Success
Walgreens’ new CEO Roz Brewer on bias in the C-suite: ‘When you’re a Black woman, you get mistaken a lot’
Rosalind Brewer named the new CEO of Walgreens making her the first Black woman to be a CEO of a Fortune 500 Company in our history. As a Spelman graduate, Rosalind Brewer climbed the c-suite executive ladder, becoming the former CEO for Sam’s Club in 2012. Amid challenges with corporate competitor CVS, Walgreens hired Brewer to lead the corporate giant to greater heights.
Starbucks Chief Operating Officer Rosalind Brewer is continuing to blaze new trails in corporate America.
At the end of February, Brewer, who is the coffeehouse company’s first Black and first female COO, will be leaving her position to serve as CEO of drugstore chain Walgreens. In this new role, she will be the only Black woman currently serving as a Fortune 500 CEO, and just the third Black woman to lead a Fortune 500 firm in history. Ursula Burns, who served as the CEO of Xerox between 2009 and 2016 was the first, and Mary Winston, who served as interim CEO at Bed Bath & Beyond in 2019, was the second.
Prior to joining Starbucks in 2017, Brewer spent five years as the CEO of Sam’s Club, which is owned by Walmart. As a longtime executive in corporate America, she’s spoken openly about the bias and challenges she’s faced as one of very few Black women in the C-suite.
“When you’re a Black woman, you get mistaken a lot,” she said during a 2018 speech at her alma mater Spelman College, which is an all-women HBCU. “You get mistaken as someone who could actually not have that top job. Sometimes you’re mistaken for kitchen help. Sometimes people assume you’re in the wrong place, and all I can think in the back of my head is, ‘No, you’re in the wrong place.’”
During the speech, Brewer recalled the time she was invited to an exclusive CEO roundtable in New York City when she was serving as the CEO of Sam’s Club. During the reception, she said, she met a fellow CEO and introduced herself in the same way the other men in the room had introduced themselves, “Roz Brewer of Sam’s Club.” After exchanging introductions, she said the fellow CEO asked her what she did at the company and proceeded to ask if she led marketing. Puzzled by the question as the invitation to the event stated that it was a roundtable for CEOs, Brewer says she responded by saying, “No, that’s part of my organization.”
After the man continued the conversation by asking if she worked in merchandising, Brewer said she gave the fellow CEO a “side-eye” as she was actually serving as the keynote for the event. “I enjoyed the look on his face when my bio was read,” she said. “It was a good day.”
Brewer, who was listed at No. 48 on Forbes 2020 Power Women list, explained that the CEO roundtable was one of many incidents in which she’s encountered bias inside and outside of work. “If there is a place where bias doesn’t exist, I have not found it,” she said.
Recognizing that many women experience bias and gender discrimination in the workplace, Brewer said that her biggest message to women in business is to “stay steadfast” and know that “your voice matters.”
“You’re going to get it wrong sometimes, and there are some ways to clean up your mistakes,” she told television host Shaun Robinson in a December 2020 Facebook interview. “First of all, admit that you made the mistake. But, keep using your voice.”
This article has been reposted from CNBC
Hyde Park, Chicago, IL- Located at the Harper Theatre, nestled in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, premieres an independent film, created and directed by a brilliant Black woman named Suless Burton.
Graced by an almost all Black cast, When Does It Stop gives the viewer sharp insight of the daily lives of Black Chicagoans. While speaking with the stars of the movie, Durrell Parchman, playing the role of Drew in the film, discussed the relevance of this story line and how it relates to the Black Chicago community’s tragic experiences with gun violence. Mentioning his late brother, slain earlier this summer by gun violence, Durrell emphasized the importance of this film and the impact it will make for the future. Actors KeAnte Smith (Terrence) and Xavier Lofton (Eric) also mentioned the importance of impact they have contributed via this film and have positive hopes that gun violence in Black Communities abroad will cease.
