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

Trendingnow

1

When SpaceX starts trading, some 'shareholders' will discover they own nothing at all

2

Corporate America has been draining the world's water. Matt Damon's new campaign calls on Gap, Starbucks, and Amazon to help give it back

3

Current price of oil as of June 12, 2026

1

When SpaceX starts trading, some 'shareholders' will discover they own nothing at all

2

Corporate America has been draining the world's water. Matt Damon's new campaign calls on Gap, Starbucks, and Amazon to help give it back

3

Current price of oil as of June 12, 2026
MPWBroadsheet

State Street Fearless Girl, Joe Biden, Lucy Flores: Broadsheet April 1

Emma Hinchliffe
By
Emma Hinchliffe
Emma Hinchliffe
Most Powerful Women Editor
Down Arrow Button Icon
Emma Hinchliffe
By
Emma Hinchliffe
Emma Hinchliffe
Most Powerful Women Editor
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 1, 2019, 7:07 AM ET

Good morning, Broadsheet readers! Emma Hinchliffe here today. Slovakia elects its first female president, we dig into the Joe Biden story, and State Street’s gender lens investing fund hasn’t held up the standards of its own Fearless Girl. Have a vigilant April Fools’ Day!

EVERYONE'S TALKING

• Failing the 'Fearless Girl'? You might have heard about the disconnect between Wall Street's Fearless Girl and its corporate backer, State Street Global Advisors, before. State Street settled claims that it underpaid women working at the firm two years ago.

Now new research from Morningstar shows another discrepancy. State Street’s Gender Diversity Index ETF, the fund within the firm specifically devoted to issues of gender diversity, failed to vote in favor of eight out of 10 shareholder resolutions on gender diversity that it faced between 2015 and 2018. (State Street says looking at shareholder resolutions "does not tell the whole story" of how the firm approaches this issue.)

Some of the resolutions State Street's fund, known as SHE, voted against: an annual report on the gender pay gap at Aetna, a gender pay equity disclosure at American Express, and the inclusion of diversity as a CEO performance metric at TJX Companies, the corporation behind TJ Maxx and Marshalls.

Morningstar researcher Madison Sargis attributed some of this seeming hypocrisy to State Street's tendency to consider voting action a "last resort;" it prefers to engage with companies directly. But two other gender lens investing funds she studied didn't have trouble reflecting their missions in their voting records. At the Glenmede’s Women in Leadership Portfolio, for example, the fund voted in favor of all 14 resolutions on gender diversity it faced, even though the rest of the firm voted against those kinds of resolutions more than half the time.

Unlike Glenmede, State Street didn't seem to adjust its voting approach to account for its gender lens investing fund's mission. State Street's signature cause with its Fearless Girl campaign is getting more women on boards of directors, and the fund did vote in favor of the one resolution it faced on that issue—to require diverse candidates for new director nominees at Discovery Inc.

But as Sargis told me, voting against initiatives related to topics like pay equity hurts the push for board diversity: Where are you going to find diverse candidates for boards if those potential directors have been underpaid throughout their careers and, perhaps, choose to step back from the workforce?

Sargis often looks at highly specific, fascinating issues. I also covered her finding that improved statistics on board diversity could be due to a small group of women gaining second and third directorships, rather than more women joining the ranks of corporate leadership.

This time around, she found a serious discrepancy between State Street's gender diversity focused Fearless Girl campaign—which just expanded to London—and the firm's fund that's devoted to the same issue.

Emma Hinchliffe
@_emmahinchliffe
emma.hinchliffe@fortune.com

Special note: Be sure to check out Fortune's newest newsletter Eye on A.I. The weekly briefing on the intersection of artificial intelligence and industry will give you an overarching view of A.I. and show you where it excels and where it fails. Subscribe here. 

ALSO IN THE HEADLINES

• Breaking down the Biden story. Lucy Flores, the 2014 Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in Nevada, wrote for The Cut about an interaction she had with then-Vice President Joe Biden that left her feeling unsettled, demeaned, and uncomfortable. While out to support Flores on the campaign trail, Biden came up behind her, smelled her hair, and kissed the back of her head. "Even if his behavior wasn’t violent or sexual, it was demeaning and disrespectful. I wasn’t attending the rally as his mentee or even his friend; I was there as the most qualified person for the job," she wrote. Biden responded in a statement Sunday, as rumors swirl about whether he will enter the 2020 field, saying that "never did I believe I acted inappropriately." Rebecca Traister weighed in, arguing that "Biden is not the answer" for Democrats in 2020, with part of her piece outlining his anti-abortion record.

