Breaking Up The C-Suite Boys Club | Deterring Executive Misconduct | How Bank Of America Went Remote

Plus: Jo Ann Jenkins, Karen Lynch And The Women Over 50 Who Are Breaking Up The C-Suite Boys Club

One of our priorities at Forbes, through our CMO, CIO, CEO and CFO Networks, is to spotlight game-changing business leaders. We do that in many ways, not the least of which are our “Next” lists, compilations of C-level decision-makers who may not all be household names—yet—but, through their actions, are redefining their roles and driving innovation in their respective disciplines and industries.

Today we launched our third-annual Forbes CMO Next list, which is designed to deliver on that priority. Based on qualitative research, the list features 50 marketing chiefs who are spearheading disruptive efforts at startups, nonprofits and corporate giants in ways that elevate the role of marketing and marketing leadership within organizations.

Be on the lookout for our CIO Next and CEO Next lists later this year.

And to celebrate the CMO Next honorees and dive into conversation around the paradigm reset that these 50 people are driving, join us at 11 a.m. ET today. We'll talk with 2021 honorees, including Exos CMO TJ Abrams, Discord CMO Tesa Aragones and Skillshare CMO Liana Douillet Guzmán, as well as alumni, including NHL CMO Heidi Browning Pearson and Fender CMO Evan Jones. We'll also have fireside chats with Impossible Foods SVP of Marketing Jessie Becker about the meatless company's growth and with One Medical CMO Doug Sweeny about the startup's role in Covid-19 testing and vaccinating.

In other CxO news, read about Reshma Saujani’s stepping down as CEO of Girls Who Code as COO Dr. Tarika Barrett is set to become CEO, and how Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius is leading a tradition-rich company forward.

Comings & Goings

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the largest business federation in the world, will be led by a woman for the first time in its 100-year history. Suzanne Clark, who as president has strengthened the national organization’s ties with local and state chambers, will take over as CEO in March.

Girls Who Code, a prominent nonprofit dedicated to teaching young girls to program, has promoted educator Dr. Tarika Barrett to CEO. The organization, founded 10 years ago, has 80,000 college-aged alumni.

Eli Lilly and Company, the Indiana-based pharmaceutical company, has promoted longtime finance executive Anat Ashkenazi as its new CFO. Ashkenazi replaces Josh Smiley, who recently resigned after an investigation found he had inappropriate communications with employees.

Leadership & Strategy

While executives often play a role in resolving crises, that doesn’t mean they don’t also create plenty of their own. Here’s how companies can detect and deter executive misconduct.

Midsize businesses, lacking the scale of the big and the intimacy of the small, can sometimes feel like ignored middle children. But when it comes to innovation, midsize businesses possess a distinct edge.

Cathy Bessant, the chief operations and technology officer at Bank of America, has led the company’s pivot to remote operations during the pandemic. From adopting new technology to leading through uncertainty, here’s how she did it.

By The Numbers

55.7%

The current female labor force participation rate.

The pandemic has been disastrous for countless Americans, but it’s been particularly damaging to women’s economic prospects. ForbesWomen Editor Maggie McGrath takes a deep dive into the women’s labor crisis.

The CxO Profile

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