Inside Biden's Economic Recovery Plan | How Airtable Built A C-Suite From The Ground Up | A Devastating Month For Women's Jobs

Plus: 12 Tax Angles For Investors: What Will Survive The Democratic Congress?

It’s an historic day for our nation as Joe Biden becomes the 46th president of the United States. His day one is reportedly chock-full of roll-up-your-sleeves work to address the many challenges his administration faces in a divided nation.

He has pledged unity as he and his highly diverse cabinet move forward. It’s an ambitious goal given the myriad challenges this country faces. Indeed, it is clear that engendering trust is critical. In his inaugural address, he promised transparency: “I will always level with you.”

It will be interesting to see as we move forward to what extent and in what ways the presidency will be able to regain trust among people of both party affiliations. Absent that, people have been leaning on corporate America to fill that void. Edelman’s latest Trust Barometer finds that “people are increasingly turning to business leaders for guidance. More than 80% of those surveyed expect CEOs to speak publicly on societal issues, such as the impact of the pandemic, local concerns and job automation,” writes Forbes Staff Writer Kristin Stoller.

No doubt, trust will be currency for CxOs, brands, businesses and the government alike as we move into 2021 and beyond. It’s an opportunity for all as a foundation of growth and momentum.

Comings & Goings

Last Tuesday, Synchrony Financial CEO Margaret Keane announced that she would be stepping down after six-and-a-half years at the helm of the credit-card lender.

Just two years into leading Intel, former CFO Bob Swan will be stepping down. His tenure serves as a useful lesson on the differences between generalist and specialist leaders. 

Christina Spade, formerly the CFO of ViacomCBS, will be joining AMC—makers of the smash hit The Walking Dead—as its new head of finance. 

SAP’s CMO Alicia Tillman will be leaving the software giant in February. She’s set to be replaced by Microsoft veteran Julia White.

Reputation & Risk

Two weeks since the storming of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters, condemnation from the business community is nearly universal. That’s presented quite the challenge for marketers, who’ve had to pull ads, upend campaigns and make their opposition known. 

Parler, the social network alternative for those who felt stifled by Twitter’s moderation, lost its data processing services from Amazon last week. Outside of politics, Parler’s case illustrates the dangers of dependence on a single service provider.

In heartening news for business, it turns out there’s one thing that Democrats and Republicans agree on: Both trust business leaders more than elected officials.

By The Numbers

5 million

The number of jobs that American women lost in 2020.

As the dust settles on 2020, more light is being shed on the full economic devastation wrought by the coronavirus pandemic. One of its most disturbing effects has been the damage done to working women.

Money & Markets

On Thursday, President-Elect Joe Biden unveiled his economic and health recovery plans, including an ambitious $1.9 trillion stimulus package. From $1,400 stimulus checks to a $15 minimum wage, here’s what coronavirus relief might look like in 2021.

Not all of Biden’s backers are enthusiastic. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has expressed skepticism over the potential inflationary danger that a massive stimulus package could pose.

If you were hoping that the global challenge of the pandemic would diffuse global tensions, you may be out of luck. The trade war between the U.S. and China is heating up, with goods produced in Xinjiang now banned in the American market.

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