WORKING FROM HOME WITHDee Poku SpaldingHow the CEO and founder of The WIE Suite is navigating new challenges—both in her own Brooklyn home office, and for working women all over.
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I started The WIE Suite to provide a space where women in leadership could collaborate and drive one another’s career goals forward in a very results-oriented environment. No tiptoeing around talking business with friends.
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I started The WIE Suite to provide a space where women in leadership could collaborate and drive one another’s career goals forward in a very results-oriented environment. No tiptoeing around talking business with friends.
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On staying motivated...and superbusy!
What makes you especially proud of The WIE Suite?“It’s what was missing for me when I was navigating corporate culture as an executive. The big goal is to significantly increase the number of women in leadership positions, whether executives or founders. I’m proud of the relationships being formed and the tangible results we’re seeing.”
Any success stories especially inspiring you right now?“There are so many wildly brilliant Black women entrepreneurs completely inspiring me at the moment. One in particular, Toyin Ajayi, the cofounder of Cityblock Health, is building a billion-dollar company while revolutionizing the health-care industry and helping the most marginalized. Doing good while doing well. A perfect balance.”
Tell us about your #2millionmentors campaign!“So many of the hard-won gains by women in the workplace have been rolled back due to the pandemic, and it was devastating to hear that over two million women had lost their jobs. I launched a campaign to provide support and guidance to these women at a particularly vulnerable and isolating time. Thousands of people donated mentor minutes. The outpouring of support has been incredible.”
More at home with Dee…
What Dee is reading, watching and listening to…
Books“The Three Mothers by Anna Malaika Tubbs—a poignantly rich and completely fascinating story about the mothers of Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and James Baldwin.”
Blogs“To be honest, I’ve been loving our new online journal, The Suite Sheet. Really meaty, tangible career insights from some pretty impressive women.”
TV“Industry on HBO. It’s a fast-paced, very addictive UK show about the cutthroat world of trading. Great to see a complex, nuanced, leading Black female character.”
Film“Promising Young Woman. A searing exploration of the ripple effect of sexual assault. Carey Mulligan is such a brilliant actress.”
Music“Teni. I like her fresh take on Afrobeat.”
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THE EDIT: GARDEN VARIETYIn a good way…like fresh greens and canvas essentials