Women's News: Confidence surges in women leaders

Hello and welcome to another batch of women’s news. Here’s what’s on the rise this week:

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Spotlight

Women business leaders are significantly more confident about their skills than their male counterparts, according to a new survey of over 15,000 professionals. The research challenges the widespread stereotype that women lack self-esteem in the workplace. 

• The finding holds true for both soft and hard skills. 52% of women leaders felt confident in areas like empathy, communication, and self-awareness, compared to 39% of men. For technical skills like computing, writing, and marketing, 48% of women were confident versus 38% of men.

• The study suggests that self-assurance among professional women is increasing, while the opposite is true for working men. Women's confidence has grown significantly in the last year, rising by 10 points in soft skills and 4 points in technical skills. Men's confidence in the same areas has stagnated or even declined.

• Experts attribute this rise in women's confidence to the growing presence of women in top roles who provide examples and offer mentorship, greater professional value placed on empathy and emotional intelligence, and increased professional development at many organizations.

World

• Moldovan president Maia Sandu is on track for another term after winning the first round of the country’s election. Next, she will face a pro-Russia opponent in a run-off on November 3.

• In the seventh week of a major rape trial in France, demonstrators continue to support Gisèle Pélicot, the victim who chose to make her proceedings public to expose sexual violence in the country.

Business and Tech

• Yet another gender-stereotyped female AI assistant has entered the chat. Germany’s National Tourist Board debuted Emma, a young, beautiful, AI-generated influencer who will promote German travel. 

• A new study sought to quantify the impact of the childcare shortage, and the results are staggering. Each month, 1.5 million workers face disrupted schedules due to inadequate childcare, causing 1.4 billion lost work hours annually—and 90% of those affected are women.

• After nearly three years as CEO of CVS Health, Karen Lynch stepped down amid falling stock prices and business struggles. She was the highest-ranking woman CEO in the Fortune 500, now leaving just 55 women leaders or 11% of the top companies.

• Starbucks hired Tressie Lieberman, a former marketing executive at Chipotle, as its first-ever global chief brand officer.

Election Watch

Healthcare

• Women wait up to 30 minutes longer than men for pain relief in emergency rooms, according to a recent study, and are less likely to receive necessary medications. The research presents a “troubling bias in how women’s pain is perceived.”

• The Biden administration proposed a new rule requiring health insurance plans to cover over-the-counter birth control, including pills, condoms, and emergency contraceptives, at no cost to the consumer.

Sports

• The world’s largest, “gnarliest” mountain biking competition, Red Bull Rampage, welcomed women participants for the first time this weekend, and competitors took home equal prize money.

• The NFL launched a collaboration with luxury apparel brand Veronica Beard. The collection of preppy team-branded blazers, running at $998 a piece, marks the league’s first major step into women’s fashion.

• The New York Liberty claimed their first WNBA Championship title after defeating the Minnesota Lynx in overtime on Sunday.

• The biggest of kudos are owed to the man who ran the Chicago Marathon in heels to raise funds for women and children escaping domestic violence.

Culture

• The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted a new batch of musical legends, including Cher, Mary J. Blige, and Dionne Warwick.

• The Victoria’s Secret fashion show returned after a six-year hiatus caused by controversy over a lack of body diversity. The revamped runway featured women like body activist Ashley Graham and 50-year-old models Tyra Banks and Kate Moss, but some critics say it still wasn’t as inclusive as promised.

• Taylor Swift is coming for the publishing industry. The singer announced she will release a self-published book about the Eras Tour. As with her recent music deals, bypassing traditional publishers gives Swift greater control and a larger share of the profits.

Further Reading