The Notorious RBG was hospitalized on Tuesday due to an infection caused by gallstones. That didn’t stop her from participating in phone call hearings. Sending her all the best vibes for a speedy recovery. We need you! Side note: if you haven’t seen On the Basis of Sex, we highly recommend it. It’ll make you feel like you can do anything.
The Obamas will deliver a few virtual commencement speeches to 2020 graduates across the nation on May 16th and June 6th. Even if you're not graduating, it might be interesting to hear the key messages from a commencement speech during a pandemic.
IN BUSINESS / ECONOMY
Airbnb went from plans for a highly anticipated IPO this year to laying off 25% of its workforce yesterday. While it’s never a celebratory moment to see so many people laid off, we do applaud Airbnb’s CEO, Brian Chesky, for his genuine, transparent, actionable letter to his team. #greatleadership
J.Crew filed for bankruptcy on Monday. While they are the first big filing, analysts are keeping their eyes on other national companies that could be next, including: Neiman Marcus, JCPenney, and Gold’s Gym.
IN POLITICS / GOVERNMENT
White House announced it would wind down the Coronavirus Task Force by the end of the month and shift focus. A senior administration official stated, “Members of the task force will continue providing input, though the group but will not be meeting as regularly as the focus changes toward vaccines, therapeutics, testing, and ultimately reopening the economy.”
JUST FOR YOU
Worthwhile read – Why the Crisis Is Putting Companies at Risk of Losing Female Talent – HBR discusses how companies can address key biases and barriers that negatively impact women. Interesting biases discussed include the motherhood penalty vs. the fatherhood premium and virtual space exclusion.