Latest news with #Pollack
Black America Web
6 days ago
- Business
- Black America Web
Survey Says: Most High-Level Business Executives Believe DEI Initiatives Are Necessary To Avoid Legal Risk
Source: Jackson State University / Getty Since taking office in January, President Trump has made eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in all facets of American life one of his key goals. While he's been relatively successful in getting colleges and universities to bend the knee, it's been a more complicated situation when it comes to American businesses. A recent survey has potentially revealed the reason for that, as many business leaders believe removing DEI initiatives opens them up to legal risk. According to Fortune, a joint survey of 1,000 C-suite executives revealed that 83 percent believe DEI initiatives are necessary for their company's well-being. Another 68 percent believed removing them would open them up to potential discrimination lawsuits. The survey also interviewed 2,500 employees and found that 76 percent of respondents would stay at a company that maintained its DEI initiatives, and 43 percent would leave a company if they pulled back. The survey was conducted by Catalyst, a non-profit focused on women's inclusion in the workplace, and NYU School of Law's Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Source: Screenshot / Pollack, A., Glasgow, D., Van Bommel, T., Joseph, C., & Yoshino, K. (2025). Risks of retreat: The enduring inclusion imperative. Catalyst & Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. 'Opting out of DEI is not a neutral act—it's a choice with consequences,' Christina Joseph, project director of the Advancing DEI Initiative at the Meltzer Center, told Fortune. 'That's because these programs help root out harmful policies that especially affect marginalized groups. This report reminds us that without those safeguards, organizations face more, not less, legal exposure.' This survey only proves what we've already seen: the average person either supports or, at the very least, isn't actively opposed to DEI initiatives. In fact, another recent poll shows that companies that keep their DEI initiatives are viewed more favorably by the public. The only people upset about DEI are people who can't compete on an even playing field, or keeping it a buck, are just straight up racist. To some degree, it makes sense why we're seeing universities withdraw from their DEI initiatives. Many of them depend on federal funds to survive, so while they may not necessarily agree with the pullback, they don't really have a choice. Especially considering that the Department of Education (DOE) has been explicitly weaponized to go after any university it believes is trying to provide equitable opportunities for Black, brown, and LGBTQ students. Source: To be clear, I'm not advocating or being an apologist for these moves; I simply understand why they're happening. Conversely, it doesn't make much sense for businesses to engage in this pullback as they don't depend on federal funds, and it's unclear what, if any, legal action the Trump administration could take against a company for continuing DEI initiatives. Apple announced that they would continue their DEI initiatives, and all the president did was angrily post about it on Truth Social. I'm not a legal scholar, but thankfully, Catalyst's poll also included corporate lawyers. A vast majority, 88 percent to be precise, believed that DEI initiatives were essential to avoiding legal risk. So it seems like companies have more to lose by pulling back from DEI than continuing forward. We've seen the opposing approach to DEI initiatives play out in the marketplace this year. Target has been the, uh, target of several boycotts this year as a result of withdrawing from their DEI initiatives as soon as they thought it was politically expedient. This has resulted in foot traffic being down in the stores and the company reporting a drop in first-quarter sales. Target's woes are so pronounced that several companies have started listing consumer boycotts as a potential financial risk in investor reports. On the other end of the equation is Costco, which has stood firm on its commitments to DEI and actually beat its sales expectations for the first quarter. Whether it comes to employees, executives, lawyers, or consumers, it appears the majority are in agreement: DEI works for everybody. Now, if only someone could get that message through to the weirdos running the country right now. SEE ALSO: DEI's Economic Impact: What The Data Reveals Poll Shows Companies Maintaing DEI Intiatives Have Better Reputations SEE ALSO Survey Says: Most High-Level Business Executives Believe DEI Initiatives Are Necessary To Avoid Legal Risk was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
USA Today
06-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former SEC star thinks Oklahoma will be ready for Michigan game
