The hilarity of it all
Confidence (gap)
Welcome to The Chief Brief. Every Sunday, I spotlight global, diverse, and innovative female leaders, and the news influencing them to change the world. The CB curates news from around the world, breaks down the story, and helps you connect with the women making news! It is my first step in a passion project to build a globally connected community of women leaders.
Happy Sunday!
With last week’s tech troubles firmly in the past, I’m now resolved to find humour in every situation going forward. So without much further ado…
Let’s talk about
The hilarity of it all
From awkward posing to big promises that aren’t really binding. The G7 has always been more flash and dash than anything of substance. Sure, this year’s fiesta in sunny Cornwall, England has brought the promise of a billion Covid vaccines for the world. But think about it. Shouldn’t that anyway be part of the global COVAX agreement? Everyone (in the G7) wants to back the Biden infrastructure plan. It will rival China’s belt and road initiative they say. Does anyone want to tell them the U.S. is a tad late to the game? There are also always the usual complaints of inconvenienced locals.
But what a G7 meeting lacks in substance, it usually makes up in comedic moments. Like at Davos, we plebs can get our giggles on from the pictures, the odd ball comments, and occasionally the ‘un’-thoughtful gift.
The Queen with her usual dry sense of humour really hit the nail on the head as she posed for a picture with Angela Merkel, Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron, Justin Trudeau, Joe Biden and Boris Johnson, among others. She asked: “Are you supposed to be looking as if you’re enjoying yourself?” The group guffawed as Boris replied “yes”.
Joe Biden’s thoughtful gift of a custom made $6,000 Boris bike, would have been a footnote in history, if it hadn’t been for the U.K. Prime Minister’s return gift. In all of the usual Boris wisdom he gave Biden a framed, freely available picture from Wikipedia. Trust Boris to get himself and the “special relationship” booted down the White House invitation list, behind Europe. Angela Merkel’s now making it to the Biden home, before Boris can. Choose your presents better maybe the lesson here.
The brilliantly written piece, ‘Wish you were here’ by Hannah Jane Parkinson in The Guardian encapsulates all the hilarity of the G7. She talks about Jill Biden’s retort to Melania Trump of jacketed ‘Love,’ Reservoir Dogs comparisons at the arrival of ‘The Adults’ (Merkel and husband Joachim Sauer), the quintessential British experience of a wobbly picnic table gathering of leaders in what Hannah calls, possibly the most awkward picture of all time, giant blackbirds, Pikachus, and tree stump coffee tables. The lesson Hannah leaves us with is simple, yet honest. You can’t take stuff too seriously.
If you enjoy reading the brief, please spread the word!
Business not as usual
Confidence gap
PwC’s 2021 Africa Business Agenda is based on 1,779 interviews in 100 countries, including 50 CEOs in 14 African countries. What pops out quite clearly in the report is the confidence gap between the continent and the world about a bounce back in the global economy. Africa’s faced a unique set of challenges during the pandemic, getting hit by the virus late, but struggling with its rate of vaccinations. Here are some stats that popped for me:
60% of CEOs in Africa are concerned about uncertainty. Compare that to 38% globally.
30% of CEOs in Africa were “very confident” about their company’s growth prospects over the next 12 months Vs. 36% globally.
56% of CEOs in Africa are concerned about tax uncertainty, Vs. 31% globally.
48% of CEOs in Africa are concerned about overregulation Vs. 42% globally.
54% of CEOs in Africa are concerned about cyberthreats Vs. 47% globally.
64% of CEOs in Africa have not factored climate change into strategies.
Upside:
42% of CEOs in Africa plan to increase headcount Vs. 34% globally.
52% of CEOs in Africa plan to increase investments in digital transformation Vs. 49% globally.
Tesco’s new pay deal
As part of a one year deal the U.K.’s largest grocer Tesco is offering a 2.7% pay raise for hourly wage staff on the shop floor, and in customer fulfilment centres. This takes their wages from £9.30 to £9.55 per hour and comes into effect on September 5th. The deal will also see night premium payments for eligible staff rise 4.1 per cent from the current rate of £2.21 to £2.30.
