CBX Daily 2/6/2025

Author

Claire Moraa
February 06, 2025

Today, spirits are crashing with profits unseen, but let’s start with how diversity is affecting leadership in the corporate scene…

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The True Cost Of Diversity In Shaping Corporate Leadership

CBX Vibe

Filling up C-suite roles has had it's challenges and now, it's about to be even harder. Rolling back and limiting DEI initiatives will affect the C-suite roles which have had a stellar track record by increasing business profitability. Large companies such as Target and Walmart that have relied on DEI initiatives for years have already pulled the pug and will no longer be moving forward with such practices. Revising hiring practices to focus more on merit than on diversity quotas could have far-reaching consequences but are they good or bad?

Woodford Reserve's Staff Spirits Are Down As Spirit Sales Sink  

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Brown-Forman (BF.B+0.33%), the owner of Woodford Reserve and Jack Daniels, is letting go of nearly 700 employees and closing a plant as a result of a rapid decline in spirit sales. The Louisville-based company is currently feeling the hard pinch of inflation and changing consumer tastes, accounting for a 2.7% dip in spirit sales across the board. Despite increasing product prices to cover the rising costs of manufacturing, Brown-Forman is still trying to keep the surmounting economic threats at bay. One of the biggest threats being impact on brand share-price. BF.B saw its net sales decline by 5% in the second half of 2024, having already experienced a 30% loss in share value.

Sum Of All Fears: How The ‘Misery Index’ Hit Nearly 7%  

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Consumers are deep in their bag of feelings as the ‘Misery Index,’ the tool used to measure the degree of economic distress felt by everyday people, due to the risk of (or actual) joblessness combined with an increasing cost of living, continues to rise. The Federal Reserve has decided to pause rate cuts, further adding to folks' daily misery. With the current Misery Index at 6.99%: Unemployment 4.1% + Core Inflation 2.89%, just how long will be in a sunken place?

Tune-in Tuesdays!

The U.S. has previously been serving as the largest contributor to the World Health Organization (WHO). Trump's decision to withdraw funding has left African nations in limbo. Will this moment push African nations to establish more sustainable health financing, or will the loss of support create deeper vulnerabilities?

A. "Can't Hold Us Down" by Christina Aguilera & Lil Kim – Despite external setbacks, Africa has always found ways to push forward, and this is just another hurdle that will ultimately lead to a more resilient health sector
B. "From This Moment On" by Shania Twain & Bryan White – This is a wake-up call and an opportunity for Africa to build stronger, locally-driven healthcare solutions and to take greater control of its health policies
C. "Stay With Me" by Sam Smith – Africa still needs to be be hand-held until they can walk on their own. Abrupt cuts could have dire consequences on the healthcare industry

What are your thoughts on this? Tune in next Tuesday to see which jam captures the prevailing sentiment!

A  |  B  |  C

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Last week’s results are in and it looks like it's ‘Bout Time’ companies stand by and defend their DEI policies.

Women Are Shifting The Gears In Formula 1’s Growth  

CBX Vibe:

Formula 1 has traditionally been a male-dominated sport—whether it’s in the driver’s seat or in the stands. But today, that narrative is changing. Formula 1 is seeing a massive surge in viewership, with women playing a key role in the sport’s transformation. In 2025, F1 boasts a fanbase of 750 million worldwide, and women now represent 41% of that total. A significant portion of this growth is attributed to women aged 18-24 who are diving into the sport as well as the F1 community.

Are Riskier Transactions Narrowing The Investment Gap?  

CBX Vibe:

Black Americans have faced systematic exclusion from a number of American institutions, including investment opportunities, though that could be changing. The investment gap between Black and white Americans has recently narrowed, with higher stock market participation among young Black people under 40. In an effort to take back power, interest in investing has grown as this demographic has developed a propensity to take on riskier investments.

Vibes of the Week

Corporate growth may be ”Cooked Food” fueled by diversity, as told by Wretch 32 in our CBX Vibes!