Good morning, Broadsheet readers! A top Novartis exec shares her sad and inspiring story, female lax players get their own pro league, and women can get away with being assertive—so long as we do it wordlessly. Enjoy your Wednesday.
EVERYONE'S TALKING
• Shaw's story. For Christi Shaw, U.S. country head and president at Novartis, the decision to step down to care for her older sister, who is suffering from bone marrow cancer, was simple. Yet she says that many of her friends and colleagues, as well as the company's CEO, were shocked by her willingness to "walk away." Given that two-thirds of caregivers in the U.S. are female, I'm guessing that many of you will be less surprised by her decision—and may even have faced a similar situation yourself. Although Shaw has many advantages that other caregivers lack, I hope you find her devotion to family as touching and inspiring as I do. Fortune
ALSO IN THE HEADLINES
• Time to womanspread? New research finds that while women are typically penalized for being "too assertive," they are not dinged for assertiveness "expressed through nonverbal means"—such as through expansive bodily stances or physical proximity, or for using verbal cues like speaking loudly or interrupting. So get out there and take up some space! WSJ
• The two Hillarys. New York Magazine's Rebecca Traister spent several days on the Hillary Clinton campaign trail, trying to understand the perception gap between those who support Clinton and those who find her untrustworthy and unlikeable. "To be near her is to feel like the campaign is in steady hands," writes Traister. "To be at any distance is to fear for the fate of the republic." New York Magazine
• The Ms. majority. In more Clinton news, the former Secretary of State appears to be the narrow favorite among women voters. According to a new poll by Quinnipiac University, 54% of women are backing Clinton, while 51% of men support Donald Trump. Meanwhile, a poll of Fortune 500 CEOs also favors Clinton, with 58% of CEOs saying they would vote for the likely Democratic nominee.
• Media misstep. Fortune's Matthew Ingram weighs in on the scandal over deceptive editing in Katie Couric's gun violence documentary. While an eight-second edit might not seem like a big deal, it could have serious repercussions, says Ingram. "It has given more ammunition to supporters of Donald Trump and other right-wing gun advocates who argue that the media is biased against their cause and uses tricks to discredit them. In effect, Couric just provided them with some blockbuster evidence that this is in fact the case." Fortune
• Setting the stage. Two of this year's Broadway shows—Waitress and Eclipsed—featured all-female creative teams, but given the paucity of women in behind-the-scenes roles in other productions, should we really chalk up this season as a win for women? Two of The New York Times' theater critics tackle the question. New York Times
• Giving back. As Africa's economy expands, a growing number of women—including Nigerian tycoon Folorunsho Alakija and Ethiopian supermodel Liya Kebedeare—are stepping up to head philanthropic efforts across the continent. Fortune
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
• Kohan gets back in the ring. Netflix has ordered 10 episodes of G.L.O.W., a 1980s female wrestling comedy series executive produced by Orange Is the New Black creator/executive producer Jenji Kohan and OITNB co-executive producer Tara Herrmann. Deadline
• From social to Starbucks. Clara Shih, CEO and co-founder of Hearsay Social, discusses her role at Starbucks, where she sits on the board of directors, and her advice for leaders struggling to bring digital transformation to their companies. WSJ
• Ladies of lax. The United Women’s Lacrosse League, which bills itself as the country's first professional women’s lacrosse league, kicked off its inaugural season this past weekend. Founded by Digit Murphy and Aronda Kirby, the league won't initially offer players salaries, but hopes to ultimately grow into a sustainable business. New York Times
• Would you set your DVR? Sydney Holland, the ex-girlfriend of Sumner Redstone who was famously ousted from the 93-year-old mogul's mansion last fall, has formally pitched herself to join the cast of Bravo's The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. The Hollywood Reporter
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ON MY RADAR
How women are fighting stereotypes in tech Refinery29
Connie Kopelov, of the first same-sex couple legally married in New York, dies at 90 New York Times
The rise and fall of the first female assistant to the president Time
Donna Karan saw the future of womenswear. Now she wants to change medicine. Washington Post
QUOTE
I don't want to cover up anymore. Not my face, not my mind, not my soul, not my thoughts, not my dreams, not my struggles, not my emotional growth. Nothing.
Singer Alicia Keys, on her #nomakeup selfie
