Friday Refresh - The Power of Women

Hey there!

I just got back from the Women in Retail Leadership Summit, and WOW. Being surrounded by brilliant women leaders had me floating on cloud nine! (Formulary 55 even got to showcase there—pinch me!)

As I’ve come back down to earth, I’ve been thinking a lot about what happens when women lift each other up. Turns out, the research backs what we intuitively know—women supporting women isn’t just a feel-good slogan, it’s a serious success strategy!

💰 When Women Lead, Profits Soar

• Companies with women in the C-suite generated $1.8 TRILLION in excess profits.
• When management teams reach gender balance, two-thirds of companies see profits jump 5–20 %.
• Start-ups founded or co-founded by women deliver 10 % more revenue per dollar invested.

🚀 We Rise by Lifting Others

Women MBAs with both close female friends and broader mixed networks land senior roles 2.5× faster than those without. Talk about the power of your girl tribe!

Formal mentoring matters, too: 76 % of women with structured mentoring say it measurably advances their careers—yet many workplaces still lack these programs. (Time to start one?)

❤️ Your Girlfriends Are Literally Good for Your Heart

When women get stressed, we don’t just “fight or flight”—we “tend and befriend.” This oxytocin-powered response lowers stress levels when we connect with trusted female friends.

The health payoff is real: studies show women with strong social connections have a significantly lower risk of heart disease. Friendship isn’t just soul medicine—it’s heart medicine, too!

This Week’s Mini-Challenge

Reach out to a woman who inspires you—maybe a mentor, a colleague crushing it, or a friend whose strength you admire. Send a text, make a coffee date, or write a note letting her know the difference she’s made in your life.

Then (and this is the hard part for many of us, myself included), ask for something you need—advice, feedback, or support on a project. Let’s practice both giving and receiving support!

Wishing you a weekend full of connection,

Kecia