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Change
The week of January 20, 2025 is monumental, historical, and concerning.
Jim Fielding
January 22, 2025
Hello beautiful people and welcome to this edition of Field Notes!
The Theme for this Issue is CHANGE.
We are in a time of extraordinary turbulence and change.
In the same week, we celebrate the incredible legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and we have to face the reality of a 2nd Trump Presidency.
As I have said before, I am painfully aware of the various emotions that are swirling in the world, particularly in our LGBTQ+ family. Our friends and allies are feeling it as well. So What? (that is a JIMISM!)
This energy is making me “double down” on my commitment to educate, inspire, coach, support, mentor, and amplify my messages of Authenticity, Kindness, Human Centered Leadership, and Belonging/Inclusion.
I simply believe we do not have a choice. I am part of a not-so-silent minority in many ways, and I have a choice ( as all of you do, too). I can wring my hands in worry, live in fear, or just leave.
Instead, I choose to harness these emotions, address inequities and injustices when I see them, and work even harder with my writing, speaking opportunities, and coaching practice. I am so grateful that you and other like-minded and like-hearted people want to be in community with me.
You have seen this quote and image before, but they are so timely and appropriate that I had to include them in this edition.
I am asking you to be a WINDMILL with me!!
And Congratulations to the OHIO STATE BUCKEYES, the winners of the first CFP Football Trophy. My Dad is smiling down on that one, as he loved his home state team.
It is not lost on me that the ONLY 2 teams who beat my Indiana University Hoosiers all season played as the 2 finalists on Monday.
So, Go Big Red!!
Keep Smiling and Keep Shining!
I am truly honored to be recognized as a Top Retail Expert (TRE) for 2025 by @RETHINK Retail! This distinction underscores my contributions to shaping the future of retail and driving meaningful change in the industry.
Sebastian Dziuk
I am so happy and honored to highlight this edition’s authentic leader. This person is someone I have only met and interacted with digitally and virtually, yet I somehow feel very connected. It is probably because they have an incredible personal story and are willing to be open and transparent with all of us.
They are also making a difference in our community and the world. I hope you enjoy and follow them
I want to see more LGBTQ+ people thrive through entrepreneurship.
As a queer and transgender person, I know firsthand what it’s like to feel out of place in a workplace. The experience of vetting every potential employer before even applying—researching company culture, reading reviews from other LGBTQ+ employees, and gauging whether it’s safe to show up authentically—can be exhausting. And once you’re hired, the scrutiny doesn’t end. You’re left navigating microaggressions, educating colleagues, or keeping parts of yourself hidden just to get through the day.
That’s what makes entrepreneurship so appealing to so many of us. It’s a chance to take back our power, to create spaces where we—and our communities—are respected, celebrated, and uplifted.
I’m on a mission to help more LGBTQ+ people thrive, not just survive. I’ve experienced the strength of our community and the incredible potential that emerges when we have the freedom to be ourselves. As an openly transgender Soldier in the U.S. Army, I’ve faced challenges and fought for visibility. As a career coach, I’ve guided LGBTQ+ professionals to pursue their goals with confidence. And as a corporate DEI speaker for organizations like Best Buy, RBC Wealth Management, and Xcel Energy, I’ve championed LGBTQ+ and veteran inclusion.
Now, I bring my combined expertise to help you grow your business. Because when we uplift each other, we all rise. Let's build a future where LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs don’t just dream of success but live it—boldly and unapologetically.
Hosted by Godrej in collaboration with Keshav Suri Foundation and other incredible partners, this event is a step toward shaping a brighter, inclusive future for the queer community. Don’t miss out on thought-provoking discussions, inspiring stories, and impactful conversations.
Ahead of its annual meeting next week, the warehouse retailer has urged its shareholders to reject a proposal to assess the risks that its diversity initiatives pose to the company’s stock price. While boards typically recommend rejecting such proposals, Costco’s directors also made a vigorous case for how its diversity, equity and inclusion measures contribute to its bottom line.
Carter said the airline isn’t taking another look at its DEI or environmental, social, and governance frameworks.
“We are steadfast in our commitments because we think that they are actually critical to our business,” he shared. “Sustainability is about being more efficient in our operations.”
In a notable shift, the company now says it allows “allegations of mental illness or abnormality when based on gender or sexual orientation, given political and religious discourse about transgenderism and homosexuality and common non-serious usage of words like ‘weird.’”
Meta’s vice president of human resources, Janelle Gale, outlined the plans in a memo Friday, the company confirmed. A suite of programs designed to diversify its workforce and suppliers will end, Gale wrote, as will long-standing goals to boost the share of women and minority leaders, and a requirement to have diverse candidate pools for every job. Maxine Williams, the company’s chief diversity officer, is taking on a new role focused on accessibility and engagement, according to the company.
What can I say that has not already been said and reported by people much smarter than me.
I am just so mad. Plain and Simple.
Yet another entitled and detached Leader changing policies to pander to Mr. Musk and the new Administration.
Nothing about this announcement to remove protections, enable community monitoring, or save $4B in expenses makes sense to me or makes me feel safe.
All people deserve physically, emotionally, and psychologically safe spaces, especially in the social media space.
Social Media enables passive/aggressiveness and outright hostility and bullying from a supposed “safe” distance, but it hurts just the same.
I already left X when this occurred.
Now, do I have to leave Instagram??
What are your thoughts on this announcement?
I really want to listen and learn.
With Love and Gratitude,
Jim