Notes, Acknowledgements, and Thanks - Week Ending 02/18/12

As I stated 2 weeks ago, I'm committed to dedicating a blog post to highlighting people, places, and things which inspired and informed my most recent writing topics. I encourage you to click through the links to explore the topics I discussed. Feel free also to suggest others!

The Conference Board--Talent Strategies Management Conference

This was a highly enjoyable post to write, as it's really just a culmination of observations I made at the conference. The speakers did the heavy lifting by demonstrating to the crowd what they believed were key insights into effective talent management strategies. Based on the level of detail and scope of work done by those in attendance it appeared that this was a strategic concern that was taken seriously within their respective organizations. I wish them all the best of success and they continue forward with their respective TM programs.  

Blind Spots, Diversity on the Catwalk, and Holding Ourselves Accountable

This was a tricky post to write. It's difficult to navigate issues related to one's self worth as an individual, so I struggled with pinning down the issues present in this piece in a thoughtful manner. Ignoring it wouldn't have helped the situation, however. 

There are certain realities the industry must face if it is to better reflect its market. According to thegrio.com, of the 127 designers which put on shows at this past week's New York Fashion Week, 27 (4.7%) were Asian-American, 17 (7.5%) were Latino , and 2 (1.5%) were African-American. And as of this writing there hasn't been any updates on whether or not the Underwraps modeling agency was able to move forward with its models.

It's a fact that the fashion industry has issues to address when it comes to the health of the models it uses. The CFDA guidelines serve as a good way to let industry outsiders know that it's aware of what's going on. They aren't enough, however. Since the guidelines are completely voluntary it lacks the muscle needed to significantly impact the conditions by which models may be compelled to engage in unhealthy behavior. 

In addition, the fashion industry does not call out those who engage in disrespectful practices. Recently, Karl Lagerfield made the news by calling Grammy winner Adele "a little too fat." While the public backlash was immediate, not one major designer or figure in the fashion industry openly criticized his remarks. There's still plenty of work to do.  

• 'Most runway models meet the BMI criteria for anorexia', claims plus-size magazine in powerful comment on body image in the fashion industry (via the Daily Mail online)
• Can Modeling and Modesty Mix? Enter New Modeling Agency, Underwraps (via the Fashionista blog)
• New York Fashion Week 2012: New CFDA Guidelines Cull Underage, Underweight Models (via the International Business Times)
• Lack of black designers at New York's Fashion Week draws experts' speculation (via thegrio.com)
• Real Women Have...Bodies (via Jezebel.com)

A Vicious Cycle, Continued

The title of this post is related to one I did in September of 2011. Not to belabor the point, but there needs to be a concerted effort by leaders across multiple sectors to address the education gap in the United States. It directly impacts the quality of the workforce. It's an investment that will pay off for generations to come. Conversely, a lack of commitment and resources will only accelerate our race to the bottom.

• Taking More Seats on Campus, Foreigners Also Pay the Freight (via The New York Times)
• International alumni are filling universities' coffers (via the Star-Telegram)
• Obama Proposes $8 Billion to Enhance Worker Training at Community Colleges (via Bloomberg news)
• A Hacker School That Helps Solve Silicon Valley's Hiring Problem (via Fast Company) 
• A Vicious Cycle - Colleges prefer those who can pay (via victoriomilian.com)

"Education has become the most advanced form of capital investment today. The more advanced a capital investment, the more productive it is, and the higher its rate of return."--Peter Drucker   

Meeting Smart People, Rejecting Starbucks, and Making Memories

This was fun to write. Like the '2+2=5' post I wrote not long ago, this was more of a storytelling piece, designed to illustrate a point that we (mostly me) need reminding of from time to time. It's easy to go for what's convenient and familiar when it comes to meeting people. It's important to break out of that thinking. Also, living in New York means that I can choose convenience and uniqueness. So I have little excuse. 

The actual genesis of the post came from the fact that I had two coffee meetings this week. One was with Ronald Thomas, a good friend and great blogger over at TLNT.com. It took place at the Pershing Cafe, a nice and uniquely situated restaurant across the street from Grand Central Station. Another example of a great setting adding to the richness of the encounter. 

On a side note, technically Grand Central Station is called Grand Central Terminal. However, New Yorkers never call it that. Hell, even the subway signs don't list it as such:

This is just one of many ways in which New Yorkers know who's a tourist or not. Take note of this for when you or a loved one visits.

Thanks this week goes to...

As always, I must thank all the readers, particularly those that take the time to comment, and share my posts with others. You're all classy people, and smart to boot. I want to highlight 2 people in particular--Ted Simpson and Benjamin McCall--for their willingness to take time out from their schedules to help me with the 'A Vicious Cycle, Continued' post. They critiqued a rough draft and their feedback helped me to craft a more focused piece.

I also want to thank Ronald Thomas and J.A. for meeting with me this week. It's good to reconnect in person with intelligent and dedicated professionals. I gained insight and great stories from them, both of which are more valuable to me than money. Thanks, you two!