Right to repair

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Dan Fisher is the president and CEO of ECMC Group , a nonprofit focused on helping students succeed in postsecondary education. Conversations around college access and affordability in the U.S. typically focus on tuition costs and student loans. But for many high school students—particularly those from traditionally underserved populations—the barriers to postsecondary education tower above the tuition bill they get in the mail. Basic needs like food, transportation, textbooks, housing security and physical and mental health present additional hurdles to accessing postsecondary education that reinforce existing societal inequities. And another obstacle is less tangible but no less important: Very few students feel they are properly prepared to decide their future plans. That’s what my organization found in our recent survey of 14- to 18-year-old high school students who come from first-generation, … [Read more...] about Helping Underserved Students Find The Right Postsecondary Pathway

Disney World will host an LGBTQ+ conference on the heels of Disney’s high-profile conflict with Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over LGBT issues in the state. Out & Equal, the organization behind the LGBT conference, describes itself as, “the premier global nonprofit organization working exclusively on LGBTQ+ workplace equality.” Their stated goal is to “transform” the work environment, “inspire” new leaders, and facilitate “systemic change.” Out & Equal claims that roughly 5,000 people attend the event annually and that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and human resources professionals will be present. “Over more than 20 years, Summit has grown to become the preferred place to network and share strategies that create inclusive workplaces, where everyone belongs and where LGBTQ+ employees can be out and thrive,” Out & Equal explains on its website . Disney will host a major conference promoting LGBTQ rights in the workplace this September, … [Read more...] about Disney World Hosting Gay Rights Summit Following Clash With DeSantis

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Aaron White is the CTO and Co-founder of Vendr. A serial entrepreneur, Aaron is based in Miami, Florida. A cyborg is defined as “a person whose physiological functioning is aided by or dependent upon a mechanical or electronic device.” Just like the cyborgs from sci-fi novels and films, a successful organization is made up of people aided by machines. As businesses shift more responsibility and production to the technology-led side of the equation, acquiring truly efficient software should take on the same importance as hiring good people. The High Cost Of Finding People Who Make A Difference While Layoffs.fyi tracked over 125,000 lost jobs in the tech space so far this year alone, it's estimated that turnover and replacement costs for an organization with 100 employees making an average of $50,000 can reach $2.6 million annually. An easier approach could be to empower and support the people already on … [Read more...] about Why A Company Is Like A Cyborg, Or The Importance Of Finding The Right People And Choosing The Right Technology

The Southern Poverty Law Center bankrupted the Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups through the power of the legal system—and so it might have come as a surprise when the organization recently unveiled its new logo, it was conspicuously lacking the scales of justice icon that had defined the organization for years. It was a change that no one on the project team took lightly—but the organization was committed to bold moves, and for good reason. “Historically, it’s been a law firm, it’s been a legal service for voting rights and civil rights and advocacy groups, but over time, it’s expanded into something that’s much more than that,” says Chris Mihal, SPLC’s director of creative. In 2022, the organization completed a new strategic framework focused on its four key offerings: law, education, policy, and programming, centered around the critical subjects of hate and extremism, children’s rights, economic justice, immigrant justice, LGBTQ rights, criminal justice reform, … [Read more...] about Why the SPLC’s new logo ditched its famous icon

The world watched in shock as Credit Suisse, one of the most established global banking and financial services institutions, collapsed and was eventually acquired by UBS. I believe a significant factor in Credit Suisse’s downfall was its rigid stance on forcing staff to return to the office. This cautionary tale serves as a reminder for business leaders to adapt to the changing world of work and prioritize their workforce’s needs and preferences. The Iron Fist: Credit Suisse’s return to office policy In stark contrast to the growing trend of many companies embracing a flexible hybrid work approach, Credit Suisse took a more traditional approach, mandating that staff return to the office three days a week. According to one banker there, “they’re removing our flexibility, and it doesn’t feel great.” In May 2022, the bank’s leadership originally supported flexibility and hybrid work as evidenced by then-CEO Thomas Gottstein professing that a return to office was “not … [Read more...] about POV: How work arrangements played a part in the collapse of Credit Suisse and SVB