• Madam Prezident. Slovakia elected its first female president on Saturday, with Zuzana Čaputová winning a runoff election. An environmental lawyer, anti-corruption activist, and government critic who ran on the campaign slogan "Stand up to evil," Čaputová and her election mark a turn toward progressivism amid rightwing populism in central Europe. Guardian

• Money trouble? The news that Sen. Elizabeth Warren's finance director was resigning from her presidential campaign put a spotlight on Warren's fundraising record. She's trailing other 2020 candidates as a result of her decision to eschew all big-dollar donations—a decision that led her finance director, Michael Pratt, to resign.  New York Times

• Stepping down. Some changes in Trump administration appointments over the last few days: Linda McMahon stepped down as head of the Small Business Administration to chair the pro-Trump super PAC America First Action. She'd been a rumored contender to become the next Commerce Secretary, so this move takes her out of the running for that job, Politico reports. Also, Jessie K. Liu withdrew from consideration for associate attorney general, the No. 3 job at the Justice Department. The Senate Judiciary Committee objected to her nomination on the grounds that she wasn't conservative enough.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Barclays hired Kristin DeClark as co-head of its U.S. ECM practice and as global head of technology ECM. Variety named Lesley McKenzie managing editor. Mastercard EVP Susan Grossman joins the Americares board of directors.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

• Plane crash. One of Russia's richest women Natalia Fileva, co-owner of S7 or Siberian Airlines, died in a plane crash near Frankfurt on Sunday along with two others. The 55-year-old had an estimated net worth of $600 million. Reuters

• Heartbeat bill backlash. Georgia lawmakers passed an anti-abortion "heartbeat bill" on Friday, limiting abortion to only the first six weeks of pregnancy—before some women know they are pregnant. In response, actors Alyssa Milano and June Diane Raphael are spearheading a movement to boycott filming in Georgia—a serious threat to the $2.7 billion spent by the industry in the state last year.  The Hollywood Reporter

• The second Spiegel. Caroline Spiegel, the college senior and 22-year-old sister of Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel, is launching her first startup. Quinn will be a visuals-free audio and written porn site geared toward women. Spiegel describes it as "a much less gross, more fun Pornhub for women.” TechCrunch

• Keeping up. The New York Times' Amy Chozick has a long profile of the Kardashians, covering a lot of territory. Kim says she wouldn't consider running for office; Kendall comments on her role in Fyre Fest for the first time; and Kylie displays some self-awareness on the question of whether or not she's a self-made billionaire. "If they’re just talking finances, technically, yes, I don’t have any inherited money. But I have had a lot of help and a huge platform," she says of the distinction. New York Times

Share today's Broadsheet with a friend. Looking for previous Broadsheets? Click here.

ON MY RADAR

Abigail Disney on what it's like to grow up with more money than you'll ever spend The Cut

A judge ruled requiring girls to wear skirts at school violates the Constitution BuzzFeed

Robin Arzón’s Peloton work diary: ‘It feels like I ingested fire’ New York Times

'In Afghanistan, we laugh differently': The girls' robotics team is back home New York Times

QUOTE

Life is short, the ephemeral is everywhere, so we go on making art.
Agnès Varda, the French New Wave filmmaker. Varda died at 90 on Friday.
About the Author
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

t
Arts & EntertainmentTaylor Swift
Taylor Swift is youngest woman to make Songwriters Hall of Fame at 36, but blew out her voice cheering for the Knicks
By Maria Sherman and The Associated PressJune 12, 2026
17 hours ago
Bridgit Mendler speaking at Fortune's conference
SuccessCareers
Ex-Disney star Bridgit Mendler reveals she was rejected hundreds of times by Hollywood—but it primed her for her current job as a space start-up CEO
By Preston ForeJune 12, 2026
17 hours ago
Melania launches Trump Accounts for foster kids — and Democratic governors want no part of it
MPWWhite House
Melania launches Trump Accounts for foster kids — and Democratic governors want no part of it
By Fatima Hussein and The Associated PressJune 12, 2026
1 day ago
amodei
AIAnthropic
Anthropic is worth $965 billion and just hired 1,000 coaches for nonprofits: ‘The fox can’t guard the henhouse’
By Glenn Gamboa and The Associated PressJune 11, 2026
2 days ago
pope
EuropePope
‘Human dignity has no passport’: Pope rips into developed world for indifference to immigrants
By Nicole Winfield, Helena Alves, Renata Brito and The Associated PressJune 11, 2026
2 days ago
Bridgit Mendler speaks on stage at Fortune Brainstorm Tech 2026 in Aspen, Colorado.
Startups & VentureBrainstorm Tech
The space economy’s next frontier is in ground infrastructure, Northwood Space CEO says
By Sebastian HerreraJune 10, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

When SpaceX starts trading, some 'shareholders' will discover they own nothing at all
Investing
When SpaceX starts trading, some 'shareholders' will discover they own nothing at all
By Jim EdwardsJune 12, 2026
22 hours ago
Corporate America has been draining the world's water. Matt Damon's new campaign calls on Gap, Starbucks, and Amazon to help give it back
Environment
Corporate America has been draining the world's water. Matt Damon's new campaign calls on Gap, Starbucks, and Amazon to help give it back
By Catherina GioinoJune 9, 2026
4 days ago
Current price of oil as of June 12, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 12, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 12, 2026
19 hours ago
American taxpayers have spent $33 billion on sports stadiums. They got fewer seats—and higher prices
Success
American taxpayers have spent $33 billion on sports stadiums. They got fewer seats—and higher prices
By Catherina GioinoJune 11, 2026
2 days ago
Analysts expected oil to surge above $200 but China has quietly kept prices half of that—and can’t for much longer
Energy
Analysts expected oil to surge above $200 but China has quietly kept prices half of that—and can’t for much longer
By Sasha RogelbergJune 10, 2026
3 days ago
Current price of oil as of June 11, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 11, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 11, 2026
2 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.