This ‘generosity’ comes after Tesco lost a landmark equal pay case last week, to thousands of its workers at a hearing by the European Court of Justice. Shop floor staff, (largely women) accused the Tesco of paying them up to £3 per hour less than the mostly male warehouse workers. 6,000 workers (current and former) said the company should be considered a single entity for employment conditions under EU law. Tesco may end up owing around 25,000 women more than £2.5 billion in back pay claims for at least seven years.
Remember Elizabeth Homes?
The Theranos founder and CEO’s fraud trial is gearing up, and this week it was clear the fight’s going to be a tough one for her. Prosecutors have accused Elizabeth of trying to use an unusually long 112 question long, 41 page jury screening questionnaire to produce a jury biased in her favour. Elizabeth has also previously demanded the prosecution not be allowed to bring up her lifestyle and spending habits, claiming it would be irrelevant.
The youngest and wealthiest self-made billionaire has already lost the battle to limit what jurors can learn at the trial about how she worked with Theranos lawyer David Boies to stop the expose by the Wall Street Journal. That original 2015 expose ended up bringing down Elizabeth’s house of Theranos cards.
Have you met
Anita Frew, the new wind beneath Rolls Royce wings
Anita Frew will succeed Ian Davis as chair of Rolls-Royce in October, making her the first woman to chair the British aero-engine company when Davis retires after nine years in the role.
A veteran of investor relations and corporate reputation consulting Anita is currently the chair of science and chemicals group Croda. She is also non-executive director of mining giant BHP Group. She used to be deputy chairman at Lloyds bank, a director at advertising group WPP and held roles at Royal Bank of Scotland.
She steps into her role at Rolls Royce at a time when the company is looking to rebound from the Covid pandemic. The company’s income was badly hit last year as its airline customers struggled as travel came to a screeching halt. Rolls Royce has cut costs, taken on debt and raised equity to survive.
Caught my eye
Pregnancy loss policy
U.K. headquartered law firm Kingsley Napley is setting the bar high for empathetic leadership. The firm has formalised a policy offering 10 days paid time off work to all staff impacted by pregnancy loss. All employees and partners who lose a baby by miscarriage, stillbirth, abortion, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy or neonatal loss can take the leave without having to certify their absence. Additional days can be taken via sick leave. If a staff member has a still birth after 24 weeks of pregnancy, the firm will offer them maternity leave and pay.
Europe’s last matriarchy
Kihnu is an island of women, famously known as Europe’s last matriarchy. It is an isolated place in the Baltic Sea, off Estonia’s western coast. This little slice of feminism are the bearers of a history rich enough to have made it into UNESCO’s cultural heritage of humanity list. It is also a place where men have been absent, and women have erased gender roles to take on every job.
Science stuff
Science Vs. harassment
The U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is moving for the first time to expel sexual harassers from its membership. NAS is currently adjudicating complaints that could lead to the ejection of astronomer Geoffrey Marcy and evolutionary biologist Francisco Ayala.
The 158 year old institution’s membership for scientists is for life after being elected to NAS by existing members. These NAS members serve as advisers who develop reports for the U.S. government. NAS’s 2342 U.S. members are on average 72 years old and 81% are men.
Sea snot
Talk about turning lemons into lemonade! Scientists have a few ideas of what to do with the marine mucilage, or "sea snot," blanketing shorelines across Turkey's Marmara Sea. The bacteria-based mucilage is a sort of self defence mechanism for the maritime organism to protect its environment, though it can be harmful to others when it sinks to the bottom of the sea. Scientists think the thick slimy substance being frantically cleaned up by the country, can be used to diversify Turkey’s energy resources. The option being proposed converts the sea snot to gas, which can then be converted to electricity.
