Essence CEO Caroline Wanga on new memoir, DEI, personal style
Caroline Wanga, president and CEO of Essence Ventures, joins TODAY to talk about her inspiring and revealing new memoir, 'I'm Highly Percent Sure,' in which she opens up about immigrating to the United States from Kenya when she was 10 and her journey as she climbed the corporate ladder. She discusses the lessons she hopes readers can take away from the book, finding her personal style and shares her take on corporations rolling back DEI initiatives.
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New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Young white men feel the need to ‘walk on eggshells' and censor themselves at work — here's why
It looks like the workplace is the new minefield — and young white men say they're walking on eggshells. Nearly two in three white men aged 18 to 29 — around 12 million guys — feel the need to keep their mouths shut at work, too afraid to speak freely for fear of being canceled, called out, or canned, according to a new J.L. Partners poll commissioned for the podcast, 'White Men Can't Work!' And they're not just staying quiet — they're losing out. About 6 million say they've missed a promotion or other opportunity because of their race and gender, or so they think. Advertisement 'Millions of men are walking around on eggshells at work, too scared to speak freely — whilst knowing that being male can now be a disaster for your career,' said Tim Samuels, the BBC and National Geographic documentarian behind the new five-part series investigating what happens when 'woke culture' meets the workplace. 3 Close to 12 million young white guys are zipping it on the job — too scared to speak their minds without getting canceled, called out or canned, a new poll says. Vasyl – He added, 'The scale of discrimination, self-censorship and anxiety is staggering.' Advertisement Across all age groups, 43% of white men — about 41 million — say they're biting their tongues on the job. Another 25 million claim they've lost out on gigs or advancement due to being white and male. Samuels' series dives into the impact of radical DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) programs sweeping corporate America — and what he claims is a growing epidemic of reverse discrimination. ''White Men Can't Work!' has spoken to guys who've been sacked literally just for being men, or pushed out over crazy micro-aggressions such as talking about the male and female ends of cables,' Samuels said. 'James,' a teacher, says HR made the company's stance crystal clear: 'The Head of HR at the school, standing in the middle of the office, said loud and proud: 'One thing is for sure, we're not having another man be the new head.'' Advertisement 3 White men say they're muzzled at work — with 41 million biting their tongues and 25 million claiming they've been passed over just for being, well, white and male. .shock – And 'Mark,' in finance, says, 'I have been rejected for being considered for job roles because the client has expressly asked for all-female lists… It's no surprise so many men take their lives in their 40s and 50s.' Clinical psychologist Dr. Carole Sherwood weighed in, 'We are definitely living through a groupthink crisis… We'll look at it with a lot of sorrow because there are a lot of people taking their lives because they've been shamed and ostracised and that is wrong.' As per the poll, some women apparently agree that the pendulum has swung too far. A female firefighter said white men are 'definitely getting overlooked' for new hires. Advertisement Sally, a miner, also notably said, 'We just wanted a chance and to not be groped at work. And it feels like the preferential treatment pendulum has swung a little bit too far to the other side.' Professor Alex Edmans of London Business School compared the DEI craze to 'the tech, tulip [and] South China Sea bubbles,' saying it's all 'not backed up by real fundamentals and evidence.' In similar news, as previously reported by The Post, as Paramount dukes it out with President Donald Trump in court, the media giant quietly cut a check to make another lawsuit disappear — one over alleged anti-white, anti-straight bias. 3 They're not just zipping their lips — they're getting zipped out of promotions, too. Around 6 million say being white and male cost them a shot at moving up. Drobot Dean – Former 'SEAL Team' script coordinator Brian Beneker slapped Paramount Global, CBS Entertainment, and CBS Studios with a lawsuit in 2024, claiming he was repeatedly passed over for promotions because he's a straight, white guy. According to America First Legal, which represented Beneker, the case ended in a hush-hush settlement after Paramount started tiptoeing away from its once-bold DEI agenda — a move AFL senior counsel Nick Barry called 'satisfactory.'
