Chief

His work — along with that of his wife Coretta Scott King and numerous others — serves as an important reminder for leaders: — Uphold values through both struggle and stability. — Build a system where everyone thrives. — Don’t settle for the world as it is.

As we approach Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we’re reflecting on Dr. King.’s vision and relentless pursuit of a more equitable world.

In our final Power Seat conversation of 2024, Mellody Hobson reflected on the toughest moments of her career and how they shaped the next chapter of her journey. Her advice? “Prove to yourself that you can accomplish anything.” What lessons will you carry into 2025?

Sound familiar? The Corporate Trail is a reminder of all the absurdities women face in their own career game — and why it’s long past time to change it. Play a round. Then, tag your friends to join and mock the madness. thecorporatetrail.com

Between the Glass Cliff and the Glass Ceiling, the threat of being “too much” or “too nice,” women in corporate leadership face a treacherous path.

Introducing "The Corporate Trail." It's our take on the classic Oregon Trail computer game, only, instead of rivers and dysentery, think double standards and constant interruptions. Your goal? Maintain your likeability without burning out.

Describe your career as a game. We’ll go first:

It’s also why we’re a longstanding partner of @CivicAlliance. This community of more than 1,300 companies is united by a shared belief that an active democracy is good for business, and an engaged business community is good for democracy.

Civic engagement is core to our mission at Chief. We believe advocacy is best paired with action — that’s why our team is OOO this Election Day. Our team is using the time to vote, volunteer, and get involved in ways that matter to them.

Learn more about the shifting role of the CFO and how women executives can rise to meet this moment. chief.com/articles/how-t…

Women held nearly 19% of CFO positions across Fortune 500 and S&P 500 companies in 2023, and research from @BucknellU's Freeman College of Management shows that women outperform men in similar roles.

While gender parity remains elusive in the C-Suite, women are making significant representation gains as Chief Financial Officers.

It’s not on you to end ineffective feedback in the workplace, but you can take action to ensure it doesn’t hold you back.

3️⃣ Lead with intention. The ‘C’ in CEO stands for culture. Reflect on how you are living your company culture and reinforcing it through actions so that established values remain at the center of your company’s work. Chief Members, what were your favorite insights from Pritzker?

2️⃣ “Integrity and humility are critical to leadership,” Pritzker says, “align your company around a bold vision and a clear set of values.”

1️⃣ Invest in your team. Pritzker reminds us that “life is a team sport.” Ask questions, listen more than you speak, and cultivate a culture of trust so that bold ideas can move from the boardroom into the real world.

@PennyPritzker has founded five businesses, served as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, and advised on multiple boards, including @Microsoft. Last week, she joined us at ChiefX Chicago to discuss her legendary career. These are her top three pieces of advice for executive leaders.

Your Tuesday reminder.

As the largest network of senior executive women, Chief is making the C-Suite a lot less lonely for these leaders. We don’t plan to spend the next 48 years waiting. Are you with us? Apply to join the largest network of senior executive women: chief.com/apply

In the meantime, @McKinsey and @LeanInOrg's latest “Women in the Workplace” report shows that — despite “small but important” gains at the VP, SVP, and C-Suite levels — women are still operating in a professional environment that looks much as it did a decade ago.

Generation Beta (yes, you read that right) will be the first generation with full gender parity in the workplace.