#TimesUp Is Making Progress, But Women Still Face An Uphill Battle In Business
#TimesUp has officially kicked the year off with a focus on women and gender inequity in Hollywood. Many of the headlines have focused on the entertainment industry, but where do women in business stand?
Milena Berry, Co-Founder of PowerToFly, and Dr. Patti Fletcher, Author of "Disrupters: Success Strategies From Women Who Break The Mold," look at the progress being made on gender inequity and what still needs to be done. While business leaders identify inclusion and diversity as problems, Berry and Fletcher say that they aren't taking enough action.
In some cases, Fletcher says companies are convinced that they've solved the problem already, even when that's not the case. Berry points to issues within the tech industry around company culture and hiring. She says many women aren't hired because they are not so-called "culture fits," and that's because the culture itself is the problem.
Nestlé has dismissed its CEO Laurent Freixe after an investigation into an undisclosed relationship with a direct subordinate. The company announced on Monday that the dismissal was effective immediately. An investigation found that Freixe violated Nestlé’s code of conduct. He had been CEO for a year. Philipp Navratil, a longtime Nestlé executive, will replace him. Chairman Paul Bulcke stated that the decision was necessary to uphold the company’s values and governance. Navratil began his career with Nestlé in 2001 and has held various roles, including CEO of Nestlé's Nespresso division since 2024.
Kraft Heinz is splitting into two companies a decade after they joined in a massive merger that created one of the biggest food companies on the planet. One of the companies will include brands such as Heinz, Philadelphia cream cheese and Kraft Mac & Cheese. The other will include brands like Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles and Lunchables. When the company formed in 2015 it wanted to capitalize on its massive scale, but shifting tastes complicated those plans, with households seeking to introduce healthier options at the table. Kraft Heinz's net revenue has fallen every year since 2020.
About 780,000 pressure washers sold at retailers like Home Depot are being recalled across the U.S. and Canada, due to a projectile hazard that has resulted in fractures and other injuries among some consumers.