Meet Private Equity’s Pop Culture Queen. Plus: Understand The Job Market’s Mixed Signals |
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By this point in the week, you’ve likely seen the viral video of the U.S. men’s hockey team gold medal locker room celebration—and, more to the point, the way many of the players appeared to laugh along with President Trump when he mocked the gold-medal-winning U.S. women’s hockey team.
“What should have been a shared moment of national celebration instead landed as a public display of disrespect,” writes Forbes contributor Lindsey Darvin. “It struck a nerve with fans who found the tone dismissive of the women’s Olympic gold-medal victory over Canada, but also reflective of how the U.S. women’s team has been overlooked and underinvested in, despite winning on the world’s biggest stage.”
There’s a lot that I could say about this so-called “locker room talk” (we’ve known since 2016 how the president views what’s acceptable to say in these settings), but I’d prefer to use the rest of this note to focus instead on the accomplishments of Team USA’s female athletes in the Milano-Cortina Winter Games. After all, women won the majority of Team USA’s medals, accounting for 8 out of 12 gold medals and 61% of total medals.
Because of this, I asked Sofia Chierchio—a reporter on our breaking news team who covers sports, and whose reporting helped make our inaugural Power Women in Sports list possible last year—to share her reflections on these Winter Olympics with you, and specifically, what stood out to her as a longtime athlete and sports writer. Here’s what she had to say: “I’ve learned that coverage of women’s athletics is often reactive, spiking when it demands attention. This Olympics felt very different; the performances were so compelling that the spotlight followed naturally. I’ve watched the Olympics for as long as I can remember, but this year, it was the confidence these athletes carried and how consistently this translated into results that stood out. Alysa Liu’s comeback gold was remarkable, but it was her composure and belief in her own ability that struck me. She once said during training that she likes falling because it makes her feel alive. That perspective, as much as talent, felt special this year.
“At times, it felt like watching the long-term impact of Title IX unfold in real time,” Chierchio continued. “Ahead of LA 2028, especially with the addition of flag football, a sport that wasn’t available to me growing up, I’m looking forward to seeing how this generation of women continues to demand attention.”
Exclusive Forbes Profile: Meet Private Equity’s Pop Culture Queen
Sherrese Clarke, founder and CEO of HarbourView Equity Partners, has turned the music catalogs of top artists—including Bruno Mars, Nelly, and Justin Bieber—into lucrative alternative assets. HarbourView now owns more than 70 music catalogs, including over 35,000 songs, and its financial backers include financial giants Apollo and KKR. What also makes Clarke’s resume impressive is the fact that Harbourview is one of the few Black-owned firms operating in the space. According to a 2024 report by investment firm Fairview Capital Partners, there are more than 1,000 women- and minority-owned private equity and venture capital firms in the U.S., of which only 168 are Black-owned. “Sometimes I think it's really important for us to demystify what it means to be an investor,” Clarke says.
ICYMI: News Of The Week
Clarke was one of the 50 names on the new ForbesBLK 50: Money Masters, a list of the most powerful and successful Black Americans in the world of private capital. Be sure to check out the full list and also click through to this analysis about why Black women remain just 1% of the U.S. venture capital community.
AI notetakers may seem invisible to meeting participants. But a 2026 report by researchers at Read AI finds that the presence of AI notetakers in meetings can significantly impact gender power dynamics. Unlike in typical meetings where men tend to dominate, women speak more (and men speak less) in the presence of AI.
Abigail Spanberger, the governor of Virginia and first woman to hold the role, was tapped to deliver the Democratic Party’s response to President Trump’s State of the Union speech Tuesday night. In her remarks, Spanberger bashed Trump’s “reckless trade policies,” and accused him of using his office to enrich himself and his family.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame unveiled its 2026 nominees on Wednesday, and Mariah Carey, Sade, Shakira and P!nk are four of the 17 musical legends who have been nominated for induction. Fan voting has also been opened, and fans will be able to cast a ballot daily for their favorite nominee.
Lynda and Stewart Resnick, the billionaire founders of the Wonderful Company, one of the largest farming operations in North America, on Thursday announced a donation of $100 million to UCLA Health to fund its mental and behavioral health services, including the expansion of a neuropsychiatric hospital already named in their honor.
1. Understand the job market’s mixed signals. If you’ve been following the job market recently, chances are you’re probably also feeling a little confused. There are plenty of mixed messages swirling, and a great reshuffle is in the making. Here’s how to build your resilience when so much is uncertain.
2. Protect against AI tax scams. FBI data show a rise in government impersonation fraud. From deepfake video calls to IRS impersonation schemes, AI is reshaping how criminals target everyday taxpayers. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself.
3. Close your employee feedback gap and retain top talent. Leaders say they want employee feedback; meanwhile, employees say they're not being heard. This isn't just a communication breakdown. It could be costing companies high-achieving talent, competitive edge, and bottom-line results.
If you’re familiar with the notably wealthy corner of social media known as “RichTok,” then you’ve probably seen posts from luxury influencer Becca Bloom. She recently went viral for giving her housekeeper more than $4,000 worth of birthday presents, which designer goods did the gift include?
A leather JW Anderson handbag
A teacup set from Tiffany & Co.
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