• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year

2

Indeed chief economist says we’re entering an era of ‘great mismatch’ thanks to a generational imbalance of workers

3

Apple’s Steve Wozniak says he cofounded the tech giant after 5 rejections from HP—not to ‘make money.’ For years, his paycheck was just $50

1

Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year

2

Indeed chief economist says we’re entering an era of ‘great mismatch’ thanks to a generational imbalance of workers

3

Apple’s Steve Wozniak says he cofounded the tech giant after 5 rejections from HP—not to ‘make money.’ For years, his paycheck was just $50
MPWBroadsheet

Penny Marshall, Women’s Tennis Rankings, Martha McSally: Broadsheet December 19

By
Kristen Bellstrom
Kristen Bellstrom
and
Emma Hinchliffe
Emma Hinchliffe
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Kristen Bellstrom
Kristen Bellstrom
and
Emma Hinchliffe
Emma Hinchliffe
Down Arrow Button Icon
December 19, 2018, 8:31 AM ET

Good morning, Broadsheet readers! Women’s tennis changes its ranking system after Serena Williams’s pregnancy, Martha McSally heads to the Senate after all, and we reflect on the legacy of Penny Marshall. Have a wonderful Wednesday.

EVERYONE'S TALKING

• Making her dreams come true. There was a collective gasp in the Fortune newsroom yesterday when the news broke that Penny Marshall had died Monday at her home in L.A. She was 75.

For most people, Marshall will always be the monogram-sporting, milk-and-Pepsi quaffing half of Laverne & Shirley. And the show, while a delightful goofball comedy, was notable for its focus on a pair of young, blue-collar working women, whose never-ending parades of scrapes were as likely to revolve around their jobs as their dating lives. Laverne & Shirley ran for eight successful seasons—not bad for a pair of characters who began their lives as “fast girl” dates for Happy Days’ Fonzie and Richie Cunningham.

But there was much more to Marshall’s career. She went on to become a trailblazer behind the camera too—as nicely summarized by her Variety obit: “Marshall was the first woman to direct a film that grossed more than $100 million [Big], the first woman to direct two films that grossed more than $100 million [A League of Their Own], and she was only the second woman director to see her film Oscar-nominated for best picture [Awakenings].”

Despite that white-hot run (she continued to direct and produce for years, though A League of Their Own was the last of her monster hits), Marshall was never nominated for an Oscar—despite Awakenings’ Best Picture nod—nor an Emmy for her performance on Laverne & Shirley.

The Washington Post reports that Marshall said that her reputation as a money-making director helped bring more behind-the-camera gigs to women, adding that “she made her best-known films, when other women such as Amy Heckerling and Nora Ephron, were starting to make inroads as directors.” However, the paper also cites a film historian who’s skeptical of Marshall’s claim, noting that “the environment was and remains largely biased against female directors.”

That’s a difficult assertion to argue with. But at a time when we’re getting a clearer and clearer picture of just how difficult (and even dangerous) it’s been for women to rise to positions of power in Hollywood, Marshall and her remarkable life deserve our celebration.

ALSO IN THE HEADLINES

• All together now. The women's co-working and social space The Wing raised $75 million in a Series C round bringing together seemingly every buzzy group working to support women: Time's Up, All Raise, and even the U.S. women's national soccer team. Sequoia's Jess Lee and Upfront Ventures' Kara Nortman will join The Wing's board, while Kerry Washington, Valerie Jarrett, and Robbie Kaplan of Time's Up invested.  Fortune

• Madame Senators. Martha McSally lost her Senate race to Kyrsten Sinema—and now the pair will be colleagues. Republican McSally was appointed by Arizona's governor to the Senate seat that wasn't up for election this year, held for decades by the late John McCain. Sinema will be the senior senator, and Arizona will be one of six states with all-female Senate delegations. Washington Post

• 2020 time... In more political news, Hawaii Democrat Tulsi Gabbard is set to make a decision about a 2020 presidential run as soon as this week, BuzzFeed reports. And a national survey of women of color in politics and activism found especially strong support for California Senator Kamala Harris, with 71% of respondents including her in their top three choices for the next Democratic presidential nomination.

• Like clockwork. Female journalists and politicians receive abuse on Twitter every 30 seconds, according to a new report by Amnesty International and Element AI. Women of color were 34% more likely to be targeted than white women, and black women were a whopping 84% more likely to receive abuse than white women. Fortune

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Blythe Masters stepped down as CEO of blockchain startup Digital Asset. Real estate tech company Compass hired Chloe Drew of the Markle Foundation as president of Compass philanthropy and community impact. Carol Browner, former Clinton EPA administrator and director of the Obama White House's Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy, will advise scooter startup Lime on sustainability. Helen Yu joins Urban Airship as SVP of customer success. BBC named Fiona Campbell controller of its youth-targeted online channel BBC Three. Bonnie Ross, head of 343 Industries at Microsoft, will be inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame for her work on the video game franchise Halo and supporting women in STEM.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

