I’m so pleased to be elected to an officer role on the board of OPERA America. I look forward to supporting the incoming Chair, Carol F. Henry as Co-Chair over the next few years. Carol is an esteemed philanthropist and founding trustee of the Los Angeles Opera. I’m extraordinarily proud of the work that Marc A. Scorca, CEO and Timothy O’Leary Chair Emeritus and Executive Director of Washington Opera and the Kennedy…
Episode 157 of The Culture Soup Podcast® is extra special for a few reasons. While the show’s tag is “with L. Michelle Smith & Friends,” it is rare that you meet those friends of mine who I’ve known for a couple of decades or more. Leslie Short is one of those people, and throughout the show, I shout out someone who has meant the world to me. It…
My guest Thursday believes the answer lies in the concept of culture and not necessarily segmentation. Ring a bell? In my last days in integrated marketing, I was applying the same principal (inclusion marketing). Leslie is now applying it to people resources in organizations. My conversation with Leslie Short Founder of The Cavu Group couldn’t have been more timely, as themes from my latest message to DE&I decision…
Are you controlling? Is someone trying to control you? If you are a woman, chances are that the answer could be “both-and.” In today’s episode of The Culture Soup Podcast®, we explore this idea, and it’s interactive with journaling prompts throughout. Ready to get coached? I take you through 5 journaling prompts throughout today’s discussion on this episode, and you will be able to explore why you may…
How has the sports industry changed in this unprecedented time of societal, cultural and technological shifts?Sports is culture, and culture is sports, but recently, we have seen where some have suggested that sports has no voice in social issues, especially the racial ones. But more and more, we are seeing teams, players, executives and even leagues making their positions clear. Most recently, we’ve seen sports figures advocate for…
Thrilled to be re-elected to the @operaamerica board during Wednesday’s global meeting of directors…this time as an officer! I am now a board Co-Chair, as a member of the Executive Directors cabinet of four, close advisors. This next 3-year term will be exciting to usher the opera industry into a new and exciting era as we are moving to more hybrid and in-person interactions in the opera houses.…
Recognition is good, but ” …we have bigger fish to fry than a Juneteenth barbecue.” That was the core message I delivered live on CW33’s Morning After Show. Some other critical points: Know the history. Juneteenth originated in Texas because the Union soldiers came to state to finally tell the slaves that they were free–2 whole years after the emancipation proclamation. It was a slap in the face,…
First impressions are only part of it. And while, many women of color concern themselves what they wear and whether to be natural or not, the ultimate concern should be a matter of this: Are you ready to lead and are you already demonstrating it? In No Thanks: 7 Ways to Say I’ll Just Include Myself, The Remix, I tell the story of how my mother, who was…
My brothers… Please be careful. You sound like the All Lives Matter crew when you question why Black Women require advocacy. You too can be an ally if you open your minds, and it would mean a lot. It’s amazing how many Black men get a little frazzled when they learn that I’m an advocate for women and women of color. They start asking questions like: “what about…