5 Things / Eggshells

Like many people, I’ve spent a lot of my life “walking on eggshells”. It started as a kid with a father whose temper taught me to stay quiet to keep the peace. For some, especially those from marginalized groups, walking on eggshells becomes a way to stay small and safe. For others, it’s about cancel culture, a fear of getting it wrong.

Over the years, at home with my partner’s daughters, I found myself tiptoeing, afraid that one wrong word might cause upset. My silence eroded those relationships.

Culturally, we’ve normalized judgment. Memes mock identities, beliefs, and mistakes. The us-vs-them energy is everywhere, so of course it shows up at work and becomes a barrier to authentic relationships. Like many, when I fear judgment, I retreat. I stay in my lane. I walk on eggshells.

Judgment is human. But when we judge, we disconnect. And the cycle continues. The antidote is kind curiosity about others, a willingness to engage, even when it’s easier to judge. My ARC Method® is just the tool to help!

I recently heard the phrase “the chaos before the miracle.” How can you help initiate that miracle?

This Week's Good Vibes:

1. Colorado Doubles Down for NICU Parents

   • Colorado just became the first state to give parents of NICU babies double the paid family leave for a total of 24 weeks. Starting in 2026, parents can focus on their newborns’ care without risking their jobs or paychecks. This is especially meaningful for marginalized families who often have fewer financial cushions and higher health disparities that can lead to NICU stays. Pinterest and Morgan Stanley offer similar benefits, but statewide protections bring systemic change. ♐ Review your own leave policies. True equity means accounting for the real-life complexities your employees face, not just the averages.

2. WTA Serves Up Fertility Flexibility

   • The Women’s Tennis Association just delivered a major win: players undergoing fertility treatments like egg or embryo freezing can now protect their rankings while they step away. Under the new rule, players out for 10+ consecutive weeks get a “Special Entry Ranking” for up to three tournaments upon return. This allows athletes to prioritize both career and family, a luxury often denied to women in elite sports (and workplaces in general). ♐ Audit your policies. Do they allow employees to protect their careers while navigating family-building decisions? Flexibility = retention.

3. Rides, Not Roadblocks: Uber Designs for Aging

   • Uber’s new senior accounts give older adults easier access to ride-hailing through bigger text, fewer buttons, and simplified navigation. Many older adults face cognitive or physical declines that make driving unsafe, but aren’t ready to surrender independence. Medicare Flex payment options even tie healthcare access directly to transportation, closing gaps for marginalized elders who disproportionately lack flexible transit options. ♐ Design with aging in mind now by thinking about accessibility for your future customer base.

4. Go Bananas or Go Home

   • Jesper Brodin, CEO of Ikea’s parent company, is handing out banana cards, literal permission slips for employees to take risks and make mistakes. Brodin rolled the program out companywide, from warehouse teams to store managers, sending a message that everyone’s encouraged to experiment, knowing their CEO co-signs in advance if it doesn’t go perfectly. For traditionally marginalized employees, who often feel they can’t afford a single misstep, this is huge. It actively chips away at the fear-based culture that stifles bold thinking and reinforces power imbalances. ♐ Tell your team explicitly that mistakes won’t cost them credibility—it might just grow it.

5. Graduated With Honors, Then Denied

   • In a good news / heartbreaking news story, the first three transgender graduates of the U.S. Air Force Academy earned their diplomas. Then they were denied military commissions because of Trump’s reinstated trans military ban, currently being challenged in court. Despite meeting all physical, academic, and leadership standards, they were placed on administrative leave, warned they might owe hundreds of thousands in tuition, and barred from serving. Ouch. Congrats to the grads, and keep fighting. ♐ Equity means removing barriers that punish identity, not performance.

Good Vibes to Go:

This week is Juneteenth. Check out this very educational podcast, Democracy: A Juneteenth Celebration.