How To Sleep Better | The Female Investors Who Thrived In 2020 | Why Motherhood Isn’t A Barrier To Entrepreneurship | And More

Plus: The New C-Suite: How 2020 Shaped Corporate America’s Executive Ranks

A bit before 4:00am Eastern this morning, Congress certified Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’s victory in the 2020 presidential election, putting an end to a horrific day in which pro-Trump insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overturn the election results.

There’s a lot to be said about what happened yesterday, but I want to take my cues from actress and producer Mindy Kaling, who last night tweeted this: “There may be jaw-dropping, unlawful, un-American acts being perpetrated in our Capitol today, but what will last, when the dust of today has settled, is the work of this true patriot. @staceyabrams.” Kaling was referencing the results of Georgia’s runoff Senate election Tuesday and the record voter turnout that Abrams has been instrumental in galvanizing.

Abrams wasn’t alone in her work to empower voters across the state of Georgia. LaTosha Brown, the cofounder of Black Voters Matter, organized crucial community outreach that helped teach Georgians that their voice—their vote—is important. Early Wednesday morning, Brown posted a note she received from a first time voter that read, in part, “I finally recognize the power I have and how much I matter.”

Cheers to that,
Maggie

P.S.: As we correctly give Black women credit for the work they’ve done to help protect democracy, I want to re-up this story from Giving Tuesday, which outlines ten civic engagement organizations that are run or co-run by women of color to consider directing your next charitable dollars towards. Giving credit is important, but giving capital is even more empowering.

ICYMI: Stories From The Week

Speaking of motherhood: while 2020 was many things (and a whole lotta four-letter words), it was also the year of the mother. Here’s why, and how. 

The 117th Congress, sworn in Sunday, is the most diverse in history. Among the “firsts” within this class of lawmakers: Stephanie Bice (R-OK, 5th District) is the first Iranian-American elected to Congress; Yvette Herrell (R-NM, 2nd District) is the first Native American Republican woman elected to Congress; and Cori Bush (D-MO, 1st District) is the first Black congresswoman from Missouri.

Cathie Wood of Ark Investments, Nancy Zevenbergen of Zevenbergen Capital Investments, and Karina Funk of Brown Advisory are just three of many female investors or female-led funds who thrived in 2020. Here’s our roundup of the women who are leading the way in investing in everything from small cap stocks, to emerging market debt portfolios, dividend paying companies and sustainable investments.

CarePort, a post-hospital care company founded by Lissy Hu, has been acquired for the second time—this time by health technology company WellSky for $1.35 billion. The sale, which was first announced at the end of October, closed Tuesday.

With “maskne” entering the vernacular in 2020 (aka, acne from the masks we’re all wearing), beauty industry founders shared their predictions for what 2021 will mean for our skin care regimens.

Speculation heated up this week that one of the world’s most famous—and richest—couples, Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West, may be headed for divorce. With a combined net worth of $2.1 billion there’s plenty of wealth to haggle over, but here’s how much will really be in play if they split.

Check List

#1: Identify your breakthrough goal for 2021. You might have a long list of things you want to accomplish this year, but zero in on the one thing that will do the most to catapult you to a new level financially or professionally.

#2: Learn to sleep better. If you’ve been struggling with sleep during the pandemic, try these tips: Go to bed and wake up at consistent times; take the pressure off yourself to fall asleep immediately; set the mood.

#3: Forget about ‘use it or lose it.’ When it comes to your FSA, that is. There are new, and temporary, rules for savers that allow unused funds to be carried over from 2020 into 2021. Learn all about the special policies here.

Across Forbes