Former SEC star thinks Oklahoma will be ready for Michigan game The Oklahoma Sooners face a very daunting schedule in 2025. Aside from their grueling eight-game SEC schedule, OU has one of their premier nonconference games of the entire college football season in Week 2. The Sooners will be hosting the Michigan Wolverines in a battle of blue-blood programs representing the two best conferences in the sport, the SEC and the Big Ten. That game takes place on September 6th. David Pollack, a former college football analyst for "ESPN College GameDay", believes that the Sooners, who likely won't be favored in that matchup, will be ready for the Wolverines when the time comes. "That Oklahoma game versus Michigan, if you think that's an easy game to pick, I would disagree," Pollack said. "I think it's a "pick-em" at worst and I might even lean Oklahoma because of what they have continuity-wise. I think Oklahoma is going to come in with more continuity with quarterback and play-caller. Oklahoma has the best defensive line in the SEC. Like, I know that for a fact, like I've watched those guys. Inside, if you want to run the football against those defensive tackles, they are a handful. Oklahoma, I think, is going to be one of the most improved teams in the country, period. When you get John Mateer and you get Ben Arbuckle together, Jaydn Ott at running back, if anybody watched OU's defense last year, you had a lot to like." This matchup also features two head coaches who will be looking for a signature win for their respective careers and a statement opportunity for their respective teams. Aside from Texas in 2023 and Alabama in 2024, Brent Venables is short on statement wins as the head coach of the Sooners. Two 6-7 seasons in three years have his seat hot entering 2025. Sherrone Moore is an OU alum who played for the Sooners during the Bob Stoops era. His Michigan team finished strong a year ago, but fell plenty of rungs in a Big Ten conference that they won for three straight seasons in Moore's first year. With all of the offseason changes the Sooners have made since last year ended, Oklahoma looks to be in a better position to make more statements in a positive way in 2025. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Investors warming up to build-to-rent
This story was originally published on Multifamily Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Multifamily Dive newsletter. Following a string of successful years, the build-to-rent sector has maintained its frenzied activity pace through 2024 and into 2025. A significant amount of new build-to-rent supply has come online in the past 12 months, according to Jordan LaMarche, vice president of Bethesda, Maryland-based real estate consultancy RCLCO — a trend likely to continue for the next six months. Still, despite 2024 representing the peak of new supply, BTR still makes up only 6%-7% of total rental deliveries. 'We … think this is still very short of the potential demand for the product type overall,' La Marche said during a recent RCLCO webinar on the current state of the BTR market. Given this increase in supply, rent growth has been stagnant in BTR year over year, according to LaMarche. However, BTR has a 0.5% higher occupancy rate than multifamily overall, and weakening starts may lead to declining vacancies over the course of the year, according to LaMarche. While build-to-rent is still a newer asset class, investors have a greater understanding of BTR and their exposure to it than they did in the past, and are trying to figure out where it fits in their portfolio, according to Rick Pollack, managing director of RCLCO Fund Advisors. 'They really want to understand the fundamentals of how it works,' Pollack said. 'How does it lease? How does it operate? How can they be smarter about their investments going forward … [and] what does the end of the investment look like?' LaMarche noted that even within the confines of a single-family rental home or townhome, developers are experimenting with product type and how different features might appeal to customers or reduce costs. For instance, even within the same submarket, two BTR properties may vary widely in terms of style, unit size and garage arrangement. 'There isn't a silver bullet yet to get the exact right renter segmentation,' LaMarche said. 'But there is plenty of room for customization to potentially meet higher price points.' Pollack believes that the sector is in 'the second to third inning' of its development, but will need more time to mature completely. Currently, there are very few transactions in the BTR sector for investors to build their predictions on; as more occur, more players may enter the space as they get a better idea of the numbers involved. 'From the institutional investor standpoint, [what] gets us further along in the game is more stabilized communities and more stabilized communities that trade,' Pollack said. 'A lot of the capital market space is based on core transactions and then folks adjust their risk and return expectations on core transactions.' Based on interactions with owners and investors, LaMarche's suggestions for the single-family rental sector include: Investing in the education and marketing processes early. Because build-to-rent is a relatively small product type, renters, investors and municipalities often need more information on what it is and how it works, especially in new markets. Know your demographics. Cottage-style homes tend to attract older residents or those without children, while townhomes appeal more to families. Be strategic about amenities. Pools, fitness centers and dog parks are very valuable to renters — 'but stop there,' LaMarche said. 'Other amenities don't drive a significant premium and smaller versions do just as well as the larger ones.' Prioritize delivering amenities with the first units, in order to attract renters. However, limit the first residents' exposure to construction as much as possible. Add fences to yards. Regardless of yard size, fenced yards drive a high rent premium as spaces for kids and pets. Size driveways and garages for larger cars. Since many single-family renters are young families, they may have larger cars than the average renter and will value easy parking.
