THE MCPHERSON MEMO

ON OUR MINDS
Brought to you by Account Director Maria Winters DiMarco and the case of Wegmans ginger seltzer that she consumed single-handedly this week. 

And so it begins!
President Biden has been in office for approximately 48 hours and he’s already rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement, launched a 100-day mask challenge and committed to spending federal funds to advance racial equity. We’re pinching ourselves—after four years of disarray, destruction and lies, the competency is almost jarring. Even who we’re receiving the news from has received a historic upgrade and we’re determined to savor the moment. Meanwhile, the first Gender Policy Council was created, to focus on issues affecting women, girls, nonbinary, transgender and intersex people. And young leaders are taking a stand and requesting a seat at the table. We concur! 
 
Party like it's 2021
Now that inauguration is behind us, we’re officially welcoming in the rest of the year. Women are ready to lead and have big visions for how to do so. McP friend of the family Daisy Auger-Domínguez lays out how to take all of the DEI learnings from the past year and convert them into sustainable action. PwC recently released a survey outlining how companies can fight racism and social injustice. But as ready as we all are for a fresh page, we can’t just completely shut out the past. There’s a lot of grief to process, and this year may prompt us all to find new ways to heal, individually and collectively.
 
Dollars and sense
Corporate America found its line in the sand when our democracy was taken to the brink. Will they hold politicians accountable beyond the news cycle? If they’re looking to consumers for the answer, it will decidedly be yes. Consumers are seeking signals of trust and empathy—and they’re not alone. Companies need to be answerable internally, as well. With the additional demands at home due to the pandemic, investing in staff and supporting families are becoming no-brainers. Unilever has taken a major step and announced that it will refuse to do business with firms that do not pay living wages. And don’t sleep on those investor demands either—client Tim Mohin at carbon accounting startup Persefoni hopes the time is right to standardize ESG reporting metrics. The word of the year for business might just be... accountable. 

ON OUR RADAR

Read:

• Kids are ready to learn about racism, empathy, feminism and death—when they are presented in an age-appropriate way. Enter A Kids Book About, a publishing company that makes kids books that matter.
• This book of dares will help young boys to develop a healthier idea of manhood.
• For the adult readers of this newsletter, let us recommend Heather McGhee’s The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together.
• Economist Noreena Hertz explores themes of loneliness and community in her new book, available for pre-order, The Lonely Century: Coming Together in a World That’s Pulling Apart.

• Baratunde Thurston joined Kara Swisher on “Pivot” to talk 2021 predictions for workplace culture—good and bad.
• “Enough:” A new podcast for those who are fed up but not giving up.
• Dive behind the scenes with Melinda Gates on “What’s Her Story.”

• How It Feels to Be Free, a documentary executive produced by Alicia Keys and Lacey Schwartz Delgado, features Black female performers and tells the story of their activism on and off the stage and screen before, during and after the civil rights movement.
• Client Megha Desai performed at the Biden Inaugural Committee's live-streamed welcome celebration as a member of the Resistance Revival Chorus. Watch their beautiful performance here.
• Amanda Gorman, on repeat. This week she inspired a nation through poetry, upstaging the likes of Lady Gaga, JLo and Garth Brooks, who were all on their A game. At 22, no less! 

• Client Zoetis is hiring a Sustainability Project Manager. Apply here.
• The Women's Media Center's Progressive Women's Voices is the premier media and leadership training program for women in the country. Learn more here.
• The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is hiring a Director of Operations, Education. Apply here.
• Undercats, Inc. is hiring a Managing Editor - Children's Books. Apply here.
• Pipeline Angels announced the spring call for applications for their angel investing boot camp and pitch summit.
• The 15 Percent Pledge launched a career board. Check it out here.