Nineteen-time Grand Slam tennis champion Roger Federer will play his first-ever match in the Bay Area on March 5. Federer will take on American tennis star Jack Sock at the SAP Center in San Jose in an exhibition match to support children’s education in Africa.

Celebrity guests Bill Gates and Savannah Guthrie will also take to the court in a celebrity-pro doubles match with net proceeds benefiting the Roger Federer Charitable Fund/Roger Federer Foundation.  

If you like this, subscribe here for more stories that Inspire The Future.

“I believe in the power of people. We know that a good education is a decisive factor to empower children by allowing them to take their future into their own hands,” said Federer. “With my foundation, we want to provide one million children with the opportunity for a quality education by the end of 2018. The Match for Africa 5 in San Jose will help us reach our ambitious goals. I am very grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with Bill Gates, who in my opinion is the world’s leading philanthropist.”

As a warm-up, the 19-time Grand Slam champion will team with the Microsoft co-founder and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for a friendly, one-set doubles match against NBC News’ TODAY co-anchor Savannah Guthrie and Jack Sock, the top-ranked American on the ATP Tour. Federer and Sock will then go head-to-head in a best-of-three-sets match that offers the area’s first up-close look at Federer’s legendary game.

 

“Roger and I are 1-0 as a doubles pair after last year’s event, so I’m hoping we can keep the streak alive while raising money for an important cause,” said Gates. “Roger might have a few more Grand Slam titles than I do, but we share a belief that all children deserve a world-class education. His Match for Africa events are a fun way to help make that happen.”

“It is quite literally beyond my wildest dreams to be playing with Roger, Jack and Bill – particularly for such an important cause,” said Guthrie. “I’m excited to shine a light on the Federer Foundation’s amazing work, and I will be practicing my forehand morning, noon and night for the next six weeks.”

“I’ve been lucky enough to face Roger a few times in my career, but never in support of such an important cause,” said Sock. “I hear Roger’s Match for Africa events are a lot of fun, so I’m looking forward to taking part.”

 

This is the fifth Match for Africa event for the Roger Federer Foundation, which has given $36 million to support children’s education in six African countries and Federer’s native Switzerland. An estimated 850,000 children across 18 programs have so far benefitted from the foundation’s giving, which emphasizes systemic change and sustainable impact.

Tickets start at $30 and can be purchased from January 26 from Ticketmaster.com

If you like this, subscribe here for more stories that Inspire The Future.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern received a flood of congratulatory messages after she announced she was pregnant with her first child, with campaigners lauding the support as a sign of women’s rights progress.

The popular and charismatic politician, New Zealand’s third female leader, who took office last year after a closely fought election, said she planned to work until the end of her pregnancy in June and then take six-weeks leave.

“I’m not the first woman to work and have a baby. I know these are special circumstances but there are many women who have done it well before I have,” Ardern told reporters.

If you like this, subscribe here for more stories that Inspire The Future.

New Zealand has long held a progressive reputation, having been the first country to given women the right to vote in 1893.

Ardern is one of the very few examples of an elected leader holding office while pregnant. Advocacy groups say her announcement could help break stigma on the issues of women juggling a career and family.

Here are five other powerful women who were pregnant while holding public office or leading a corporate giant:

1) Benazir Bhutto

Pakistan’s Benazir Bhutto had her second child, a girl, while she was prime minister in 1990. She is thought to be the first modern head of government to give birth while in office. Bhutto, who became the opposition leader later, was killed in a gun and bomb attack in 2007.

2) Carme Chacon

Spain’s first female defense minister was cast into the media spotlight when she took office in 2008, seven months into her pregnancy. Chacon was famously photographed on a trip to Afghanistan reviewing troops – when she was visibly pregnant – shortly after she took office. She held the post until 2011, and died in April 2017 at the age of 46.

3) Queen Elizabeth II

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth gave birth to two of her four children after she became a monarch in 1952. Her third child, Prince Andrew, was born in 1960, and the fourth, Prince Edward, in 1964. Prince Andrew and Prince Edward were the first children to be born to a reigning monarch since Queen Victoria had her family, according to the British Royal Family official website.

