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The World’s Most Powerful Women: August 25

By
Laura Cohn
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By
Laura Cohn
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August 25, 2016, 2:49 AM ET

One of the traits of a powerful woman is knowing how to turn a slip-up into an opportunity.

When Brazilian retail exec Luiza Helena Trajano fell while carrying the Olympic torch, she made the episode into a sales pitch. She used her embarrassing fall, which you can watch here, to launch a sales event at her business, Magazine Luiza, the second-largest appliance and housewares chain in Brazil, Bloomberg reports.

The result: customers were drawn to the stores, sales rolled in, and the business beat its sales target. The response was so overwhelmingly positive, company CEO Frederico Trajano (her son) joked, “I think my mom did it on purpose.”

In any case, Luiza Helena Trajano has demonstrated that she really knows how to make the best of a situation. For the sale at her stores, she also created a slogan with the hashtag #cairfazparte, which means “falling is part of life.” It’s a key lesson for any woman, whether she ever gets the chance to carry the Olympic torch or not.

@laurascohn

EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST/AFRICA

Burkini ban photo sets off firestorm
Following stories that France's controversial burkini bans have led to a surge in sales of the full-body swimsuits, there's new evidence that police in France are taking the measures pretty seriously. Yesterday, a photo emerged of a woman on a beach in Nice circled by policemen—one with his hands on his hips—as she removes a top layer of clothing. It's disturbing, and set off a firestorm on social media yesterday. Take a look.
Guardian
.



Designs on change
Talk about a shift in strategy. Fashion designer Misha Nonoo has decided to abandon selling her clothing in stores, and instead will offer her label exclusively on Mishanonoo.com. She also will be using Snapchat to introduce her new lines instead of making an appearance at New York Fashion week. "Snapchat is more raw and real life," Nonoo explains.
Business of Fashion

THE AMERICAS



When a Spade's not a Spade 
What's in a name? If you're Kate Spade, it would seem like there's a lot. But the designer now goes by Katherine Noel Frances Valentine Brosnahan and has launched a new line called "Frances Valentine" as she competes with her former self.
Wall Street Journal

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Instagram queen
Teen Vogue editor Elaine Welteroth is very active on Instagram, using it as a magazine of sorts to post photos of herself with icons such as Gloria Steinem and Naomi Campbell, along with snaps of Vogue creative director at large Grace Coddington and Serena Williams. Welteroth explains in this piece that storytelling is her "passion," so "I can't turn off those compulsions—even if it is just a silly little Instagram post."
Glossy

.



Cook for Clinton
Apple CEO Tim Cook hosted a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton last night, and an attendee shared photos of it, which you can see here. Donors paid $2,700 to $50,000 for the event, which follows other fundraisers at former Lakers star Earvin "Magic" Johnson and pop singer Justin Timberlake in Los Angeles this week. The smart money says Cook probably won't host an event to raise money for Donald Trump, who's called for a boycott of Apple products in the past. In other Clinton news, a spokesman for the family's foundation said Chelsea Clinton now plans to remain on the board of the organization if her mother becomes president.
Fortune

ASIA-PACIFIC



Where men support women
A group of male business leaders that advocates for gender equality in Australia says male managers who complain about the promotion of women in the workplace should simply get used to it—or find somewhere else to work. ANZ chief exec Shayne Elliott said the pushback from men on the issue comes from a "general fear in the economy about loss of jobs." That's no excuse.
Australian Financial Review

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Shifting stereotypes
Brand strategist Ambi M.G. Parameswaran writes that a shift is underway in gender roles in advertising. Known as "neo-visualization," the change means more ads are portraying women as bosses.
Live Mint

IN BRIEF


How Twitter's design contributes to its harassment problem
Wall Street Journal


Mylan CEO Heather Bresch blamed Obamacare for EpiPen sticker shock
Fortune


Poll shows Hillary Clinton is ahead of Donald Trump by 12 points
Huffington Post


The reason so many women leave engineering has nothing to do with kids
Fortune


In Rio, women won more medals than men in several countries
New York Times


Stars rally behind Leslie Jones after her website is hacked
Fortune


Renee Zellweger speaks out on aging in Hollywood
The Hollywood Reporter

PARTING WORDS

I think being an immigrant is a very strong experience that does not ever come out of your nature. You know the dark side of life, so you appreciate so much light.
—award-winning violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja
About the Author
By Laura Cohn
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