Caleb and Adriele respond to a big news week, including elections, the Trump indictment, Disney and DeSantis, and more. Then, they go deep on Gen Z’s role as business agitators, including the role they’ve played in holding Starbucks (and Howard Schultz) accountable for their labor practices. Next, they unpack the disparate reactions to Angel Reese and Caitlyn Clark on the heels of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. All that, plus Shopify’s meeting ban and the Pope in a puffer jacket.

Articles mentioned in today's episode:

Starbucks' Howard Schultz was the gold standard for good bosses everywhere. Then Gen Z worked for him | Business Insider

After outcry, Jill Biden's office says White House invitation is for LSU women's team | NPR

The TikTok hearing was embarrassing. Starbucks leaders make a hot cup of nothing. And are we moving too fast on AI? (Probably.) Caleb and Adriele cover so much of the week’s news before diving into the Levi’s controversy over their AI-generated diversity. Then, workers still clearly love hybrid and remote work, though not all executives are happy about it. All that plus pointless meetings and an ode to Black hair.

Links this episode:

State of Remote Work 2022

Opinion | Meta. Salesforce. Silicon Valley Bank. Is Working from Home Really Working? - The New York Times

Open letter calls for pause on AI dev | LinkedIn

Caleb and Adriele keep an eye on the looming Trump indictment, and unpack the UN’s latest climate report in the context of DeSantis’s anti-ESG campaign and Biden’s veto of an ESG restrictions bill. Then, they do a deep dive on the potential TikTok ban in the U.S. and imagine the fallout. Next, they talk through the boon of generative AI tech in the last several months and what it could mean for workers and leaders going forward. All that, plus Volkswagen’s affordable EV and a reminder to check on the mental health of strong friends. 

Links this episode:

World Happiness Report: The world’s happiest countries for 2023 | CNN

Mental health and the pandemic: What U.S. surveys have found | Pew Research Center

VW beats Tesla to the punch and unveils an affordable electric vehicle - The Verge

TikTok CEO appears on TikTok to warn users about the TikTok ban - The Verge

TikTok Ban in US Hinges on Split From China, ByteDance - Bloomberg

With Firefly, Adobe gets into the generative AI game | TechCrunch

Microsoft announces Copilot: the AI-powered future of Office documents - The Verge

Caleb and Adriele lament Daylight Saving Time, examine Prop 22 in California, and react to the Academy Awards. Then, they go deep on the aftermath of the Silicon Valley Bank collapse and how Republican leaders are finding ways to blame diversity and ESG. Next, they examine why women are leaving their jobs and what it means that the gender pay gap hasn’t improved in 20 years. All that plus a healthcare rant and a raised eyebrow at a recent study that says most Americans are satisfied with their personal lives.

Links in today’s episode:

Why the GOP is Blaming Silicon Valley Bank’s Collapse on ‘Woke’ Capitalism

WSJ Wonders: Did Silicon Valley Bank Die Because One Black Person Was on Its Board?

SVB Failure Becomes Fodder for Anti-ESG Crowd in U.S. Culture Wars 

Anti-ESG group launches mobile billboard campaign in DC ahead of expected Biden veto

Female Execs Are Exhausted, Frustrated and Heading for the Exits

Gender pay gap in U.S. hasn’t changed much in two decades

Americans Largely Satisfied With Their Personal Life

Caleb and Adriele make predictions about the future of TikTok in light of looming government intervention, and react to the results of a U.K. study on the four-day work week. Next, they go deep on what “medical tourism” teaches us about the state of healthcare in America, especially in light of a recent kidnapping in Mexico. Then, what can companies learn from Walgreens’ preemptive response to Attorneys General from Republican-led states making demands about selling abortion pills? All that plus Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Adriele’s new book, The Inclusive Leadership Journal, now available on Amazon!

Links in today’s episode:

Walgreens Faces Blowback for Not Offering Abortion Pill in 21 States

Kidnapping of Americans in Mexico puts spotlight on "medical tourism"

“The Inclusive Leadership Journal: A 90-Day Journey to Becoming a More Inclusive People Leader” by Adriele Parker

Caleb and Adriele debate the role of DEI vs. ESG, talk about the ramifications of older Supreme Court Justices deciding the future of the internet, and dip their toes into Meta Verified and Florida’s batsh*t education bill. All that, plus Scott Adams sticks his whole foot in it.

Hosts: Caleb Gardner (calebgardner.com) and Adriele Parker (adrieleparker.com)

Producer: Dave Sandell (davesandell.com)

Articles mentioned today:

“If companies really want to do some good, they should unbundle ‘ESG’ and ‘DEI’”

“Big Tech’s future is up to a Supreme Court that doesn’t understand it”

Caleb and Adriele go deep on why they’re creating Leadersh*t. Then, they puzzle out the Metaverse gender gap (and looming metaverse housing crisis?!) and break down the role of a Chief Diversity Officer in 2023—and why DEI efforts are stalling. All that plus Quantumania!

Hosts: Caleb Gardner (calebgardner.com) and Adriele Parker (adrieleparker.com)

Producer: Dave Sandell (davesandell.com)

Articles mentioned today:

There’s Already a Gender Gap in Who’s Leading the Metaverse: https://thenextweb.com/news/theres-already-a-gender-gap-in-whos-leading-the-metaverse

Hiring for Diversity Officers Stalls 2 Years After Big Promises: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-02/chief-diversity-officer-roles-stall-why-are-dei-efforts-failing