4) Marissa Mayer

Marissa Mayer announced she was pregnant with twin girls when she was Yahoo chief executive in September 2015. She took two weeks’ maternity leave to give birth later in the same year, as she worked toward turning around the struggling company. She stepped down from the position in June last year.

5) Susan Wojcicki

One of the tech world’s most influential women, the chief executive of the streaming video service YouTube announced she was pregnant with her fifth baby a few months after she took on the job in 2014. Wojcicki has often championed the cause of gender diversity in the tech industry, including writing articles that argued for the importance of paid maternity leave for businesses.

By Beh Lih Yi @behlihyi, Editing by Jared Ferrie. Source: Reuters, British Royal Household official website, Wall Street Journal

If you like this, subscribe here for more stories that Inspire The Future.

ofo, the world’s leading station-free bike-sharing company, and the JJ Barea Foundation, Dallas Mavericks player JJ Barea’s organization that offers economic assistance to non-profit entities in Puerto Rico, has announced a partnership in support of Hurricane Maria recovery efforts on the island.

As part of this collaboration, ofo donated 600 bikes to be distributed throughout Puerto Rico, where public transportation is still severely limited and city infrastructures remain substantially damaged.

The 600 bikes were shipped to Puerto Rico, where the Foundation received, stored and assembled the bikes. 

“Philanthropy has always been at the core of our business, and we’re grateful that this donation of ofo bikes is able to assist in some small way in Puerto Rico’s recovery,” said Chris Taylor, ofo’s head of North America. “We applaud the JJ Barea Foundation for all its hard work and support in the hurricane relief efforts, and we’re honored to partner with such a generous and dedicated organization.” 

If you like this, subscribe here for more stories that Inspire The Future.

ofo is the world’s original and largest station-free bicycle-sharing platform, created for sharing and wanting to make bikes accessible to everyone. To date, they have connected users to more than 10 million bikes in over 250 cities across 20 countries, generated more than 32 million daily transactions and provided over 200 million global users with 6 billion efficient, convenient and green rides. 

JJ Barea is a Puerto Rican-born professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks in the National Basketball Association. Barea and his Foundation have demonstrated unwavering support for Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria, and he has been active in relief efforts and a regular presence in Puerto Rico over the past few months.

“Puerto Rico is home. My family, friends and community are there, and they still need a lot of help to recover from such a devastating hurricane, which is why I’m so thankful for this truly thoughtful donation from ofo and powerful partnership with my Foundation,” said Barea. “Hurricane Maria destroyed many of our roads, people are without cars and public transportation is limited, so getting around the island and having access to everyday necessities is still a big challenge. These bikes will go a long way in assisting Puerto Rico’s rehabilitation, and I appreciate ofo for making that happen.”

If you like this, subscribe here for more stories that Inspire The Future.

Stella Artois and Water.org have announced a call to action for all beer lovers who plan to watch this year’s Super Bowl, the most highly watched event of the year.

By stocking up on Stella Artois beer for the big game and beyond, people across the country can help provide access to clean water for those in the developing world. More than 663 million people are impacted by the global water crisis today.

From January 15 until April 15 of this year, every purchase of a Stella Artois 12-pack (both bottles and cans, including Stella Artois Cidre) will help Water.org provide 12 months of clean water for one person in the developing world. For those watching the big game at a bar, the purchase of one pint or bottle of Stella Artois will help provide one month of clean water. And as in years past, in 2018 every purchase of a Limited-Edition Stella Artois Chalice will help provide five years of clean water for one person in the developing world.

If you like this, subscribe here for more stories that Inspire The Future.

“We’re excited to bring this global issue to a stage as big as the Super Bowl this year,” said Harry Lewis, Vice President, Stella Artois. “I feel very privileged to work on a campaign that will help build a better world for millions of people; doing well by doing good is an incredible feeling, which is why I’m so passionate about our partnership with Water.org.”