Fast Company
29-05-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
Pinterest just signed its first sports deal ever with the New York Liberty
Your Ellie the Elephant Pinterest pinboard just became official. Pinterest has announced that its first-ever sports partnership will be with the WNBA champions New York Liberty. The social platform has made its name as a crucial resource for anyone planning a wedding or home renovation, but global head of consumer marketing Sara Pollack says the move into sports reflects a broader ambition. 'Pinterest is a really interesting place for fandom,' says Pollack. 'It's not where you're going to see highlights from last night's game. We have research that shows that Pinterest users are much more likely than non-Pinterest users to be looking for things like Game Day outfits, sports-themed recipes, and inspiration for hosting watch parties. So the unique role Pinterest plays is for those who have an immense fandom for something. It's a place where those fans come to weave their fandom into a variety of things. And for us, that's such an interesting opportunity.' Pinterest's revenue is up 17% year-over-year, according to its second quarter reporting earlier this month. Monthly active users surged 10% year-over-year to a record 570 million. The two-year deal is a boost for Pinterest, and will focus on the two brands collaborating through curated Pinterest boards, on-platform editorial content, and community outreach programs. A new content series called 'Away Game Fashion' will go deep on the connection between hoops and fashion inspiration. Pinterest is also investing in refurbishing basketball backboards in the New York area. Pinterest searches for 'WNBA tunnel outfits' were up over 2,000%, with terms like 'Sabrina Ionescu shoes pink' up 1,706%, NY Liberty WNBA up 306%, and Ellie the Elephant' spiking 168%. Pollack says fans are already using the platform to make the game part of their identity, and this new deal aims to give them more tools to do it. Brand beyond the court The New York Liberty are not only out to a winning record on the court early in this WNBA season, the club has signed 19 new brand partners. Three years ago, CEO Keia Clarke was in a strategy meeting. The team's head of sponsorship asked everyone to go around the room and tell everyone what brands and platforms everyone was using most. 'And I said Pinterest!' says Clarke. So this one is particularly personal. The WNBA overall has excelled at bringing in corporate sponsors like Bumble, Glossier, and over-the-counter contraception brand Opill, beyond the NBA's usual brand suspects. Here, the Liberty are making a similarly bespoke brand move. From the team's perspective, it's been building a cultural connection with its fans for years, a bond perhaps most consistently expressed through its marketing gold mascot Ellie the Elephant. But Clarke sees the Pinterest partnership as yet another way to strengthen those bonds far beyond the court. 'Whether you're in the arena at a game or watching on television from home, or you're on Pinterest or at a community event, we want to always have that touch point with our fans that feels authentic and real, but it feels continuous,' says Clarke. 'So this partnership in particular, it's about looking at the search data, and figuring out how we can provide more moments for people to showcase their pride in our team, and showcase who they are as fans. Those are the moments for us that create generational longevity. That's how you create real fandom that never goes away.'
Miami Herald
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
David Pollack Weighs in as Iconic College Football Rivalry Faces Uncertain Future
One of the reasons college football has gained popularity over the years is its historic rivalries. Whether it's Oklahoma vs. Texas, Ohio State vs. Michigan, USC vs. Notre Dame or Auburn vs. Alabama, fans eagerly gather around their televisions to watch these exciting games. However, as the sport evolves, some iconic matchups are disappearing. For instance, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State no longer compete against each other after Oklahoma moved to the SEC. Similarly, Texas and Texas A&M took a break from their rivalry when the Aggies joined the SEC, but they renewed their matchup when Texas joined the conference before last season. Another rivalry may be at risk of ending. According to the Los Angeles Times, the future of the USC vs. Notre Dame game is uncertain. Houston Mitchell reported that the contract between the Trojans and Fighting Irish is set to expire. USC officials have extended an offer to Notre Dame in hopes of continuing the historic series for at least one more season, through the fall of 2026. Mitchell believes the future of this rivalry, beyond that point, largely depends on the format of the College Football Playoff, specifically the number of automatic qualifiers guaranteed to the Big Ten in future playoff fields. Until these questions are resolved, USC leaders agree that the best approach for their century-old rivalry with Notre Dame is to continue their arrangement on a year-by-year basis. On the podcast "See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack," the former "College GameDay" analyst responded to the possibility of that rivalry ending. "This is what we continue to lose," Pollack said. "We continue to lose rivalries. We continue to lose things you grew up watching that you absolutely loved, that you want to see more of, because it doesn't make sense. How many rivalries have we lost along the way because of that?" Pollack noted that losing these iconic rivalries is, unfortunately, a "cost of doing business" in college football's current era. He explained that those in charge prioritize financial gains over traditional rivalries. He emphasized that the rivalry likely holds more significance for Notre Dame, as the team is not part of a conference and needs to schedule as many high-profile opponents as possible. Nonetheless, it's disappointing to lose this game. The Fighting Irish hold a 50-37-5 advantage in their all-time series. Aside from the cancellation during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, the last time the two teams did not play each other was in 1945, when they took a multi-year break due to World War II. They are scheduled to face off, possibly for the last time in the foreseeable future, on Oct. 18 in South Bend, Ind., at 5:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Related: David Pollack Names Major College Football Rivalry That Should be Renewed Copyright 2025 Athlon Sports. All rights reserved.
