This year’s Board Monitor report explores how corporate boards sought to diversify in 2019 — with impressive gains for women but minimal changes for people of color — and added a mix of new and familiar expertise. As boards seek to help their companies through the greatest global economic contraction in a century, a pandemic, and ongoing global demands to end racial injustice and inequality, these are directors with valuable and fresh perspectives.
CEOs for the future will need to demonstrate inquisitiveness, agility, humility and an insatiable appetite for learning like no generation before them. They’re more visible in terms of their public persona, and need to be comfortable with employees, citizens, customers and shareholders all projecting their hopes and expectations onto them. At the same time, CEOs...
We’re living in a time in which the calls for action and meaningful change around diversity, equity and inclusion are loud and forceful. As leaders, we must meet the moment — challenging the status quo with action and accountability to champion more diverse and inclusive environments that foster a sense of belonging for our people....
Women in the Workplace is the largest comprehensive study of the state of women in corporate America. Now, in 2020, women in corporate America are facing a new challenge: the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s report focuses on how the pandemic has affected women at work, including the unique impact on women of different races and ethnicities, working mothers, women in senior leadership, and women with disabilities. It also looks at the emotional impact of incidents of racial violence in this country on employees.
The people of PwC inspire us to take on issues where we can make a difference. That includes doing our best to stand for inclusion and opportunities for all. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made and we’re committed to go further and faster as well as help others on their journey. As part of...
Fran Philip, board member at Vera Bradley, Totes Isotoner, Sea Bags, and Coats, shares key resources for women executives looking to gain corporate board positions. Fran also serves on the Women in Retail Leadership Circle advisory board.
We spoke to CEOs of some of the biggest retailers in the United Kingdom and the United States in May 2020, and it was striking how immediately and consistently they emphasized the importance of grounding their leadership in their organization’s values as they lead through the crisis and stressed the need for leaders who put people first. This need will define great leadership in the next generation.
Over the years, the popularity and convenience of online shopping has continued to grow. Therefore, retailers are continuously faced with the challenge of capturing market share in a hypercompetitive environment. To do so, they're turning to promotions such as free shipping to lure customers in. Being able to offer free shipping profitably will be a big factor in determining a retailer's long-term success, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Brand trust in the post-COVID-19 world is even more consequential after such an existential threat, especially as consumers have more trust in the brands as themselves than their own governments, according to the Edelman Trust Barometer. Of course, this doesn’t apply to all brands, but only those brands (we previously suggested) that provide the appropriate emotional connection and context. For customer loyalty, the emotional relevance of a brand is intrinsically tied to trust, and vice versa.
The Industrious has spent most of its corporate life focused on creating touch-based digital experiences that facilitate a brand conversation and tell brand stories. However, in a society transformed by COVID-19, to what degree will people be willing to touch screens and congregate around monitors? We believe a new, slimmer and more experiential retail experience that makes novel use of space will be essential for success under these new conditions.
