Global pandemics wreak their own special kind of havoc — not just on our health, but on virtually every aspect of our lives. Solving something as massive as a global health emergency takes a coordinated, collaborative effort and requires us to put our best minds forward. That means not just in frontline healthcare and government response, but also in education, recreation, nonprofit, and business. 

In times of crisis, leaders emerge. We’re all looking for answers and guidance. It’s widely understood that diverse teams lead to greater innovation, better outcomes, and more progress, so we cringe every time we see photos and events featuring homogeneous teams and panels in response to today’s challenges. (As it turns out, we’re not the only ones to notice.) The representation has improved recently, with women in leadership roles receiving kudos for how they’re handling their COVID-19 responses in federal governments, local governments, and science. Now we’re ready to add to that list from a business perspective.  
Join us for the Challenge Series

Introducing The Challenge Series, weekly online events designed to connect you with the specific topics and advice you need. Businesses are scrambling to address challenges they couldn’t have imagined just a month ago. As we work to keep our teams and companies going, it’s helpful for all of us to hear how some of today’s respected leaders are navigating similar issues. We’ve assembled an incredible line-up of speakers who are leading their companies through this time — and this first group happens to be all women. How are they shifting their operations, marketing, and finance? How do they lead with empathy and kindness through scary situations? Join us weekly to find out.

Learn how experienced executive leaders at companies like Gusto, Cloudflare, Zoom, Zendesk, Guild Education, TripActions, and Textio are shifting their models, protecting their budgets, and supporting their employees through every stressful moment. Got a question or two for these leaders? Please share with us on Twitter or LinkedIn and we’ll add them to the queue. 

Upcoming Challenge Series Events
- April 28: How do you shift your operations during a crisis? (REGISTER)
- May 5: Marketing and messaging in the time of Coronavirus (REGISTER)
- May 12: How do enterprises manage their spend during a crisis? (REGISTER)
- May 19: Leading with empathy and kindness in times of uncertainty (REGISTER)

Staying ahead of these situations requires diverse, inclusive voices
Scientists predict additional waves of COVID-19 and a rise in similar viruses in years to come. As we determine what that means for not only healthcare, but businesses, the overall economy, and even day-to-day human life, we ask organizations to prioritize diverse, inclusive voices in their preparations and responses. Put women and underrepresented minorities in leadership roles; listen to their voices. Make them not the exception, but the norm. Excluding these portions of the talent pool limits our collective ability to innovate and respond to the spidering effects of these situations. 

Here at Operator Collective, we’re lucky to have a community packed with talented, experienced leaders, the majority of whom are fearless women. We look forward to sharing their insights with you. Learn more and register for The Challenge Series here.