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Why First Solar Stock Dived by Almost 18% Today
The U.S. solar industry's tax credits might end up melting away sooner than expected. A Senate committee has proposed this for the current budget bill. 10 stocks we like better than First Solar › Many parts of the U.S. were sunny on Tuesday, but that happy situation didn't extend metaphorically to solar energy stocks. Quite a few took major hits that trading session on the latest developments in the legislative sphere. One of the industry's victims was First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR), which went dim with a nearly 18% decline in its share price. That decline was far steeper than the 0.8% slip of the S&P 500 index that day. President Trump's One, Big, Beautiful Bill remains a massive bone of contention in Congress, and has been the subject of much criticism and debate among lawmakers. It's also undergoing change as Senators adjust it in an effort at compromise. On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee proposed speeding up the elimination of tax credits for solar and wind energy. Under current law, these do not expire until 2032; under the new proposal, they would be reduced by 60% next year and phased out entirely in 2028. This contrasts with the bill's stance on tax credits for other forms of energy, specifically nuclear, hydroelectric, and geothermal. In its current form, the proposed law would actually extend these credits to 2036. Although there is likely far more horse trading to come before the Senate finally settles on a form of the bill it can accept, renewable energy will almost certainly remain a target. Investors are right to be concerned about the effect on solar and other types of green energy companies, although this feels like an over-reaction -- the better companies in this segment should be able to adjust to the demise of tax credits. Before you buy stock in First Solar, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and First Solar wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $660,821!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $886,880!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 791% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 174% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025 Eric Volkman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends First Solar. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Why First Solar Stock Dived by Almost 18% Today was originally published by The Motley Fool
Miami Herald
12 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Gen Z Is Significantly More Afraid of This Trend Than Older Generations
When it comes to their shopping habits, Generation Z is a far different generation than baby boomers, Gen X and even millennials. A survey from Lightspeed Commerce has revealed that 32 percent of Gen Z (born roughly between 1997 and 2012) shoppers are afraid of being judged or "canceled" for supporting the wrong brands-over five times more than boomers (born 1946-1964), at 6 percent. In the aftermath of President Donald Trump's executive order to end "radical and wasteful" government DEI programs, some companies have followed suit, getting rid of DEI initiatives and emphasis on inclusivity in their workplace and in their brands. At the same time, cancel culture is making a pervasive impact on corporations, in the entertainment industry and in consumer behavior. Choosing brands that do not align with a shopper's morals could have an effect in their social circle, especially if they're younger, the research suggests. Gen Z is adjusting shopping habits to make room for the possibility of cancel culture, according to the Lightspeed Commerce report, which surveyed more than 2,000 North American consumers. Nearly all participants in this age group, or 96 percent, said they buy with intention, and 66 percent said their purchases should reflect their personal values. Many values can guide them in supporting specific brands and products, with 37 percent saying they make their brand decisions based on sustainability and environmental impact. Another 29 percent said local pride and nationalism plays a role, while 26 percent said they shop based on cultural or religious alignment. These values could shift power away from corporations and toward the consumer, experts said. "Companies will have to meet higher standards," Kevin Thompson, CEO of 9i Capital Group and host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek. "They'll be held accountable for how they operate, what they sell and how it's made. That kind of pressure could usher in a new wave of conscious capitalism, where profit and responsibility align." A solid chunk of Gen Z consumers, 15 percent, consider a brand CEO's political views when deciding what to buy. Still, price and quality were key priorities as well, at 78 and 67 percent respectively. Michael Ryan, a finance expert and the founder of told Newsweek that Gen Z's brand anxiety comes down to their age, as ages 18 to 35 are peak social performance years. Additionally, this generation faces zero tolerance from some of their peers for "mistake buys" and potentially the digital permanence of their every purchase. "Every tagged photo. Every unboxing video. Every 'like' is peer surveillance," Ryan said. "Company ethics can boost your clout, or get you canceled. Gen Z doesn't just boycott bad brands. They live in fear of being boycotted." However, HR consultant Bryan Driscoll said that Gen Z was "done separating the company from the product" and this age group was "afraid of being complicit" in issues including the exploitation of workers, rather than fearing being canceled. Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: "Gen Z is more socially conscious than past generations, but not just in how they dress, in what they eat and who they support. Growing up in the social media age, your online persona has to match your real-life values. If there's a disconnect, you'll be called out. Authenticity isn't optional; it's a requirement." Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "When you're younger and more consistently on social media, you're more than likely to care more about your image and the perceptions that come with it. Whether it's an outfit, vehicle, or vacation spot, Gen Z is going to take into account recent social and political viewpoints before purchasing or-if they've already clicked 'Buy'-posting on the sale." Michael Ryan, a finance expert and the founder of told Newsweek: "Will this fade? Yes. Mortgages, family budgets and career climbs force a shift from brand activism to basic needs. Gen Z will learn that sometimes the easiest choice is the most affordable shirt. No ethics audit required." Bryan Driscoll, an HR consultant who specializes in generational differences, told Newsweek: "I don't think Gen Z is afraid of being canceled. I think they're afraid of being complicit. They know corporations exploit workers, dodge taxes and greenwash their way through scandals while boomers cheer them on for turning a profit. This generation is done separating the product from the company behind it. They're not buying your coffee if it comes with union busting. They're not shopping your sale if your CEO's on a yacht while your employees need GoFundMe for medical bills." As Gen Zers are more likely to demand more from the brands they shop from, the shift could mean more corporations are forced to cater more toward the values and morals of their younger consumers. "This is about accountability," Driscoll said. "And that scares older generations because it shifts power away from corporations and toward the collective voice of younger consumers and workers." Related Articles Gen Z Woman Says She Lives With Best Friends-But It's Not What You ThinkDad Didn't Want Gen Z Daughter To Move Out-So He Got To WorkWhy Gen Z Is 'Enormously Attractive' to EmployersMan Reveals One Gen Z Shopping Habit Millennials Just Can't Cope With 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