Each year, Frank Weishaupt, CEO of the AI-powered video conferencing solution provider Owl Labs, reviews last year’s calendar to see how he spent his time. The exercise can uncover areas that need improvement so you can be proactive with your priorities, he says. “Planning your weeks is incredibly important,” says Weishaupt. “Look at your activities and determine whether those activities match your goals. It’s a constant evaluation and optimization. If you’re not taking the time to do that, you know, you’re probably not using your time wisely.” Going into 2023, he decided to dramatically change how he schedules meetings. His first step was to make sure he was holding the right meetings. For example, some meetings had become routine, but they didn’t make sense anymore. If you’re not sure whether a meeting is worth holding or not, Weishaupt suggests flushing your calendar and starting over. “Then think about everything that’s coming your way,” he says. “I purged the … [Read more...] about It’s time to get intentional about what day of the week you hold meetings

Goal setting is one of those things that seems like it would be fundamental to success. If you’ve read any books or articles about getting ahead in your career or life, you’ve probably come across tips on setting goals (like SMART goal setting) so that you can successfully meet them. But setting goals may not be as relevant anymore, and there may be better alternatives to managing your career–and your life. Part of the reason goal setting may be becoming irrelevant is because of the speed of change and the volatility of the world. When everything is moving so fast and changing, the goals you set for yourself can become redundant. That said, it’s very powerful to imagine yourself succeeding in the future and focus on your preferred version of tomorrow. The key is to seek to be directionally accurate , knowing that things are constantly changing in a way you can’t always predict. Here are five effective ways to take charge of your career when you’re operating in … [Read more...] about Forget about goal setting. Try these 5 strategies instead

When it comes to being more productive, many of us seek out time-saving hacks. You might practice time-blocking , email batching, or unplugging from smart devices. Becoming a kinder, better version of yourself probably isn’t on your radar as a productivity tool, but by looking inward, you can enter a state of mind where you can increase focus and get more done, says Vishen Lakhiani, author of The 6 Phase Meditation Method . “The most important thing we have to do every day is maintain a state of bliss,” says Lakhiani, cofounder of the wellness app Mindvalley . “Studies on positivity quotient [or] PQ—which is the ratio of positive thoughts to overall thoughts—show that the higher your PQ, the better and more productive you are at work.” Instead of a traditional meditation practice where you hone your focus, Lakhiani uses meditation that helps you optimize character traits to become a better, kinder person. “The most important thing in life is your level of … [Read more...] about How becoming a kinder version of yourself boosts productivity

As children, most of us were raised to not talk to strangers. The rule is meant to keep us safe, but carrying the idea into adulthood can cause us to miss out on enriching conversations. A new study published in the Psychological and Cognitive Sciences journal reveals that people actually enjoy talking to strangers more than they expect and the exchange can provide benefits. “We already know from previous research that people think they’ll enjoy spending their commute in silence, but it turns out that talking to a fellow passenger is more pleasant,” says Stav Atir, assistant professor of management at the Wisconsin School of Business at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and lead author of the study. “People underestimate the informational value of conversations. Yet, it’s an asset we are underutilizing.” Atir teamed up with University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business colleagues Nicholas Epley, who is a professor of behavioral science, and graduate student … [Read more...] about How (and why) you should get better at talking to strangers

Last summer, a friend of mine was about to leave on a trip for Mexico when she realized that her passport had expired. One round-trip flight and hundreds of dollars in fees later, and she got the expedited renewal before her trip. But the secondhand anxiety was enough for me to go immediately check my own passport. Expiration: April 2029. I should be good, right? For now, yes. But when—or maybe if, at this rate—2029 rolls around, I could be in exactly the same position as my friend. So, I created a calendar event called “1 year till passport expires” and set it for April 2028. A to-do list doesn’t do the trick for every task Yes, I could have added “renew passport” to my to-do list and set a deadline or a reminder. On many apps, I could have even hidden the task from view until it was time to do it. But do I really want a task that’s not coming up for another half a decade to live in my to-do list? No, I do not. I do have a personal to-do list (in Google … [Read more...] about Make this radical change to your to-do list