadette Smith 9/13/24

5 Things / Cheerleaders

The persistent theme in my conversations with organizations of all kinds is disconnection. Even organizations with a strong legacy culture have struggled to recapture connection post-Covid. Here’s what I know: we all need a Pop, a cheerleader – and we can all do a better job of cheering on others.

Bernadette Smith 9/6/24 Bernadette Smith 9/6/24

5 Things / Hang On

OK, let’s get real: I’m sick of hearing about this Robby Starbuck creep and companies pulling back from the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index and DEI more broadly.

Bernadette Smith 8/23/24 Bernadette Smith 8/23/24

5 Things / Joy

Summer is my favorite season. I just returned from a 2.5-week campervan road trip with my 13-year-old son. Driving 3,000 miles on our epic adventure, with no one to share the load, forced me to be deeply present.

Bernadette Smith 7/26/24 Bernadette Smith 7/26/24

5 Things / Holding Space

The biggest news this week is that Vice President Kamala Harris is now the presumptive Democratic nominee for US President. She would be the first woman, Black person, and person of South Asian descent.