#NewsYouCanUse (December 19, 2023)

The #NewYouCanUse is an article discussion series where I share important reminders of what is going on in the world and how it affects women, underrepresented professionals, male allies, and the business we do in financial services and financial technology.

You are always welcome to add article links in the comments, personal thoughts about these topics, and I encouraging tagging others on these discussions. Please be kind to one another when differences of opinions occur. It happens and it helps us all to think differently.

Here are today's finds - all of which are focused on workplace needs:

1?? The #MeToo Movement is Here to Stay via FA Magazine

It's a pervasive problem and nobody ever wants to talk about it, but I will. Sexual harassment, assault, bullying, etc. occurs HOURLY for women in #FinServ and #FinTech. I'm not sure if that surprises anyone (I'm sure it doesn't for the women) but my own personal experiences know it to be true. In the 30+ years I've worked in financial services I've been propositioned that if I slept with someone they would give me business, I was once left at a restaurant by an advisor because I declined his advancements, I have been sent room numbers via text to show up "ready to go", and the list goes on... And on... And on... I remember calling my husband Darrell Hickerson, MPT, COMT one evening from an event in Arizona because a man had come at a dinner party thrown by a respected broker-dealer and grabbed my hair from behind very tightly because he said "I've just wanted to touch that hair of yours all night long." I was mortified and every person, except one - a woman, who reached over and slapped his arm and said, "Let her go!" And the man's answer? "It was a compliment! Stop bein so sensitive!" It was aggressive and I was shook. It's easy to say "Why didn't you say something?" Because I need that effing job at the time. As the article points out, “It gets worse as you get more senior,” she [Higgins] said, noting that the larger compensation packages for managing directors give the banks more leverage. They can effectively ask, “Where are you going to go that’s going to pay you this much?” This has to end, friends. We are all responsible for our own behavior, but we are also responsible to help others out to this stops internally at organizations and externally at events. Please help.

2?? How To Mentor via Chief Executive Group

Mentoring in a remote/hybrid workspace is kinda weird now, right? We used to go to lunch with our mentees or grab a conference room. There's a lot to glean from in-person mentoring for both the mentor and the mentee. But, it's 2023/2024 and it all feels different now (thanks, pandemic!) and we have to change our mentoring style with the times. When I read this article, I think my biggest takeaways were (1) the organizations must be intentional in pushing mentees to look for mentors and vice versa for the mentors when everyone is not in the office and (2) look for people outside of your organization to form this type of relationship with so we grow our community of professionals. I'm tagging Jessica Colston, MS, PCC and Cheryl Nash who not only coach on these topics but ARE mentors to others so they can also share advice on this very important need in our profession.

3?? 2024 Workplace Trends via Gallup

In 2024, employers and employees are heading for a relationship reset. Worker stress is high. The erosion of company missions. Employer trust needs help. Managers are exhausted. Organizations need to a long-term hybrid solution (amen!). Managing hybrid culture (because y'all - subculture is a very real thing, especially if you're a woman or a professional in the DEI space.) Pay attention to these trends. If you're a CEO/President - this report should be read. If you're a Manager - this report should be read. Our underlying mission in the Females and Finance Community is our Fearless Pledge -to hire, mentor, train, and advance more women and DEI professionals. These workplace trend reports, when the advice is heeded, can help us meet our goals and impact the industry of professionals we support.

?? Who has thoughts to share?

?? What are your opinions?

?? Where can we make the biggest change happen first?

≠ When can we expect something to be different?

? How can we get started?

????♀? Why should others care about this stuff going on?

I work on these kinds of matters and more in the Females and Finance Community and welcome thought leaders who are in or serve the professionals of financial services and financial technology to reach out, join, and let's build a better landscape of professionals.

Stay well, friends.

Sheryl Hickerson

CEO & Founder - Females and Finance