Ben & Jerry's co-founder arrested at Senate protest over Gaza
The Capitol Police said Cohen was charged under a District of Columbia code that prohibits crowding, obstructing or incommoding — a citation often used in civil disobedience cases in the capital. Six other demonstrators arrested at the hearing face more serious charges, including assaulting a police officer, according to Capitol Police.
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Earlier: Ben & Jerry's Says CEO Fired by Unilever on Political Stance
Cohen, a longtime progressive activist, co-founded Ben & Jerry's in 1978 with Jerry Greenfield. The Vermont-based brand is known for its quirky flavors and outspoken political positions.
Ben & Jerry's is currently embroiled in a legal fight with its parent company, Unilever PLC. In a lawsuit filed in March, the company accused Unilever of firing Chief Executive Officer David Stever over disagreements regarding how outspoken the brand should be on political issues.
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2 hours ago
- Business Insider
I landed a remote job for a European company, and now I'd find it hard to go back to a US-based company — I feel spoiled by the perks
This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with 34-year-old Meghan Gezo, from Michigan. The following has been edited for length and clarity. In 2022, I left my job working remotely in people operations for a US company. Juggling my job and raising my one-year-old wasn't working. I wanted to take a break while I looked for another opportunity that would allow me to have better work-life boundaries. After a few months of job hunting, I started as a people experience manager at Storyblok, a fully remote content management company based in Austria. I'd never worked for a company based in Europe before. Living in the US, most jobs that pop up are US-based. People have come to expect more work-life balance in Europe, as the employment laws differ from the US. For me, there have been perks related to my life as a parent, my working hours, and my professional growth. I was immediately drawn to the benefits of working for a European company I've been working in remote jobs for tech companies since 2016. I'd previously worked in an office, but thought a remote job meant I could focus on higher-impact work than the office administration that usually fell to HR, as well as branch out beyond the manufacturing and automotive industry jobs in my area. It was easier to find a remote job in 2022 than in 2016. I found the listing for Storyblok on a job board. The people I spoke with were genuine and direct. In the first interview, they talked about time off norms and said the standard workweek is 38.5 hours. They seemed to emphasize work-life balance and gave me concrete examples of how it worked at the company. I was optimistic I could be successful in the role while staying involved in my daughter's life. In the US, the norm on paper is a 40-hour workweek, but in practice, people often work until they finish their tasks, especially in tech. I used to work, feed my daughter, put her to bed, and then work some more. It felt normal. At my current company, you focus on work when you're at work and then log off until the next day. There have definitely been times when I've had to work extra hours, but overall, I'd say that my work-life balance is better. In the US, it can often feel that your work is your identity. My European colleagues take pride in their work and are extremely hard workers, but their job is one facet of their identity. Working for a European company has pushed me in new ways I've gained experience working with people from other cultures. Learning about Austrian law has also pushed me to expand my HR knowledge beyond US employment law. One thing I've noticed about the company culture is that when people are on vacation, they're on vacation. Meanwhile, it's more the norm in the US to answer messages on vacation. I've not completely broken this habit, but it has felt more attainable for me to delete work communication apps from my phone when I'm away. I've felt very supported in my role as a parent at my European company The Austrian norm of " care leave," which isn't a norm in the US, is a great part of working for a European company. Because I have kids under a certain age, I get to use two paid weeks off a year for days when my kids are sick and I need to take them to a doctor or take care of them. Having this bucket to pull from is a huge weight off my shoulders as a parent. My previous employers had generous parental leave policies. However, at Storyblok, I got slightly more time — 16 weeks. I went on maternity leave at a previous company with my firstborn and again at my current job in 2023. During my most recent maternity leave, people in the company treated it very seriously. I got a lot of support from my manager and team to help plan for my leave and assign my tasks to others. During my first maternity leave for a previous company, I didn't mind answering a few questions as needed to support my team, but at Storyblok, no one asked me work-related questions while I was away. There are some downsides While my working hours suit my season of life, there are days when I wish I could start later at 9 a.m. However, I don't think I'd be as effective without overlap with my European colleagues. Right now, I work 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET. Sometimes, if I have a question I want to ask colleagues in Europe during my afternoons, I'll know that I won't be getting an answer until the next day because of the time zone difference. I've learned to work these expectations into my regular workflow. It does make me sad that I don't live near my colleagues. I've built strong relationships with these people, but they're an ocean away. I'd find it hard to go back to a US-based company Working for a European company didn't occur to me as an option before I interviewed for this job. Having worked here for over two years, I feel spoiled by the benefits and perks of European working culture, and it would be hard for me to go back to working for a US-based company.
