Gucci’s Got a New Model (And More!)
Three motivational posts from this week to inject some LinkedIn(inspiration) into your life
We’re bringing Fridays back, folks!
I don’t know about you, but in our house, Fridays simply haven’t felt the same since the pandemic started. Before COVID, Friday was a day of jubilation. My wife and I spent the day wrapping up work and looking forward to a bounty of weekend activities.
We might pack the kids up for an adventurous getaway. Maybe head uptown to do some window shopping at the mall. Or catch a movie at our favorite Alamo Drafthouse down the road. Even if we were just planning to hang out all weekend, Friday carried a sense of fun and opportunity.
Now — after a year of spending almost every weekend at home — Friday has lost a bit of its luster. It’s been easy to see it as just another day. It’s been easy to feel down and depressed.
But, lately, as I’ve been scrolling through my LinkedIn feed, there have been several posts that caught my attention. Several that forced me to stop what I was doing and pay attention. Several that were worth returning to, reading over and over again, and screenshotting for later consideration.
These posts lit my inspirational fuse, as it were.
Hence the “LinkedIn(spiration)” pun.
You’re welcome.
So, without further ado. I hope your Friday is awesome, filled with positive thoughts. And I hope you find a spark of inspiration in these amazing posts.
1. Gucci’s Newest Model
Representation matters.
And this week, a number of posts celebrated representation in fashion. Ellie Goldstein is a model with Down Syndrome who has been featured in beauty magazines from Allure and Euphoria. And just last year, she was the face of a new campaign from Gucci Beauty, which you can see highlighted above.
The movement to expand diversity within the modeling industry has been a long, hard trudge forward. For decades, the industry has operated with a fixed standard of beauty — a standard that failed to fully represent the world we live in.
As the Berkeley Political Review puts it . . .
White, skinny and tall models have always been the status quo for this industry. These looks are the norm and are considered the epitome of beauty, but consumers are tired of the status quo of what a model should look like.
And there are signs of improvement. The same Berkeley article noted that, at the 2019 New York Fashion Week, 48% of the fashion models were from a minority group. And an article from Vogue shared data on 2021 hiring trends, noting that 41.3% of castings for spring 2021 are going to models of color.
Finally, it seems, the representation in the beauty industry is going to more closely mirror that of society. But this doesn’t happen by accident. It’s only through the diligent work of models like Ellie, and a willingness to represent beauty in a different way from companies like Gucci, that change can happen.
2. Best Director
There have been 93 Academy Awards given for Best Director. 2 of them have gone to a woman. Only 1 has gone to a woman of color.
Let that sink in for a minute.
Chloé Zhao’s historic win last week was simultaneously an indictment of an industry that has often kept women and people of color on the periphery (#OscarsSoWhite), and a moment to celebrate a fantastic film made by a talented filmmaker.
In the wake of her victory, Zhao is a champion and icon for many.
And this tweet from @iampostscript shows just how impactful representation can be. When young people see someone who looks just like them achieving at the highest level, it can be an incredible spark of motivation. Young people are paying attention to who’s on the screen and who wins awards.
Just look at this quote from a high school student in Pennsylvania talking about representation in the media . . .
I do think it’s powerful for people of a minority race to be represented in pop culture to really show a message that everybody has a place in this world.
Everybody should have a place in this world. And Chloé Zhao’s win is a huge step in the right direction. Congrats! 👏👏👏
(P.S. If you want to read more about Chloé Zhao’s fantastic film, Nomadland, check out this recent article from Young Corporate).
3. My Ethnic Name
Oluwatobiloba Oluwole (who goes by Tobi) opened up this week about his name. No, not the name listed on his LinkedIn profile or even the name he used to get a job. But his ethnic first name.
A name that’s 13 letters in length.
For many years, Oluwatobiloba didn’t bother sharing his ethnic name when asked what “Tobi” was short for. But he’s recently shifted gears. He’s started to open up and help educate the people he interacts with. And, in doing so, he’s opened a window into his ethnic background and personal history.
If you’re wondering why Oluwatobiloba would need to take steps to alter his name, especially in a job context, then it’s important to look at the economic dynamics of “foreign-sounding” names in America.
Research cited in The Atlantic highlights that, historically, “Americanizing” a name can lead to a 2–5% increase in earnings per year. And failure to do so can have the inverse effect, applying an economic penalty for diversity in this country. Workers can lose opportunities and income simply for their name.
In response, many have chosen to adopt Americanized versions of their name. Or take on a new name altogether. In the face of decreased job prospects, or worse, discrimination in the workplace or academic institutions, it is easy to see why those with ethnically diverse names would seek to reduce friction.
But there are hopeful signs. America is becoming more and more diverse, and many companies are committed to creating inclusive workplaces. I’m hopeful in the future we’ll see a dynamic where altering ethnic names is a thing of the past. Where the diversity of names and backgrounds is celebrated.
Thanks for taking a brave first step, Oluwatobiloba!
Did you run across some inspiration this week? Drop a note in the comments below. And join the Young Corporate page where we’re talking about career success, corporate citizenship, and more.
