Good morning from Laguna Niguel, where we’re about to kick off day two of the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit. I’ve been particularly interested in conversations about how companies are using AI, from the NBA’s quest to create a hyper-personalized fan experience to Elf Beauty’s investment in training its algorithms on social media data so that 90% of AI responses are now in “language emojis.” Troll” – where employees make sure the reviews are engaging. I wonder if highlighting the potential of AI more than its risks might attract more women to use it.
Here’s a roundup of other conversations about investing in women’s sports, creating a personal brand to build a career, and one where Uber sparked new career opportunities. Some thoughts raised by speakers at last night’s dinner:
- Talking about the younger generation – Not small-scale energy production from renewable resources, but generational subgroups such as “xennials” who are now in their early and mid-40s. (This falls somewhere between aging Millennials and young Gen Hmph.) This is a target demo for actress Cameron Diaz’s organic wine brand Avaline. When Diaz and her partner, entrepreneur Catherine Power, spoke to Emma Hinchcliffe about the tech-savvy, nostalgic, brand-loyal generation of young people, she wondered how innovation would impact how we define future generations. The baby boom period extends to 18 years; Generation X lasted 15 years. Labels have limits. Life stage is perhaps more important. Xennials happen to be in their peak earning years. Diaz, who took several years off to raise her children, spoke of drawing her energy forward, like a jellyfish, when she returns to acting with… Back to workscheduled for release in January. This is a feeling many can relate to when returning to the workforce. You can read more here.
- Lizzo missed opportunity -Lizzo got a standing ovation, and for good reason. She’s a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, philanthropist and entrepreneur, with her own brand of shapers Yeti She embraces the body positivity that has defined her career. So it’s unfortunate that she ignored a question from my colleague Ellie Austin about the high-profile lawsuit filed by three of her backup dancers, alleging sexual harassment and a hostile work environment. These accusations are a source of irritation for Lizzo and her fans. She said this was not the time or place to address them. I object. While no one expected her to comment on the details of the lawsuit, this was an opportunity to talk about the team that supports her and her philosophy in leading them. Click here to read more.
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Diane Brady
diane.brady@fortune.com
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