Be a sport
Football’s new boss
Debbie Hewitt is set to become the Football Association’s first female non-exec Chairperson. She kicks off her role as the first woman to head the FA in its 157 year history in January 2022. She succeeds interim FA chair Peter McCormick. Debbie is currently the non-executive chair of Visa Europe, The Restaurant Group plc, BGL Group and White Stuff, and was awarded an MBE in the 2011.
Judging Figure Skating
Canadian ice dancer Kaitlyn Weaver hid what she calls her little secret for most of her career. Two years after leaving competitive figure skating, this week, she decided to keep no more secrets. The two-time Olympian came out officially as “queer”, breaking the archetype of the hyper feminine perception of women in the sport.
“We are in a judged sport. We're afraid to put one toe out of line for fear of what people will think about us. Coming out was never something I considered. It was not on the table for me. It was not even a real conversation I could have with myself. Coming out is still not safe in a lot of countries around the world. On an international panel, who knows what someone is going to judge you for? It puts you even deeper into hiding.” - Kaitlyn Weaver
Misogynistic perverts
Madeline Groves has withdrawn from Australia’s upcoming swimming Olympic trials citing "misogynistic perverts" in the sport. In the 2016 Rio Olympics, Madeline won silver medals in 200 metres butterfly and 4x100 medley. Announcing her decision to withdraw this week on Instagram and Twitter, she also said:
“You can no longer exploit young women and girls, body shame or medically gaslight them and then expect them to represent you so you can earn your annual bonus. Time's UP.”
Swimming Australia's president Kieren Perkins says Groves has made no official complaint. "She's at no time contacted Swimming Australia. We haven't been able to talk to her directly and go through her concerns.” They will now set up an independent all-female panel to address harassment and misogyny in the sport.
The artsy stuff
The Bench
Megan Markle’s book ‘The Bench’ was in trouble even before the Duchess of Sussex hating U.K. tabloids got hold of it. A battle between her publisher Random House and book seller Waterstones relegated ‘The Bench’ along with former President Bill Clinton and James Patterson’s book ‘The President’s daughter,’ off any promotional shelves. As the books released and that little crisis was resolved, the critics got their hands on ‘The Bench.’
The reviews haven’t been flattering, but it has still managed to get into Amazon’s bestseller list. I scoured non-U.K. reviews (to be fair to the Duchess) to see if ‘The Bench’ lived up to its hype before buying it for any children in my circle. Glowing accolades have been paid to the book’s talented illustrator Christian Robinson, and Megan has been praised for reflecting democratic diversity. But the 200-word book itself hasn’t left anyone impressed.
The review from the New York Times' is of a “Tortured Rhyme- a heavier editing hand would have been a big help. There is no excuse, in a book of fewer than 200 words, for every syllable not to be just right.” The Irish Times’ was rather harsh too: “The Bench apparently began as a message to Harry. It should have stayed between them.” And The Australian, described the book as being “so terrible it’s funny.” I guess The Bench won’t make the cut for this year’s birthday presents for the young’uns I know. There are better diversity reflecting books out there.
My Best Friend: Amy Winehouse
The 27 year old singer has been dead for a decade and her best and only friend Tyler James has finally come out to speak on the singer’s behalf. In a new book, Tyler the singer’s friend since they were 13 years old says, her fate wasn’t inevitable. “I want people to please, please recognise how hard she had worked to come off drugs (heroin and crack cocaine) and just how close she was to giving up alcohol for good, how close she was to being healthy.” Tyler says Amy was clean for almost three years prior to her death. The 10th anniversary of the legendary singer is on July 23, 2021, and in the run-up Tyler is on a mission for Amy to no longer be remembered as a “doomed” person.
Must Watch
We’ve all been there, or seen friends and sisters go through it. And we know no matter how hard anyone pretends to be a perfect parent (working or otherwise), what you see is never the reality. Motherland has made me laugh so hard. I can see my sisters, my friends and occasionally myself (as the free agent aunt) in their chaotic, hyper-competitive trials and traumas of un-romanticised parenting.
If you need a good laugh and loved ‘Working Moms,’ you must watch Motherland. Available on Netflix, Amazon and BBC iPlayer.