• Grand slam. After Serena Williams's high-profile return to competition after the birth of her first child, the Women's Tennis Association has changed its rules on rankings and pregnancy. Players' rankings will now freeze when they take a leave for injury, illness, or pregnancy. In the case of a pregnancy, women can use that special ranking for up to three years after the birth of their child. Under the previous rules, Williams went from No. 1 to unseeded when she returned from maternity leave. CNN

• Lady liberty. Therese Patricia Okoumou, the woman who climbed the Statue of Liberty in protest of the Trump administration's immigration policies, was convicted of disorderly conduct, trespassing, and interfering with government agency functions. She could serve up to 18 months in jail. The Cut

• Match made in heaven. The New York Times takes a look at the content sides of Tinder (of Mandy Ginsberg's Match Group) and Whitney Wolfe Herd's Bumble. "They want to gain our trust, so we’ll settle down with them for the long haul," the story says of dating apps and their blogs.  New York Times

• Commission decision. Anita Hill's commission on eliminating sexual harassment and advancing equality in Hollywood will prioritize protecting the entertainment industry's freelancers, from writers and directors to crew members. The Hollywood Reporter

Today's Broadsheet was produced by Emma Hinchliffe. Share it with a friend. Looking for previous Broadsheets? Click here.

ON MY RADAR

The rise of anxiety baking  The Atlantic

Tate Britain to celebrate 60 years of work by female artists  The Guardian

Bozoma Saint John will star in her own documentary series  The Hollywood Reporter

It's time to rethink how you find a mentor at work  Glamour

QUOTE

Yes, that I understand.
Meghan Markle, after retired West End actress Josephine Gordon told the Duchess of Sussex she didn't have children because she 'had a career'
About the Authors
Kristen Bellstrom
By Kristen Bellstrom
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Emma Hinchliffe
By Emma HinchliffeMost Powerful Women Editor
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Emma Hinchliffe is Fortune’s Most Powerful Women editor, overseeing editorial for the longstanding franchise. As a senior writer at Fortune, Emma has covered women in business and gender-lens news across business, politics, and culture. She is the lead author of the Most Powerful Women Daily newsletter (formerly the Broadsheet), Fortune’s daily missive for and about the women leading the business world.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in MPW

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in MPW

She grew Salesforce’s team by 600% in South Asia. Meet one of India’s most powerful women
NewslettersMPW Daily
She grew Salesforce’s team by 600% in South Asia. Meet one of India’s most powerful women
By Angelica AngMay 22, 2026
2 days ago
lucas
ConferencesWorkplace Innovation Summit
Trump’s EEOC chair is suing The New York Times because ‘we should bring it on behalf of white workers too’
By Nick LichtenbergMay 20, 2026
4 days ago
How a book convinced Arundhati Bhattacharya, one of India’s most powerful bankers, to try working for a U.S. tech company
AsiaMost Powerful Women
How a book convinced Arundhati Bhattacharya, one of India’s most powerful bankers, to try working for a U.S. tech company
By Angelica AngMay 19, 2026
6 days ago
shyam
CommentaryHealth
World Economic Forum: women’s health gets only 20% of R&D funding. We must seize this $1 trillion opportunity
By Shyam BishenMay 18, 2026
7 days ago
weld
Future of Workthe future of work
Meet a 21-year-old community college student who’s going to China as the first American woman welder in the trades Olympics
By Mike Householder and The Associated PressMay 17, 2026
7 days ago
‘No one was coming to save me’: How Reese Witherspoon built a $900 million company from a problem Hollywood wouldn’t fix
Successreese witherspoon
‘No one was coming to save me’: How Reese Witherspoon built a $900 million company from a problem Hollywood wouldn’t fix
By Sydney LakeMay 17, 2026
7 days ago

Most Popular

Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year
Success
Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year
By Preston ForeMay 21, 2026
3 days ago
Indeed chief economist says we’re entering an era of ‘great mismatch’ thanks to a generational imbalance of workers
Success
Indeed chief economist says we’re entering an era of ‘great mismatch’ thanks to a generational imbalance of workers
By Emma BurleighMay 22, 2026
2 days ago
Apple’s Steve Wozniak says he cofounded the tech giant after 5 rejections from HP—not to ‘make money.’ For years, his paycheck was just $50
Success
Apple’s Steve Wozniak says he cofounded the tech giant after 5 rejections from HP—not to ‘make money.’ For years, his paycheck was just $50
By Preston ForeMay 22, 2026
2 days ago
Uber CEO says rideshare 'freed up' his son from having to get a driver’s license—and he's one of many Gen Zers who aren’t willing to drive
Lifestyle
Uber CEO says rideshare 'freed up' his son from having to get a driver’s license—and he's one of many Gen Zers who aren’t willing to drive
By Sasha RogelbergMay 24, 2026
9 hours ago
Microsoft reports are exposing AI's real cost problem: Using the tech is more expensive than paying human employees
AI
Microsoft reports are exposing AI's real cost problem: Using the tech is more expensive than paying human employees
By Jake AngeloMay 22, 2026
2 days ago
Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 
Workplace Culture
Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 
By Preston ForeMay 19, 2026
5 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.