Chief’s Post

Three years ago, Simone Biles made a bold career choice: She withdrew from competition in the Summer Olympics. At the time, many considered this to be a personal failure. “What happened to fighting through injury, working through stuff you didn’t really wanna do?” one sportscaster complained. Biles is now returning to the Olympics with a key lesson that all executive women should carry with them: professional excellence doesn’t have to come at the cost of your health, in any form. We applaud Biles’s decision to prioritize her well-being, and we’ll be cheering her on as she competes in Paris 👏

For the first time in U.S. history, a Black and South Asian American woman is leading a major party in pursuit of the highest position of leadership — President of the United States. As an organization of powerful women leaders, Chief believes women should have a place at the highest levels of leadership — whether it's Chief Executive or Commander-in-Chief. As the world, country, and next generation of leaders watch history unfold, let’s focus on: Her LEADERSHIP, not her likability  Her ACCOMPLISHMENTS, not her ambition  Her EXPERIENCE, not her emotions  Her PERFORMANCE, not her personal family choices  Her COMPETENCE, not her clothes Vice President Kamala Devi Harris’s career is marked by many firsts: the first woman, and first Black and South Asian woman Attorney General of California; first South Asian woman in the U.S. Senate; and first woman and first woman of Black and South Asian descent to be Vice President. Her firsts — along with those who paved the way — show us what happens when we overcome barriers and believe in what’s possible.

In 2019, women made up 44% of all sports participants, but received less than 5% of media coverage and 1% of sponsorship dollars, according to TOGETHXR. Cut to 2024 and the tide is finally shifting. This year’s NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship had 18.9 million viewers, making it the most-watched basketball game in five years. And, while women’s basketball has exploded in popularity thanks to rookie WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, fans and corporations are taking notice of women athletes in other sports. Recent blockbuster ratings for recent women’s sports prove that, with the right exposure, fans will watch — and sponsorship dollars will follow. Chief interviewed four executives on what this means for business and career opportunities in sports and beyond. Head to the link in our comments to read their key insights. 

Kudos to Olympic Athlete and Chief Member Allyson Felix for taking strides to support parent athletes at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. With this space, created in partnership with Pampers, mothers will be able to care for their children without having to sacrifice time and energy they’d otherwise dedicate to training, competing, and winning. We’re cheering for all parent athletes this year — they remind us that you can balance many roles and still be at the top of your game. (📽: CBS News)

It’s been one year since “Barbie” hit theaters globally, and the marketing world has never been the same. Taking a page from the film’s countless activations and 165 partners, Mattel, Inc. is evolving its strategic playbook to a franchise mindset that utilizes the IP of all its brands. Mattel’s EVP and Chief Brand Officer Lisa McKnight says her team is always in “what’s next” mode: “We've proven out this aspiration to evolve from a toy company to a high-performing, IP-driven toy company, and we now have a case study to point to.” Head to the link in our comments to read how Lisa is building on the Barbie brand’s mythic success.

Congratulations to the Chief Members celebrating major career milestones this week. We’re continually inspired by your hard work and commitment to impact. — Jenny Hoffmann, PhD, was hired as Chief Executive Officer at Biorithm — Corina B. C. was hired as Chief Operating Officer at Gardner Health Services — Annemarie E. Murphy was promoted to Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Lending Officer, Director of FBOL Bancshares at First Bank of the Lake — Amanda Rohrs was hired as Vice President, Change Management and Transformation at GuidePoint Security — Victoria Voorhees was hired as Head of Corporate Accounts, Marketing at Galderma — Kari L. Niblack, Esq. was named one of Captive International’s Top 50 Influential Women In Captive Insurance

Olympian runner Sha'Carri Richardson's words don’t just ring true for athletes. Between navigating layoffs, career pivots, caregiving leaves, or prioritizing mental health — executive women know the challenges of returning to the field after a hiatus. Take inspiration from Sha’Carri. Allow yourself the time you need to return better than ever. Say it with us: “I’m not back, I’m better” 🌟 (🎥: NBC Sports)

You’ve done it. You’ve landed your next role in the C-Suite. You’re ready to drive meaningful change, lead fearlessly, and take on new challenges in stride. But what happens at the end of your new role? It may not be a question you want to consider in this moment of excitement, but it’s important nevertheless. Negotiating severance is especially critical for women executives, as they are often appointed to leadership roles during times of crisis — and then often replaced as soon as a new equilibrium is established. “I think of severance kind of like a prenup,” says Kat Campbell, Chief Member and Founder at HowardHelen . “You don’t think anything is ever gonna go wrong. You hope that things will be happy forever. But the reality is you want to protect yourself.” Discover Kat’s full recommendations for negotiating an equitable severance package at the link in the comments.

Are you being kind? Or are you actually fostering a workplace culture that makes it difficult to have honest conversations? It’s no secret that women executives are in a complicated position when it comes to delivering feedback. Morgana Rae, CEO of Charmed Life Coaching, reminds us that “Women learn at a young age that displeasing can be dangerous, so we become people pleasers at an early age.” So, how can executive women overcome this learned impulse to people please? In moments of conflict, lean into tough conversations. If executives’ priority is to maintain a certain perception, their feedback can come out as unclear or, worse, never be given at all. Engaging in direct feedback and handling disagreements openly is key to developing transparent, trusting cultures. The difference between a good leader and a great leader often comes down to their ability to choose bravery over fear in the toughest moments. Read Rae’s complete recommendations on embracing conflict at the link in our comments.