Optionality

Happy #ElectionDay. Raise your hand if you've voted! 🙋🏻♀️ I’ve seen a lot of advice about #selfcare and #managinganxiety this week already. A lot of it is really good…you should definitely read up on tactics for that! But the fact is that we are going to be in a liminal space for a while, at least this week, maybe until January. And you are also going to be attending a lot of #gatherings…family holidays, work parties, etc. So, I thought I’d give advice on how to have #civilconversation with someone with whom you disagree…even strongly. (Spoiler alert: The last step is to know when to perform self-care and walk away!) Link in comment. I'm curious what *your* top tactics are for civil discourse?

Jory Des Jardins and Elisa Camahort Page are thrilled to be joined for this week's #Conversationality by Susan Mernit. She's an OG Internet exec turned non-profit leader turned leading edge guide on helping non-profits and other mission-drive groups use AI to do more of their great work in the world. In honor of Halloween, let's talk about what scary, and what is not scary about the rise of AI!

Remember when having a "side hustle" was seen as a cute little hobby? Well, those days are long gone. Today, more and more professionals are embracing what digital media trailblazer Elisa Camahort Page calls "optionality" -- the ability to have multiple irons in the fire and diversify their income streams. But this isn't just about making more money (although that's certainly part of it). It's about creating a work life that's resilient, flexible, and aligned with one’s personal values and goals. In the latest episode of Tech and Soul, Lynne d, Tameka and Elisa explore the evolution of online communities - from the early days of Web 2.0 to today's complex digital ecosystem - and the conversation really gets going when they start to dig into the future of work … A bit more about Our Guest: Elisa Camahort Page is a visionary entrepreneur, author, and consultant. As the co-founder of BlogHer, she played a crucial role in empowering women content creators and bridging the gap between brands and bloggers. Her latest project, Optionality, focuses on reimagining work-life balance for the modern professional. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the evolution of digital media, the power of online communities, and the changing landscape of work in the 21st century. Whether you're a content creator, marketer, or simply curious about the future of digital interactions, you'll laugh and learn from this engaging conversation. Listen and Subscribe on Substack using the link below. #futureofwork #freelancing #creators #genx #genz #sidehustles

DEI isn't the first movement to be stalled by closed doors. The wisdom of social movements points to survival strategies in times like these, when the opportunity structures that provide resources and supports are closed. Leveraging expertise about #DEI, #leadership, #socialmovements, we collaborated to offer four strategies to sustain the work. 1️⃣ Sustain networks of people engaged in DEI work, in brave spaces, DEI gatherings, and Town Halls. 2️⃣ Preserve the collective memory; we learned the tactics to create more inclusive and diverse workspaces such as bias mitigation and team norming. Keep this work going. #ERGs are allies in this work. 3️⃣ Reframe and rename the work for survival. Don't be disheartened if the nomenclature evolves; the work remains the same. Remember "climate justice" used to be called "nature conservation." 4️⃣ Nurture the collective identity within the DEI community. Don't be apologetic about supporting the "choir"--they are the ones doing the work when the winds are against us. Loved this collaboration with CDOs from the Stanford VMware Women's Leadership Innovation Lab's Corporate Program and my co-authors Sarah Soule, Shelley J. Correll, and Melissa C. Thomas-Hunt. And leveraging great scholarship, including Alison Crossley's work on feminists.

Yesterday I listened to a podcast episode from my friend Jen Marples. It took me all the way back, 25 years ago, to my first job in tech. Somehow I got set up to try to coach one of my peers…I think everyone else was kind of afraid of her…and it did not go well. And it really came down to this: What happens when your whole self, the one people say today that you should bring to work, really doesn’t mesh well with the established culture of getting things done in your workplace? Is it really any truer today than 25 years ago that we can bring those whole selves to work? I ask these questions and more in this morning's Optionality newsletter.