June 2021 is here, and the world feels a tiny bit as though things are opening back up. As we all adjust to interacting again, here’s a look back at my favorite SmartBrief stories from last month.
BoardSource
There’s a passage in this piece about nonprofits that met about improving Black maternal health without involving a single Black person or even mentioning Black women. Nonprofits have to do better.
Top May story: 10 signs that your ego is in charge of your leadership
Business Transformation SmartBrief
I have used a couple of long reads from Not Boring in the Business Transformation SmartBrief, and they have lived up to the name “Not Boring.” The main reason I liked the one about the Tata Group is specifically because of this chart:

The point of the graphic is to show the market capitalizations of 17 Tata companies. There’s such a huge difference between Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. and all of the others, that representing the bottom seven would just be silly. For some reason, the bracket, arrow and commentary “(There are market caps down there)” cracks me up. I’m such a visual person, and this made me think about those seven lower-earning companies more than the actual graph would have. If you really are curious, you can read all the specifics here.
Top May story: SHEIN produces clothes quickly and profits faster (another Not Boring piece, by the way)
International City/County Management Association
This is a story about transforming auto rickshaws in India into ambulances. Here’s the line from one of the drivers that made this story my favorite: “If everyone stays home because they are scared, then who is going to help those in need?” Excellent question.
The top May story in ICMA was the same as the BoardSource brief: 10 signs that your ego is in charge of your leadership. The top story outside of the leadership section was Black families in Ga. plan to build equitable town.
National Association of Social Workers
In what must surely be one of the most 2020-21 references possible, I was drawn to the guidance a synagogue created to show people where to go and what to do when they returned to in-person worship.
“We created a video that shows where to walk when entering the synagogue we have not been in for a year,” Lyon said. “It shows where the handwashing station is located, where to pick up the prayer books, how to find their seat. … We are reentering a new world,” said David Lyon, Rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel in Houston.
Top May story: The coming tidal wave of prolonged grief
National Emergency Number Association
Not that I’m happy this type of story has to exist, but it fascinates me (because the problem documented by the article probably could have been solved years ago with a little more civil conversation and a little less turf-guarding).
Top May story: N.C. city investigates after 9-1-1 center goes empty
Reserve Officers Association
Military families face so much stress. I appreciate how this chaplain’s background helps him serve families in addition to service members.
Top May story: Churn is Army Reserve Ambassador for Washington, D.C.
Sigma Xi, the Scientific Honorary Society
This is a typical top choice for me among the Sigma Xi stories. These scientists, on a quest to figure out how early mantis shrimp start punching, glue tiny larvae onto toothpicks so they could record their punches. That’s dedication to finding an answer!
Top May story: Cats sit in squares for science
UN Wire
This is one of those stories that is devastating. People in Madagascar are eating clay and termites because the food scarcity is so bad. Not a favorite for happy reasons, obviously, but it’s hard to get this situation out of my head.
Top May story: UNSC meets on Israel-Palestine, but no resolution reached
Our burnout webinar is over, but available on demand!

I mentioned the “Living at Work: Tackling Burnout and Employee Mental Wellness” webinar in last month’s wrapup post. The discussion was fantastic and packed with resources. You can access it via this link.
ODDportunities
I had the opportunity last month to write for our education briefs about a high-school drama teacher who did something exquisitely creative that incorporated COVID safety into the instructional methods. Full disclosure: Lea (the teacher) is a dear friend, but I would have been bowled over by this whether I knew her or not. Please visit the post here.
About working at SmartBrief/Future
Each month, I share the open positions at SmartBrief and Future for anyone who is interested in being a part of finding and sharing stories through newsletters and Future’s other enterprises.
All open positions at SmartBrief and Future plc can be found at this link. Here are a few highlights (listed in order of least recent posting date (5/5/21) to most recent (6/2/21)):
Trade Marketing Manager (Remote)
Digital Sales Associate (Finance)
Director Sales Development (Remote)
Audience Development Manager (SEO & Social Media)
Ad Operations Executive (Remote)
Live Science Intern (3 months)
Content Producer – What to Watch (Remote)
Senior Email Marketing Associate
Deputy Editor – Woman and Home
Digital Sales Associate – B2B/Education
Digital Sales Associate – Finance
If you are interested in applying and have questions, please email me so we can discuss further.
To subscribe to one (or more) SmartBrief newsletters, including the “end of the work day” While You Were Working, for which I am a contributing editor, click here. We’re also still producing a brief specific to COVID-19 on Tuesdays, and you can subscribe to it here.
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Wife of one, Mom of two, Friend of many. My pronouns are she/her/hers.
There is a lot here, but I zeroed in on Maternal Child Care. YES! Let WOMEN let WOMEN IF COLOR SPEAK. When I worked in L&D we had two Black RNs and ONE Black MD. But many of our patients were people of color. I was pulled out of the Labor room one day, because the husband didn’t want a white nurse caring for his wife. (a religious thing) I was okay with it. I understood.
Unfortunately, I’m sure that still happens ALL the time (not having representative people speak on their own behalf). I guess knowing is the start of changing.
Hmm…when my babies showed a tendency to hit, I corrected them! 😉
That drama teacher is AMAZING! May she live and teach forever!
Ha ha ha yeah I hear ya! Who knew tiny shrimp were so combative. And I agree with you about Lea. I shared your comment with her and she said, “no don’t make me teach forever”!