5 Things / Influence

The world has a new pope, Leo XIV, born here in Chicago. My partner was one of the many eagerly awaiting the announcement. No, she didn’t grow up Catholic like me; she was anxious because she’s deeply aware of his global influence. Was he going to be progressive or regressive? What would he say about LGBTQ+ people like us?

(Note: Since the announcement, many LGBTQ+ people became aware of his 2012 remarks and are hoping he’s had a change of heart.)

The pope’s influence cannot be understated. In his first address, he said, “Help us too, and then each other to build bridges, with dialogue, with encounter, uniting us all to be one people always in peace.”

This got me thinking about one person’s influence. One person who can influence so many.

If you could broadcast one message to influence a billion+ humans, what would it be? Please share, and I’ll collect your messages for inclusion in a future 5 Things!

This Week's Good Vibes:

1. Boardroom Monopoly Breaks

   • Women and non-White men now hold 50.2% of S&P 500 board seats. Five years ago, White men occupied nearly 60% of directorships. Today, White men account for about 49% of seats, compared with 30% of the U.S. population. Black directors represent roughly 12% of seats—matching their share of the population—while Hispanic directors lag at about 6% versus an 18% population share. Landmark laws, shareholder voting power, and proxy-advisor pressure drove the shift. We know diversity drives better decision-making. ♐ Track metrics transparently: Publicly report board and committee demographics to drive accountability.

2. Cities Outsmart Flag Bans with Pride

   • Salt Lake City and Boise leaders circumvented new Utah and Idaho laws banning “unofficial” flags by reclassifying pride, trans, and Juneteenth banners as official municipal flags. Salt Lake’s council adopted three new sego lily–based designs, and Boise’s mayor retroactively proclaimed its longstanding pride flag official. Both measures dodge $500-a-day fines and affirm inclusion amid a broader rollback of LGBTQ+ rights from state legislation to federal restrictions on trans service members. ♐ These inventive flag changes show solidarity, but also expose the arbitrary nature of exclusionary policies, reminding us that creative governance can protect civil rights.

3. Lyft Silver: Aging in Style

   • Lyft Silver tackles a glaring gap for senior riders by rolling out a nationwide redesign with 1.4× larger fonts and a streamlined interface. After in-depth interviews with riders, caregivers, and partners like AltaMed and Self Help for the Elderly, the app now automatically pairs riders with cars that are easy to enter and exit (e.g., sedans or accessible vans), has a “Get Help” live-agent button during business hours, and lets riders share trip details with trusted contacts. ♐ Older adults need accessibility, too! Build accessibility into core features through larger fonts, simple UI, and vehicle matching.

4. Lush Goes Sensory-Friendly, All Are Welcome

   • In a rare example of employee-driven innovation, Lush Cosmetics teamed up with KultureCity to pilot sensory-inclusive shopping in 25 stores. They added noise-cancelling headphones, fidget tools, strobe-reducing glasses, quiet “safe spaces,” and on-demand “Get Help” support. This came about because the CINDers ERG flagged that 55% of staff identify as disabled, neurodiverse, or chronically ill. By reframing neurodiversity as a strength and embedding accessibility tools into the core retail experience, Lush confronts systemic ableism that often leaves sensory-sensitive customers excluded. ♐ A co-design approach in every aspect, from staff training to environmental tweaks, shows how brands can honor varied sensory needs rather than assuming a one-size-fits-all model.

5. Kicks Tailored for Every Body

   • Adidas is co-designing a first-ever performance shoe with athletes who have Down syndrome—including Ironman finisher Chris Nikic—to address genetic foot anomalies that affect an estimated 6 million people worldwide. Drawing on direct feedback about wider toe boxes, narrower heels, and pain from ill-fitting footwear, the prototype features an expanded forefoot, tapered heel, and enhanced support to unlock sports participation. Slated for a 2026 launch, the initiative builds on Adidas’s broader disability-inclusion work, reaching some 1.3 billion people. ♐Link product innovation to broader inclusion goals, amplifying impact beyond a single launch.