August is a month of contradictions.

School is on again… but, it feels entirely too early (and hot) for it. Half of the world is still on vacation, the other half is digging out of OOO emails. The sun no longer greets us at 5:15am, but, the evening light still lingers slightly past 8pm. There are feverish discussions about exciting fall activity mixed in with conversations about squeezing every last drop out of the season.

This month’s Brain Food reflects the push and pull of the last official month of summer. Some things light, some things deep, some things a little in between.

After you are done reading it, here is your friendly reminder to get off your screens and go outside to savor the final balmy days ahead.

Your Funding Squad: Brydge Club

Founded by my fellow UCLA Anderson grad Ruffin Mitchener, Brydge Club is a private community for women founders & funders to help bridge the $1.7 trillion funding gap. I recently joined the “club”, which includes founders backed by and investors from BBGV, Cowboy, F7 Ventures, and more. If you are looking to raise VC or angel in the next year, sign up and find the support and resources you need.
Join the Club

New Tunes: Ethel Cain

Looking for new fall tunes? With the release of Preacher’s Daughter, Ethel Cain has quickly garnered a cult following. The alt-rock album weaves themes of religion and abuse into a 13-track narrative that is both haunting and raw. Ethel is a fictional character embodied by Floria-born singer Hayden Silas Anhedönia, who notes “Ethel was my scapegoat…” With that, just listen to it!
Read More About the Album

Who is Making a $1 Billion Bet on Women’s Sports?

US women won 58% of the total U.S. Olympic medals, which means there has never been a better time to invest in women’s sports. Venture Capitalist Kara Nortman sees the possibilities. Nortman, one of the co-founders (alongside Natalie Portman) for Angel City, also co-founded Monarch Collective, a $150 million investment firm to focus on the women’s sports market, investing in teams, leagues and adjacent businesses.
Watch Here… Are You Betting On It?

HBR Moment: Managing Emotions on Your Team

One of the most challenging aspects of leadership is helping employees navigate intra-team relationships. Harvard Business Review to the rescue with a new framework that helps leaders learn how to manage emotions based on the situation, and be mindful of context. All this can lead to a more supportive and effective workplace environment.
Listen Here

Are Women Really Better at Multitasking?

Author Elif Shafak challenges the widely accepted belief that women are naturally adept at multitasking. She argues that multitasking, often glorified as a strength, is actually exhausting and detrimental to both mental and physical well-being. Shafak advocates for slowing down, embracing flaws, and focusing on one task at a time. She believes that true knowledge and wisdom come from deep reflection, empathy, and understanding—qualities that are lost in the rush of constant multitasking.
Read It