DDB's Juie Shah: The case for "gender agnosticism" Juie Shah, group strategy director at DDB Chicago, urges an end to the dangerous habit of perpetuating gender stereotypes in leadership, such as assigning empathetic or nurturing characteristics to women while men are viewed as more assertive or confident. "Boxing either gender into a specific style hinders transformational leadership," Shah writes, adding, "Let's champion gender agnosticism in leadership, paving the way for a more effective and inclusive workforce where competence -- not gender -- defines leadership." Full Story: Campaign US (tiered subscription model) (5/30)
How to recover from a mistake at work When it's time to do damage control after a work mistake, experts advise leading with a short, heartfelt apology without excuses. Then, talk to your boss or colleagues about how to fix the situation and then move on, showing superiors and coworkers that you can take responsibility, they suggest. Full Story: Fast Company (tiered subscription model) (5/30)
Practicing "slow productivity" builds trust with bosses Working at a natural pace and doing fewer things with a focus on quality work can boost productivity, according to Cal Newport, a Georgetown University professor and author of "Slow Productivity." By taking time to produce quality work, Newport says you can build a reputation of getting work done, even if it's not immediate, which means your boss's stress "is gone as soon as they hit send," Newport notes. Full Story: CNBC (5/28)
Keep your audience engaged during your next presentation by getting clear on what you want them to take away from your talk, prepare a strong opening and closing and conclude with a call to action, writes author and leadership expert Paul Thornton. Practice your presentation, paying attention to gestures, transitions, pauses and tone of voice, Thornton suggests. Full Story: SmartBrief/Leadership (5/30)
The Landscape
Three-quarters of companies to adapt skills to AI Deloitte AI Institute's latest report reveals that about three-quarters of companies plan to refine hiring and employee strategies in the next two years, focusing on upskilling and reskilling employees to adapt to AI advancements. The report, based on a global survey of nearly 2,000 director- to C-suite-level respondents, indicates that 39% of organizations plan to increase the number of employees to support AI initiatives, while 38% will keep it unchanged. Full Story: Forbes (tiered subscription model) (6/3)
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Sue Desmond-Hellmann as CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2018 (Bloomberg/Getty Images)
Oncologist Sue Desmond-Hellmann has served as CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, chancellor of the University of California San Francisco and president of product development at Genentech, and she sits on the board of ChatGPT developer OpenAI. The daughter and sister of pharmacists decided at a young age that she would go into the field of medicine; she had never been east of Chicago when she moved to Uganda for research at Makerere University, discovered a love for drug development at Bristol Myers Squibb and Genentech, and helped establish the Gates Medical Research Institute. "[I]f life gives you an opportunity, you take it," Desmond-Hellmann said. Full Story: The Doctor's Art (5/28)
Artist Scott Kildall has developed a unique sound installation called "Infrared Reflections" during his residency at Joshua Tree National Park. Using a microcontroller with an infrared sensor, Kildall captures wavelengths of light reflected by Joshua trees and converts this data into music, effectively turning the trees into instruments. No word yet on whether U2 is going to incorporate Kildall's music into their next album. Full Story: National Public Radio (6/3)
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
Auto accidents, of course, followed soon after motorized vehicles were invented. What kind of vehicle was involved in the first accident committed to record in 1869?