To kick off its fourth annual campaign in partnership with Water.org, Stella Artois is returning to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2011 with a new TV advertisement titled “Taps,” starring Water.org co-founder Matt Damon. The 30 second spot positions water taps and instant access to clean water as something most people in the U.S. might take for granted, while people in the developing world have to walk hours each day to collect water. Showcasing the Stella Artois Limited-Edition Chalice, which has been the centerpiece of the campaign since its inception in 2015, the ad invites viewers to help end the global water crisis by purchasing a Chalice, ultimately giving time back to those whose daily life revolves around the journey to find water.  

“If just one percent of viewers watching the Super Bowl this year purchased a Chalice, we could help provide access to clean water for up to one million people in need,” said Damon. “Now with three simple ways to donate – through the purchase of a Limited-Edition Chalice, a 12-pack, or a pint at a bar – we’re making it easier than ever for consumers to help.”

Now in its fourth year, the “Buy a Lady a Drink” campaign was developed by Stella Artois and Water.org to help end the global water crisis and provide an opportunity for consumers to contribute to the cause. To date, the campaign has helped more than 1 million people around the world gain access to clean water. The crisis disproportionately affects women and children, who can spend up to six hours per day collecting water.

Each year the campaign features Limited-Edition Chalices representing countries where Water.org provides support. This year’s Chalices feature unique designs by Silvana Avila from Mexico, Janine Shroff from India and Monica Ramosfrom the Philippines. Each design reflects the artists’ experience and artistic interpretation of the global water crisis in their own community.

Global Impact

Last year, Stella Artois and Water.org announced a four-year partnership to help provide 3.5 million people with long-term, sustainable access to clean water by 2020.  The expansion of donation opportunities as well as the reach of the program will help achieve this ambitious goal.

The partnership launched in 2015 in five global markets – the U.S., U.K., Canada, Belgium and Argentina – leveraging Stella Artois’ global footprint to raise awareness and spark action to engage in the cause. The campaign has greatly expanded its reach since its inception, doubling the number of participating global markets to now include 10 countries. Mexico, Australia and South Africa are the newest markets to join; Brazil, Chile and Uruguay came on board in 2017.

The partnership has enabled Water.org to expand support to new countries like Brazil and Mexico, a country in which, as of 2015, only 14% of the population had access to piped water 24 hours a day. Water.org is already laying the foundation for household level impact in 2019.

“The scale of the Super Bowl audience will amplify our efforts exponentially – in just one day,” said Julie LaGuardia, head of Brand Partnerships at Water.org. “The simplicity of the call to action, coupled with the significant reach and resources that Stella Artois has put behind it, will help us transform the traditional ’cause campaign’ into a powerful platform for global impact.”

To date, Stella Artois has helped provide more than 1 million people in the developing world with access to five years of clean water through the sale of more than 500,000 Limited Edition Chalices, and by directly donating more than $8 million to Water.org.

“Water.org is continually scaling and evolving our model to help end the global water crisis,” said Gary White, CEO and co-founder of Water.org. “The investment that Stella Artois has made in our partnership will help advance these efforts, and help achieve Water.org’s goal to reach 60 million people by 2022.

If you like this, subscribe here for more stories that Inspire The Future.

I guess growing old makes you weary of empty promises, predictable advice and know-it-all certainty. In the industry of coaching, self-help and leadership training there’s loads of it. I seem to have outgrown my own advice!

And when I think of it, these are the three things that have most estranged me from my own power, influence and leadership for a long time: avoidance of pain, avoidance of failure and working like a busy bee. Ironically, these were three critical messages passed on to me by teachers, books, MBAs and women older than me. It’s a little like Instagram bliss, isn’t it?

If you like this, subscribe here for more stories that Inspire The Future.

Social networks have allowed us to materialize and share fantasies of our improved selves with the world. The more likes we get, the more we believe the illusions we create through filtered selfies, carefully chosen moments, gestures and obsessive manipulation of every object. Instagram has enabled our most aspirational desires: no pain, no failure and sooo many fun things to do!! #behappy #eathealthy #powermoms etcetera!

This self-delusion, enabled by crowds of internet strangers and bots, is quite constraining. I believe it holds back women more than anyone else. While the male sex is known to be physically stronger, the female gender has traditionally been emotionally superior in many ways. Women have a natural inclination and talent for everything that is not tangible: emotion, sensation, intuition, uncertainty or randomness. 

