Biden's Department of Defense makes its mark on gender issues

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January 26, 2021

Good morning, Broadsheet readers! Stitch Fix founder Katrina Lake joins the billionaires’ club, the Harriet Tubman $20 bill is back on track, and Biden’s Department of Defense takes a stand on gender issues. Have a thoughtful Tuesday.

– Defense takes action. President Joe Biden’s defense secretary pick was one of his most debated Cabinet posts, with the final choice coming down to former undersecretary of defense Michele Flournoy and retired Gen. Lloyd Austin, who ultimately ended up winning the position.

The choice disappointed some women who were gunning for Flournoy to break the glass ceiling at the Department of Defense. But Austin—who himself is the first Black defense secretary—is quickly showing that issues of gender and identity will be at the forefront of his and Biden’s agenda for the DOD.

Over the weekend, Austin ordered Pentagon leaders to review their efforts to prevent and address sexual harassment in the military. His assignment for his reports was even more ambitious than Biden’s 90-day commission to find solutions to sexual assault in the military. “I do not want to wait 90 days to take action,” Austin wrote in a memo. From the killing of soldier Vanessa Guillen to the more recent assault and death of soldier Asia Graham, it’s clear that time is—as ever—of the essence on this issue.

Then, on Monday, Biden reversed President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender people serving in the military, reestablishing Obama-era protections for trans service-members. Austin and Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stood beside Biden in the Oval Office for that signing.

Following four years of an administration that was on the opposite side of issues of gender identity and tended to be more lenient to those accused of sexual harassment—as seen in Betsy DeVos’s decisions at the Education Department—it’s not surprising that these two issues would be top priorities for the new White House.

What is new is the urgency Austin has for addressing this issue, apart from his boss’s broader agenda. The directive on military sexual harassment was Austin’s very first since he was confirmed to the position. “This is a leadership issue,” the secretary wrote in his memo. “We will lead.”

Emma Hinchliffe
emma.hinchliffe@fortune.com
@_emmahinchliffe

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ALSO IN THE HEADLINES

- Fashion forward. Stitch Fix founder and CEO Katrina Lake is now one of only 19 self-made women billionaires in the U.S. after the rapid rise of the personal shopping service's stock pushed her 10% stake to a $1.1 billion value. Lake's peers on the list of self-made billionaires include Oprah Winfrey and Sheryl Sandberg. Forbes

- Bills, bills, bills. The Harriet Tubman $20 bill is back on track after a four-year detour when the Trump administration rejected the effort. The Biden admin is "exploring ways to speed up" the bill's release. CNN

- Making appointments. In other Biden admin news, Janet Yellen, the president's pick to head the Treasury, gained confirmation in the Senate, making her the first woman to hold the post. Meanwhile, the administration is expected to name Susan Orsega, a nurse and infectious disease specialist, as acting surgeon general, the role commonly referred to as "the nation's doctor."

- Reality check. Ann Mukherjee is CEO of Pernod Ricard North America, and she's unusually open for a leader in the liquor business about the sometimes harmful role alcohol can play in people's lives. In her own life, Mukherjee has shared that she was assaulted as a child by an inebriated man; her mother was killed by a drunk driver; and she was in an abusive relationship in which she says alcohol contributed to the abuse. The CEO discusses how that history influences her leadership, including an Absolut ad campaign about consent. Fast Company

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: The Metropolitan Opera hired Marcia Sells, a former dancer and Harvard Law dean of students, as its first chief diversity officer. Prudential Financial promoted Caroline Feeney to CEO of its U.S. insurance and retirement businesses. NPR hired Gannett general counsel Elizabeth A. Allen as chief legal officer. EY hired Danielle Whitworth Barnes, former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Human Services, as managing director in its government and public sector practice. The firm promoted Alexandra Gurney to lead civilian and security accounts within the same practice. The Pill Club hired Uber Eats alum Liz Meyerdirk as CEO. Udacity hired Red Hat alum Jennifer Dearman as SVP of global success and operations. Merkle promoted Liz Rutgersson to chief media officer, Merkle Americas. Splitit promoted VP for Europe Melanie Vala to chief commercial officer. Investcorp promoted Elena Ranguelova to head of investor relationship management for North America. Media agency network UM hired Christine Villanueva as U.S. chief strategy officer.

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

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- U.K. competition. Scotland's rollout of the coronavirus vaccine is facing criticism for progressing more slowly than in other parts of the U.K.—and that criticism is landing on First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. While Scotland has vaccinated 9.4% of adults compared to England's 13%, Sturgeon says Scotland is closer to vaccinating nearly all residents of nursing facilities. Guardian

- Recruitment gone wrong. Hengli Group Co. Ltd., one of China's largest private companies and No. 107 on the Fortune Global 500, sought to recruit "male candidates between 28 and 40 years old" for driver positions. The Guizhou chapter of the All-China Women’s Federation, a state-run organization, called for the company to reverse the requirement, citing gender discrimination. Gender discrimination in hiring and recruitment was only outlawed in February 2019. Sixth Tone

- Coworkers on the court. Last night, Natalie Sago and Jenna Schroeder worked together during the Charlotte Hornets-Orlando Magic game. The refs achieved an NBA first: the first time any of the league's female referees, who have been officiating in the sport since 1997, have worked together on the same crew. Yahoo Sports

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