Business Insider
5 hours ago
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GameStop's (GME) Contrarian Market Path Leaves Wall Street Divided
For over five years, GameStop (GME) has moved beyond its roots as a traditional brick-and-mortar video game retailer. Its transformation began in 2021, when the meme-stock phenomenon catapulted the company into financial headlines and dramatically reshaped its investor base. Since then, GameStop has remained one of the most polarizing stocks in the market, driven by retail investor enthusiasm and a leadership overhaul led by activist investor-turned-CEO Ryan Cohen, who aimed to revitalize a business facing consistent losses and declining relevance. Confident Investing Starts Here: As of 2025, the company has eked out a modest profit and built a substantial cash reserve, largely through opportunistic equity offerings that capitalized on retail-driven momentum. GameStop is now pivoting toward digital assets, including a sizable bet on Bitcoin, supported by a recent $1.3 billion convertible bond issuance. Despite these bold moves, the company's core fundamentals remain uncertain. Revenue continues to decline, and its valuation remains difficult to justify through traditional financial metrics. Cohen, until recently, has maintained a low public profile, while insider buying activity has subtly supported ongoing investor interest. In my view, this highly unconventional situation—where the fundamentals are neither weak enough to justify a sharp sell-off nor strong enough to support a clear long-term value thesis—makes it difficult to adopt a definitive stance. As such, I'm maintaining a Hold rating for now. The CEO Who Finally Spoke Far from standard practice for a mid-cap publicly traded company, GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen rarely speaks publicly. Since taking the helm, he's never hosted an earnings call and has only given one interview since 2023. More recently, though, Cohen sat down for a rare conversation with crypto-focused media outlet The Crypto Times. In the interview, Ryan Cohen offered a candid assessment of GameStop's past, acknowledging that the company was in poor financial condition and experiencing significant losses when he first became involved. He attributed much of the decline to the broader industry shift from physical game sales to digital downloads—a trend that severely impacted GameStop's legacy business model. To reverse the company's trajectory, Cohen and his team implemented aggressive cost-cutting measures and instilled greater fiscal discipline. The strategy appears to have paid off: in Fiscal 2024, GameStop reversed a $313 million net loss from the prior year and reported a modest profit of $6.7 million. By Fiscal 2025, the company posted net income of $131.3 million, with operations approaching breakeven margins. Cohen also emphasized GameStop's strategic pivot toward collectibles, particularly in the trading card segment, spanning both sports and trading card games (TCGs). Most notably, he underscored that GameStop has become a leaner and more profitable retailer, despite the continued decline in quarterly revenue. One of the more revealing aspects of the interview was Cohen's candid account of his years-long battle to reshape the company. He made it clear that cleaning house—both at the executive and board levels—was critical to realigning GameStop with long-term shareholder interests. 'We got rid of all of that nonsense, and we focused on running the business profitably,' he said. Since becoming GameStop's largest shareholder in 2020, Ryan Cohen has played a central role in reshaping the company's leadership. He led a complete overhaul of the board, facilitated the departure of then-CEO George Sherman, supported the appointment of Matt Furlong as his successor, and ultimately assumed the CEO role himself in 2023. Meme Hype, Net Cash, and Bitcoin Bets As much as skeptics may be reluctant to acknowledge it, GameStop's management has made meaningful progress in steering the company toward profitability, despite significant challenges. Perhaps even more noteworthy is how Ryan Cohen and his team have successfully managed the complexities of the meme-stock phenomenon. Rather than resisting the volatility, they capitalized on it—executing timely equity offerings during momentum-driven rallies, such as those triggered by high-profile events like Y ouTuber Keith 'Roaring Kitty' Gill disclosing a sizable stake in the stock. In FY 2024 alone, GameStop raised an impressive $3.45 billion through stock sales, resulting in substantial shareholder dilution—nearly 50%, including that of Cohen himself. Prior to the offering, the company held a net cash position, with $921 million in cash against $616 million in debt. Following the capital raise, GameStop's net cash position rose sharply to $4.36 billion, according to its most recent filings. Following that, Cohen made a pivotal—though largely quiet—change to GameStop's strategy by revising the company's investment policy. Previously limited to fixed-income securities, the updated policy now permits broader equity investments, all under Cohen's direct oversight. This strategic shift set the stage for a bold move: an allocation to Bitcoin. As of the latest filings, GameStop holds 4,710 bitcoins, currently valued at approximately $513 million. In a recent interview, Cohen outlined his rationale, describing Bitcoin as a modern hedge against global currency debasement and systemic financial risk, similar to gold, but with distinct advantages. Unlike gold, he argued, Bitcoin offers superior portability, greater transparency, and more long-term upside. While gold's market capitalization hovers around $20 trillion, Bitcoin's remains under $2 trillion. Cohen also emphasized that the decision was his own, stating clearly that he's not following anyone else's playbook. A Calculated Dilution for Strategic Growth Back in March, GameStop announced a $1.3 billion private offering of convertible senior notes to be used for general corporate purposes, including buying more Bitcoin, somewhat following the playbook of companies like MicroStrategy (MSTR) when it comes to strategic moves to acquire Bitcoin. Instead of issuing traditional debt with fixed interest obligations, GameStop opted for convertible bonds—securities