Because a woman who is scared of experiencing pain is a “witch,” who hasn’t yet practiced flying on her broom. How can she read emotions on the faces of others or interpret the power dynamics of a boardroom if she hasn’t flown herself into the ground a few times? How can she trust her gut if she’s never followed that instinct to its worst, most emotionally challenging outcome?

The same goes for failure and not because it teaches us way more than success can ever do. Failure has a way of tattooing lessons on our skin and bones like nothing else. But more importantly, failure teaches you that the end is never the end and that losing everything is always the beginning of a brand new you. A new level of wisdom, depth, courage and thirst for real adventure.

And work, work, work! As an Insta-mom would put it, “Love launching a startup, curing cancer, sharpening my six-pack and, most of all, doing complex yoga postures with my kids hanging off me!! #LoveMyLife”

Well, I’ve got news for you, ladies. Work is the modern full-grown adult’s #pacifier. When we’re working, we are #OnAHigh. A delusional, addictive high we’ve been using since we can last remember. So busy solving problems, cranking those abs or bullying the kids into the right setup for an Insta-moment, that we fly like a lingerie model in wings over every real emotion in our bodies and psyches. Effortlessly, we leave our snotty kids’ complaints and protests far away in another dimension of non-Instagram reality.

So look, I’m not going to tell you how to become a powerful woman. I’ll let you choose the type of reality you want to live in and let you find your most irresistible female power in the last place anybody suggests you look for it. And then you tell me in the comments below!

If you like this, subscribe here for more stories that Inspire The Future.

With high-profile sexual harassment scandals proliferating and millions joining the viral #MeToo social movement, speakers at the 13th annual Massachusetts Conference for Women took on this major social tipping point.

Academy Award winning actress Meryl Streep announced that she and other women in the entertainment industry plan to soon issue “non-negotiable” demands to improve the American workplace, including equal representation in board rooms, entertainment and other industries. “We are after 50/50 by 2020,” Streep said. “Equal means equal. And if it starts at the top, none of these shenanigans would have filtered down and it wouldn’t have been tolerated.”

If you like this, subscribe here for more stories that Inspire The Future.

The two-day event, attracting a record audience of 16,000, started on the day TIME Magazine featured “The Silence Breakers” on the cover of its annual “Person of the Year” issue, recognizing those who are stepping forward to confront their harassers.“It’s such an interesting moment, because this conversation about why this is so widespread, this is really worth having and it’s fantastic,” Streep said. “I can’t help thinking it’s just a door that’s opening to a better world.”

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh also addressed the Conference. Other keynote speakers included stage, television and Academy Award-winning actor Viola Davis, fashion designer, philanthropist and author Diane von Furstenberg, and Adam Grant, top-rated Wharton Professor and best-selling co-author, with Sheryl Sandberg, of “Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy,” also headlined the event.

Themed “The Power of Us: Amplify Your Voice,” the annual nonpartisan, nonprofit Conference, brings together thousands of professionals to connect, renew, and find inspiration in community. The event features more than 150 thought leaders and industry experts from across the country in the fields of leadership, building networks, branding, philanthropy, finance, work-life balance, happiness and civility in the workplace and life.

For the third year, the Conference presented its Workplace Summit, designed to promote gender partnerships and advance equity within workplaces, featuring Adam Grant, cultural innovator Verná Myers, and other thought leaders. The third annual Opening Night at the Conference, on December 6, featured Gloria Steinem, Bethenny Frankel, Skinnygirl founder, author, and branding guru; Barbara Lynch, restaurateur and award-winning chef; Cindy Guerra Robbins, President, Chief People Officer for salesforce.com; and spoken word poet Sarah Kay.

“We are proud to have become the must-attend event for women, men and anyone who advocates for societal, workplace and political equality for women,” said Gloria Larson, President of the Massachusetts Conference for Women Board. “We are confident that attendees will take the extraordinary experiences and learnings from the Conference, the Workplace Summit, and Opening Night, and apply them to their lives and in their communities all year long.”

If you like this, subscribe here for more stories that Inspire The Future.