Visible Figures - Volume #3
SVP's take on Dr. Claudine Gay, the competitive advantage, and our upcoming events: DC Salon, Board Readiness, and The Complex Leaders Retreat.
Hi there,
Welcome. It has been a harrowing week. We bring hope and healthy content. Stay a while…
The resignation of Dr. Claudine Gay has exposed the foundational cracks in America’s most prestigious institutions: money. I recommend reading the transcript or viewing the full video of the actual hearing where Dr. Gay gave her congressional testimony. You be the judge. The op-ed written by Dr. Gay in response to the events leading up to her resignation is poignant: What Just Happened at Harvard Is Bigger Than Me. Here are my recommendations:
Breathe (seriously, take a deep breath).
Do not overindulge in content or online forums related to this topic—it will wear you down, by design.
Do not fall into the trap of us versus them. Some of Dr. Gay’s fiercest adversaries were Black women. Reevaluate your definition of ‘us.’
Release and commiserate offline.
The writing is on the wall. The leaders of anti-woke campaigns are targeting ‘us,’ those who they perceive as the lowest hanging fruit. They think we are the easiest to pick off. I know better. You know better. Thus, how do we use that knowledge to our advantage? Visible Figures is prepared to lead the charge in unifying, strategizing, and healing generational trauma so we can do The Work. Join us or, at minimum, stay tuned.
What I’m Reading: Blacks in the White Elite: Will Progress Continue? by Richard L. Zweigenhaft and G. William Domhoff
What I’ve Heard: The ‘Quiet Catastrophe’ Brewing in Our Social Lives, The Ezra Klein Show
Bye for now,
A Boss Moment 👑
Video: Stephanie VanPutten speaking on the competitive advantage of institutional diversity at the NYTimes DealBook Conference 2019.
Things You Should Know 👀
We have a phenomenal slate of upcoming events for Visible Figures paid subscribers and members. Subscribe or Apply before 01.31.24 for 50% discount on all fees. Membership applications close 02.21.24 11:59PM ET. Learn more about membership tiers and benefits.
Our virtual events in 2024 will cover topics most relevant to advancing the personal and professional goals of our community (i.e., board readiness, fundraising, mental health, family planning, entrepreneurship, professional branding). Our 2024 in person salons (DC, London, Chicago, and Atlanta) and retreats (Big Sky this winter and Barbados this summer) are intentionally curated and designed. We take a non-traditional approach to networking by inviting high profile guests and creating an experience optimized for privacy, authentic connection, raising capital (social, cultural, and financial), creativity, wellness, construction, collaboration, and respite. Join us!
Upcoming Visible Figures Events 📅
The DC Salon @ Shanklin Hall | 01.11.24 | Cost: Free for Members, $50 for Paid Subscribers
Board Readiness with RTG (virtual) | 02.01.24 | Cost: Free for Paid Subscribers and Members.
The Complex Leaders Retreat in Big Sky, MT | 02.28 - 03.02.24 | Members Only
A Number to Remember 👇🏾
52.5% of Black households are head by women (versus 32.5% national average) according to the US Census American Community Survey (ACS) 2009 - 2022.
However, only 22.2% of Fortune 500 Black CEOs are women (2 of 9). Do you know who they are?