Perhaps it is no coincidence that her high school classmate at Niles West High School in north suburban Chicago Was Merrick Garland, the recently appointed United States Attorney General.
It seems Suzanne Lerner similarly had her sights set on bigger issues, justice and a global mission. In high school, she participated in Project Wingspread, an exchange program with students from urban and suburban high schools.
Read MoreThirty years ago the extremely popular series, “thirtysomething,” aired its last network episode. But the series based on the angst of that age group about family, parenting, work, relationships, life, death and everything in between is revived again. ABC-TV committed to a reprisal with the original cast dealing with the angst of their own children, who are—you guessed it— thirty somethings.
Thirty somethings have a lot to say about how work, life and everything angst-producing is going. No one knows that better than author and journalist Kayleen Schaefer, who examines the professional and personal lives of her peers in her latest book, But You’re Still So Young: How Thirtysomethings Are Redefining Adulthood.
Read MoreIssue 162 — March 8, 2021
This March 8 is an International Women’s Day like no other.
Let’s first take a moment to recognize the millions globally who have suffered illness and those who have died from Covid-19.
The day we now celebrate with flowers and tributes to the advances women have made began in 1909 as a radical call by women in the Socialist Party of America for workers’ rights and women’s rights — both very radical notions at the time. This included safe workplaces and efforts to prevent sexual assault and violence in war zones and elsewhere. Sound familiar? Not really so very radical is it?
Read MoreIt’s a typical story. Accomplished entrepreneur with impressive degrees takes the child rearing detour and wanting to return to her career, realizes there are so many women like her who want flexible work and just can’t find any suitable positions.
On top of that, a global pandemic surges.
Read MoreJustice, dignity and hope are what the colors purple, green and white aim to signify as the theme colors of International Women’s Day, March 8 in its 110th year of gatherings around the globe. With the theme of #ChooseToChallenge, what faces women in a post-COVID culture and economy is aptly challenging.
Read MoreIssue 161 — February 22, 2021
Grady Gammage auditorium, with its classic Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, buzzed with excitement, filled to its 3000+ seat capacity on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ. Local people who were unable to get tickets hosted watch parties in their homes and offices, and dozens of groups from India to Seattle sent pictures of their watch party events.
Carla Harris’s electrifying opening keynote trended globally on Twitter before the crush of internet users broke the venue’s internet capacity and made our livestream spotty. Even that didn’t dampen the enthusiasm.
Read MoreIn the popular CBS-TV show, “All Rise,” Lola Carmichael, a Black judge who is newly appointed to the bench, fights for justice with her female-led, diverse and inclusive team. They all wear gorgeous outfits and tend to their complicated and fulfilling personal lives outside the courtroom. They share wisdom, prevail at work, network, laugh; they are all perceived as powerful.
Read MoreRecognizing that there are infinitely more than 10 brilliant Black Women in 2021 to celebrate, acknowledge and learn from, we at Take The Lead looked at the latest contributions from only some of the multitudes of Black women leaders who are making a difference—in politics, economics, literature, business, science, academia, sports and retail.
Read MoreWe await near-universal availability of vaccines and see the daily morbidity and mortality toll of COVID, while the economy takes a dive and frontline workers are nearing their breaking point. An initial solution to slowing the spread of the disease—working from home and schooling at home—is taking its tangled toll on families, creating a whole new set of problems, particularly for women.
Read MoreWomen were hit the hardest in the pandemic economically and women can reshape the recovery “to build back better,” says Cherita Ellens, president and CEO of Women Employed.
Ellen was one of six women leaders who set out to offer as many solutions as possible in one lunch hour zoom panel sponsored by the Chicago Foundation for Women in the recent, “Rising Above The Shecession: Concrete Steps To Ensure Women Emerge Stronger.”
Read MoreIssue 159 — February 1, 2021
Oprah’s O Magazine is a rich resource if you are looking for information about Black History Month. And no doubt your inbox is filling up with proclamations and programs in celebration of the month that highlights the past accomplishments of Black men and women.
Read MoreLesley Eccles does not gamble and is not particularly fond of sports.
ThIs may not seem remarkable for the CEO and Founder of Hello Relish, a relationship coaching company with a self-care and relationship app. But considering that Eccles and her husband, Nigel, were the co-founders of Fan Duel, the billion-dollar fantasy sports betting startup, it says a lot about her ability to separate work innovation from her personal life.
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