that allow investors to convert their holdings into equity. Each $1,000 bond can be converted into 33.4970 shares, implying a conversion price of approximately $29.85. Should the stock rise significantly above that level, bondholders are likely to convert, capturing upside potential while diluting existing shareholders. Notably, the bonds include no lock-up restrictions, meaning conversions can occur as soon as they become economically advantageous. This feature could contribute to added share dilution during rallies, potentially amplifying stock volatility. While this structure may put some pressure on near-term share performance, it provides GameStop with meaningful financial flexibility, thereby enhancing cash flow and avoiding the recurring burden of fixed interest payments. In essence, it's a strategic trade-off that Ryan Cohen appears willing to embrace in pursuit of long-term optionality. Is GameStop a Good Stock to Buy? Given the highly unconventional nature of GameStop's evolving fundamentals, most Wall Street analysts have largely stepped away from covering the stock. One of the few remaining voices is longtime skeptic Michael Pachter of Wedbush, who continues to maintain a Sell rating. In April, following the announcement of GameStop's Bitcoin investment, Pachter modestly raised his price target to $13.50 per share following the news that GameStop had invested in Bitcoin. GameStop's Remains a Puzzle Bears Just Can't Solve GameStop remains a company whose current market valuation—over $13.6 billion—is difficult to justify based on its underlying business fundamentals. Revenue continues to decline annually, operations are hovering around breakeven, and the company lacks a clearly defined strategy for long-term value creation beyond cost-cutting and opportunistic investments, such as its recent move into Bitcoin. If assigning a valuation, one could argue that the company's equity is largely supported by its sizable net cash position, with a modest premium for its gradually diminishing core business. That said, a mix of lingering—albeit more subdued—retail investor enthusiasm, an unconventional leadership approach, a bold Bitcoin allocation, and insider share purchases with limited disclosure have helped keep the stock trading at elevated levels. In a market where sentiment can override fundamentals, the stock remains unpredictable and difficult for bearish investors to challenge. Given the speculative nature of this setup and the absence of strong fundamental support, I'm maintaining a Hold rating.
Business Upturn
5 hours ago
- Business Upturn
Populous Acquires Fentress Architects, Expanding Global Aviation Portfolio
Kansas City, Mo., United States: Populous, the world-renowned design firm specializing in sport and entertainment venues, today announced the acquisition of Denver-based Fentress Architects, a global leader in iconic aviation projects and prominent public buildings, including convention centers, museums and government facilities. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Los Angeles International Airport. Designed by Fentress Architects. This strategic acquisition unites two of the most respected names in architecture, combining Populous' unparalleled expertise in designing memorable experiences with Fentress' award-winning portfolio of aviation, civic and cultural landmarks. The acquisition significantly broadens the scope and scale of services that Populous can offer clients across the globe. Bruce Miller, Populous Global Chair and CEO, commented: 'We are committed to expanding the breadth of our practice. Fentress Architects has long been known for its visionary aviation and public architecture, exceptional design quality and commitment to innovation. Uniting our aviation team with Fentress to form Fentress Studios, a Populous Company, symbolizes our dedication to design quality. Adding Fentress' expertise and client base to the Populous global aviation and transportation portfolio, as well as synergies across convention center design, will enable us to transform the future of people-centric design and supercharge our global impact in those sectors.' Founded in 1980, Fentress Architects has designed more than $52 billion of architectural landmarks worldwide, including Denver International Airport, Incheon International Airport, Miami Beach Convention Center and the National Museum of the Marine Corps. The firm is known for creating architecture that is sustainable, contextual and deeply connected to the communities it serves. Curt Fentress, Founder and Principal in Charge of Design at Fentress Architects, commented: 'Populous shares our values of design excellence and people-centric thinking. Together, we will continue to redefine great architecture and its capacity to ignite social and economic change through inspired design for people.' Fentress Architects will rebrand as Fentress Studios, a Populous Company, with the studios continuing to be based in Denver and Washington D.C. The acquisition further propels Populous' capabilities in aviation, transportation and public sector design. About Populous Populous is a global design firm that began with a singular focus — to draw people together around the things they love, through experiences that capture all the senses and amplify the pure emotion shared in human moments. Over the last 40+ years, the firm has designed more than 3,500 projects worth over $60 billion across emerging and established markets. Populous' comprehensive services include architecture, interior design, event planning and overlay, branded environments, wayfinding, and graphics, planning and urban design, landscape architecture, aviation and transport design, hospitality and sustainable design consulting. Populous has over 1,500 employees in 32 global offices on four continents with regional centers in Kansas City, London and Brisbane. For more information, visit About Fentress Architects Fentress Architects is an international design firm that passionately pursues the creation of innovative, sustainable, and iconic architecture. The firm's work includes landmarks such as the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX, the Ralph L. Carr Colorado Supreme Courts, and the Royal Norwegian Embassy. View source version on Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
