Good morning! OpenAI’s former CTO Mira Murati has been in discussion with employees about joining her next venture, CVS Health is exiting its core infusion services business, and Lizzo says women are dominating the music industry—finally.
– About damn time. Four-time Grammy award winner Lizzo recalls being asked the same question repeatedly as she began her music career, first in rap.
“There weren’t that many women in rap, so I had to endure this question thousands of times. ‘How do you feel about being a female rapper in a male-dominated industry?’” the 36-year-old singer told Fortune’s Ellie Austin on the first night of the Most Powerful Women Summit in Laguna Niguel, Calif. “I started to resent that question, and I would answer, ‘You know what, my dream is that one day there are so many women that are dominating in the industry that you can fill an entire festival slot with just women.’ And that dream has come true.’”
Artists like Chappell Roan and SZA are redefining the music industry, Lizzo said, adding that she admires how Roan has navigated her quick and at times bumpy rise to fame—one that mirrors Lizzo’s own entry into the spotlight. “It’s an incredible time to be a woman, an artist, and a fan,” she said. “Fans are getting fed right now because there’s so much great music out, and I’m so proud of my contemporaries and my sisters.”
Her appearance capped the end of the extended break Lizzo had taken from public appearances since she was accused of creating a toxic work environment, allegations she has steadfastly denied. She also told the crowd she had already cast her vote for Kamala Harris, and was no longer afraid of being canceled, joking that she has pretty much been canceled for everything. She declined to discuss the allegations and lawsuit directly.
She also talked about her other main endeavor: her shapewear brand Yitty. She appreciates competition from Spanx and Kim Kardashian’s Skims. “How cool it is to finally be in a place where we can say that inclusive shapewear is a crowded category,” she said. “I think that every business owner’s dream is to see their business continue beyond them, and I…want [Yitty] to be known for what it’s actually good at.”
The idea for Yitty came from Lizzo’s experience looking for size-inclusive shapewear. “I have been through the shame and pain of wearing shapewear in middle school and wearing these garments that aren’t breathable,” she tells Fortune. “Young girls don’t have to grow up the way that I did with no options.”
Stay tuned for more from the MPW Summit tomorrow.
Alexa Mikhail
alexa.mikhail@fortune.com
The Most Powerful Women Daily newsletter is Fortune’s daily briefing for and about the women leading the business world. Today’s edition was curated by Nina Ajemian. Subscribe here.
ALSO IN THE HEADLINES
- Wine time. Also at the MPW Summit, Cameron Diaz and entrepreneur Katherine Power spoke about their organic wine brand Avaline. Diaz reflected on her decision to step back from acting and said it was something she felt compelled to do—but the time was right for her first project in 10 years, which will hit Netflix in January.Fortune
- In conversation.Former OpenAI chief technology officer Mira Murati has reportedly been talking with employees at OpenAI about them joining her next venture; representatives for the company and Murati declined to comment, and Murati has not yet shared any details on her next move. She stepped down from OpenAI in September and now serves as an advisor to the company. The Information
- Making its exit. CVS Health, with CEO Karen Lynch, is exiting its core infusion services business. The company bought infusion services provider Coram in 2013 for $2.1 billion. CVS plans to close or sell 29 related pharmacies and stopped taking new patients for these services. Reuters
- New management model. Retired Olympic track and field athlete Allyson Felix launched Always Alpha, a women’s sports management firm, with her brother Wes Felix and sports exec Cosette Chaput. The firm is supported by Dolphin Entertainment, which has a portfolio of marketing companies. “I needed to build what I wished existed,” Felix said. Variety
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Revlon named Michelle Peluso chief executive officer; interim CEO Elizabeth Smith will continue as executive chair of the board. Most recently, Peluso was chief customer and experience officer at CVS Health.
KinderFarms, a children’s over-the-counter medicine company, named Kristin Recchiuti CEO. Previously, she served as CEO of Advantice Health.
Agfa-Gevaert, an imaging technology and IT solutions provider, appointed Fiona Lam as chief financial officer. She was previously CFO at Neways Electronics International NV.
Dialpad, an AI-powered communications intelligence platform, appointed Jen Grant as chief marketing officer. She previously served as COO at Cube and is a member of Dialpad's board of directors.
Deluxe, a payments and data company, appointed Kim Cross as chief human resources officer. Most recently, she was SVP, head of HR for merchant solutions at Fiserv.
Operator Collective, an early-stage venture capital firm, named Dana Marohn Spiliotis partner on the investments team. She was previously SVP of strategic finance and corporate development at ZoomInfo. Textio cofounder, chief scientist emeritus, and former CEO Kieran Snyderwas appointed founder-in-residence, and Scale’s founder and partner emeritus Kate Mitchell joined the firm's investment advisory committee.
ON MY RADAR
After decades of silence, Gwen Walz shares her full fertility journey—in her own wordsWomen’s Health
Maria Bakalova, as Ivana Trump, is trying to provoke you Washington Post
Kate Middleton returns with a new royal role Wall Street Journal
PARTING WORDS
“I think about these women who are just in it. I’m here. Even if they wanted to text me at four in the morning.”
— Singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette on being the mentor she wished she had as a young woman in the music industry