When Does It Stop
About
After losing his mother to the streets and father institutionalized for life, Terrance is sent to live with his sister Camille on the south side of Chicago. Terrance’s friends Ronnie, Eric, and Drew, are all living the life of crime and violence. With the help of his sister and supportive girlfriend Nina, Terrance finally plans to leave Chicago after a series of neighborhood gang incidents and increasingly tragic events. After receiving life-changing news, Terrance realizes that moving away may not be such a bad idea after all. But, is it too late?
About the Author
For years Suless Burton had this dream to do this movie but something always detoured her from doing it. The time became serious when her oldest son Andre Francis Jr. started his company called Beast Productions then her and him said they were gonna take over the world but tragedy came. Her son died from in asthma attack in 2018. A year later after suffering from severe depression she decided it was time to jump out on faith but then COVID 19 hit. Five months later with the help of social distancing and face mask Suless finally filmed When Does it Stop and dedicated it to her son Andre James Francis Jr and a couple more cast family members who were killed in chicago in the making this film.
Cast Members
KeAnte Smith plays Terrance
Durrell Parchman plays Drew
Johnell Pommier plays Ronnie
Xavier Lofton plays Eric
Suless Burton plays Camille
What’s Next
When Does It Stop will be available soon on Netflix. You can follow this film on Facebook @WhenDoesItStop and on Instagram @WhenDoesItStop2021 for the latest updates.
Jay-Z and Beyoncé are masters at making power moves when negotiating business deals. According to Forbes, the power couple’s combined net worth is estimated at $1.4 billion. In the age of technology, streaming, and digital downloads, Beyoncé and Jay-Z have not only been able to adapt to the way the world buys music, but they’ve also skillfully used their influence to create lucrative business deals. Their business savvy speaks volumes and their net worth is proof. Here are some points behind some of the duo’s business deals:
Don’t Overlook Second Best
Jay-Z has a thing for partnering with companies that are extremely well-known, but don’t quite hold the number one position in their respective fields. For example, in 2003, Jay-Z made history with a Reebok deal. His signature shoe, the “S. Cater,” collection ended up being the fastest-selling shoe in Reebok history. He also promoted his autobiography, “Decode,” via Bing in 2010. Then in 2013, Jay-Z released his 12th studio album, Magna Carta Holy Grail, through a $5 million deal with Samsung mobile.
Equity is King
Beyoncé’s Uber deal was a chess move as she was thinking long-term and it paid off. In 2015, Uber offered Beyoncé $6 million to perform at a Las Vegas event, according to Refinery29. She reportedly turned down the cash in exchange to be paid in equity/stocks. Fours years later the rejected $6 million is now worth about $9 million in stocks.
Project Your Rights
Clearly Beyoncé is not interested in playing checkers. Her forward-thinking paid off big in her deal negotiation with Coachella. Refinery29 reports that settling for $4 million for her performance, plus rights to her show allowed Queen Bey to land a $60 million deal with Netflix, which streamed “Homecoming” on their platform.
Use Your Influence
Jay-Z’s success came with his influence that he uses as leverage to negotiate business deals he would otherwise not be privy to. In 2008, he launched Roc Nation, an entertainment company that works with artists, producers, athletes, and songwriters. Later in 2013, Roc Nation Sports was founded as a way to support and advocate for athletes similar to the way they do for artists in the music industry. Their roster includes, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Dez Bryant, Victor Cruz, Kyrie Irving, and more that could be found listed on the company’s site.
Invest Early
Jay-Z has a knack for investing in startups that show potential. By investing early in a promising company, the payout can be life-changing in just a few short years. For example, take his investment in Uber. In 2011, the billionaire was involved in Uber’s Seed B funding round when the company had a value of $300 million, according to TechCrunch. The company has since boomed and is now valued at over $60 billion.
Editorial Note: As sources from this piece have since updated their numbers, we have also updated and revised this piece to match our editorial standards.
This article was originally posted on Afro Tech’s website
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