The business world is ever-evolving, and it’s our job to evolve with us. There’s such a white space for new creators and leaders to step forward and share their knowledge in a new way with the rise of AI and LLMs. This is what has been on my mind lately.
After coming off of two weeks of tech conferences, I'm learning that no matter what, there's always going to be space for you if you continue to learn and evolve. I used to be scared and have imposter syndrome, being non-technical, not having a background that's traditional, but then I realized my unorthodox approach to where I am today is what makes me great at what I do.
Don't lose your sparkle and don't dim yourself because you're afraid of what other people will say. If something's been in your mind or if you're looking to make a career pivot, there's no better time to do it than now.
There's so much ground to cover news-wise, so let's get to it.
THIS WEEK’S MOOD <3
♡ This Week's Mood ♡
Done with imposter syndrome.
Learning and evolving.
Sparkle on full blast.
In my evolve era.
Business & Marketing
The Optimism Nobody Saw Coming (We Did). For the first time since 2019 (it was a matter of time), women founders are as optimistic about raising money as men are, even though female deal count just fell for the fourth straight year. Feeling hopeful is not the same as getting funded, so please bank the confidence and guard the runway, ladies.
Kiko's American Gambit. The Italian color brand that crossed a billion dollars in sales last year is making its first real U.S. push with a Macy's launch and Madonna as its second-ever global ambassador. Talk about taking your brand to the next level.
Culture & Lifestyle
The Paid Post Is Dead, Long Live the Cap Table. TikTok's Alix Earle just sold an equity stake in her canned-margarita brand Sipmargs to the owner of Fireball, the buyer's second creator-brand deal in two weeks after Kendall Jenner's 818. The $$ was never in the sponsored post, it was always in owning the thing you’re promoting.
"Treat Yourself" Is Officially Over. Deloitte's new consumer read finds that value-seeking is now a permanent habit rather than a recession blip, with women driving the biggest jump in formal budgeting on record. If you’re selling to women, the impulse buy is gone and you have to earn our yes every single time.
Tech & Leadership
The Line Women Are Drawing on AI, and We've Been Talking All About It. At Fortune's COO Summit, Cisco's Francine Katsoudas and Lattice's Sarah Franklin said AI disruption arrived about six years early and that leaders now have to decide what stays human on purpose. What you refuse to automate is the new leadership skill, not your agent count.
She Fixed It, Then She Ran It, and We Love It. Jenn Landis quietly rebuilt Citi's credibility on Wall Street, and her reward was being named CFO of a $22 billion business. Take the ugly cleanup job nobody wants, because it is usually how the big room opens.
Routing Around the Gatekeepers and The Bigger Pattern We're Watching
I’ve seen it and you’ve seen it. The shift in how we go after what we want in business. The brands, founders, and leaders who moved this week all skipped a gatekeeper somewhere, and that looks way less like the exception and more like the rule.
Distribution you control beats permission you wait for
AI is quietly removing the classic middlemen
Owning your audience is the new owning your means of production
The unglamorous repair job is often a real power move
Anticipation is a resource, and most founders spend it too fast
ICYMTP (In Case you Missed the Pod)
Listen to the full episode: Youtube
If this week's theme is women who stop waiting for a gatekeeper and build the thing anyway, Dee is the entire blueprint, Cheetos-for-breakfast honesty included. We’re still here for Layoff to Layup: Deidre Henry on Turning Rock Bottom Into a Business.
Put it on your walk tomorrow, thank us later.
As always, thanks for being here and reading us. Have a topic you think we should cover?
Leave a comment below!
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P.S. P.S. If one story in here made you think of a specific friend who needs to stop waiting for permission, take five seconds and forward it to her. We’ve all been there.
