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| Women In |
| Greetings and welcome back. In summer 1995, world leaders gathered for the Beijing World Conference on Women, where Hillary Clinton declared “women’s rights are human rights.” Twenty-six years later, political and business leaders are gathering again this week in Paris to discuss ways to speed progress for gender equality. Many welcome that urgency. The Generation Equality Forum—originally scheduled for 2020 and delayed a year by Covid-19—comes at a moment when women have been particularly hard hit by the toll of the pandemic and stand to lose economic and social ground world-wide. As of Wednesday, leaders at the conference pledged more than $40 billion toward women's advancement and a host of actions to close gaps. Helping accelerate efforts for women is the Gates Foundation, which announced it will spend $2.1 billion on gender equality over five years. The sum is the foundation’s largest-ever commitment and cements gender as a matter as pressing as eradicating polio or developing vaccines. The money is meant to help women obtain financial know-how, increase access to contraceptives and elevate them in fields like health and economics. |
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 | | Melinda French Gates and Bill Gates at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in 2015. PHOTO: FABRICE COFFRINI/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES |
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| Many of these initiatives are ones Melinda French Gates has long championed, often apart from her husband, Bill, who has focused his public profile more on other global-health issues. When news of the couple’s intention to divorce broke in May, we wrote here about how the split could mark a new chapter for Ms. French Gates. It appears that chapter is underway. Last, as they say on Twitter, some personal news: I’ve started a new role at the Journal leading our Life & Work section, a new team that unites our coverage of personal finance, work and careers, personal tech, health, travel and wellness. I’ll be appearing in the newsletter less frequently, but you’ll be seeing more of our work in this space and hearing from Ebony Reed and other journalists in the newsroom. Being in weekly conversation with you has been a privilege and a pleasure—thank you. On to more news. —Nikki |
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| LURING WORKERS: Employers are contending with heightened expectations from white-collar workers that their jobs can be done remotely. The push for flexibility is adding to the wave of resignations rippling through the U.S., recruiters say, and motivating many employers to pad their work-from-home policies. In service work and blue-collar fields, signing bonuses of $1,000 and up are making their way into fast food, truck driving, healthcare and manufacturing. |
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| AVON CALLING: The Avon corporation built a ladder for a female managerial class, argues author Katina Manko in her new book “Ding Dong! Avon Calling!” The book offers an in-depth look at the company’s 124-year history and illuminates how American business evolved in response to shifting gender roles. |
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| JEALOUSY ON THE JOB: In our best moments—secure, confident, able to keep our eyes on our own paper—it feels easy to offer congratulations when a colleague shines. At other times, jealousy can creep in. The WSJ's Rachel Feintzeig considers how to work through those emotions and keep them from damaging your career. |
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| HEALTH FINANCE CHIEF: Health insurer Humana Inc. named Susan Diamond as its chief financial officer, making her interim position permanent. Ms. Diamond led the $5.7 billion acquisition of Kindred at Home, a home-health and hospice business, which was the largest acquisition in Humana’s history. |
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| Roselle Levy has been hosting travelers at her Martha’s Vineyard vacation home for nearly 30 years. Her family is part of what she calls “a long tradition of shore rentals in New England.” She takes pride in the work she does to open her home to guests and make them feel comfortable. So when she read the Journal’s recent article, “These Airbnb Alternatives Offer Safe Spaces for Black Travelers, LGBT Tourists and Others,” she was drawn to share her perspective on the service these niche websites provide. Ms. Levy hosts her vacation home through FabStayz, a website catering to LGBT travelers, as well as a regional vacation rental website. “Martha's Vineyard is, I would say, strongly welcoming of everyone,” she said. “I know that's not true of some locales, that some locales are not necessarily known for being particularly welcoming. And that's why I think it becomes a very urgent issue that travelers feel that they can find a safe and secure accommodation.” |
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| EXTREME SNEAKERS: Ugly sneakers clomped their way to the top of the fashion world in 2017, when Paris-based label Balenciaga catalyzed the trend for blaring, bulbous sneakers with its gigundo Triple S model. No shoe that followed quite attained the peak of homeliness set by the Triple S. But the lesson still rings out today. |
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| TURNING POINT: Actress Helen Hunt wasn’t initially thrilled about the prospect of playing Paul Reiser’s wife in “Mad About You.” Then she read the script. |
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| CAMP SAFETY: Covid-19 safety changes in the weeks before summer camp starts have left families and camps scrambling to figure out new protocols.
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