Mattel

• Hydrow , the leading at-home connected rowing brand that brings the on-water experience of rowing straight to your home, today announced Craig Tello has been named Chief Experience Officer, and Diana Cino has been promoted to Chief Marketing Officer.
• As industry veterans with deep experience in strategy, customer lifecycles, digital content, and marketing, they support the company’s accelerated, strategic growth.
• “Hydrow has cultivated a loyal customer base by focusing on authenticity, connection, and innovation, every step of the way,” said Craig Tello, Chief Experience Officer.
• “I am thrilled to further announce Diana Cino’s promotion to Chief Marketing Officer.

• Industry veterans Bruce Chizen, Sameer Merchant, and Waheed Qureshi will bring over 50 years of combined experience in executive positions at companies including Oracle, Adobe, Microsoft, Autodesk, Plangrid, and Zenprise.
• In addition to his advisory role with Planera, he is currently a board member of Oracle Corporation, ChargePoint, Informatica, McAfee, Synopsys, Nexthink, Mirakl and FullStory.
• "We are very pleased to welcome these three accomplished individuals to our advisory board," said Nitin Bhandari, CEO and founder of Planera.
• The trio will join Planera's advisory team as they prepare for upcoming partnerships, funding rounds, and product enhancements that will continue to drive company growth.

• On the positive side, dolls like Barbie can serve as a canvas for imaginative storytelling and role-playing.
• Additionally, Barbie play can promote fine motor skills as children dress and accessorize the dolls.
• Barbie dolls come with predefined appearances and characteristics, which can limit the range of narratives a child may explore.

Addressing stereotypes

• While Mattel, the maker of Barbie, today features Barbies featuring multiple skin tones, hairstyles and body types, the original Barbie may reinforce certain stereotypes, particularly related to whiteness and gender roles.
• And while the Barbie brand has evolved, many unfortunate decisions were made historically.
• When children play with dolls and toys, they are not just having fun, but also absorbing messages and attitudes from their playthings.

Influence on gendered outcomes

• Researchers name play in early childhood as one of the powerful early influences on later gendered outcomes.
• For example, psychology researchers Emily F. Coyle and Lynn Liben explored the impact of gendered toy packaging in five-year-old children’s STEM play with their mothers.
• Further exploration of young children’s early STEM play patterns may effectively influence later outcomes.

Creative fusion in play

Encouraging children to modify and personalize their play experience in a variety of ways can mitigate some of the stereotypical gender-specific effects of Barbie-like dolls. Repurposing common materials to craft intricate settings and props, children are empowered to envision boundless scenarios. Creative fusion allows children to transform ordinary items into extraordinary elements within Barbie’s world. For example:
• As children engage in collaborative play and work together to construct shared goals, they practice communication, teamwork and negotiation.
• Using ordinary items also nurtures an early awareness of environmental consciousness in children, teaching them the value of repurposing materials, reducing waste — and the wondrous capacity of imaginative play.

• LOS ANGELES, Oct. 03, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In anticipation of World Mental Health Day on October 10, the Health Action Alliance (HAA) is thrilled to announce its second annual Mental Health Equity at Work Summit .
• Top executives from prominent brands such as Mattel, Walmart, and Accenture, in addition to renowned mental health and diversity experts, will converge to explore the pivotal theme, "Breaking Barriers: Empowering Business Excellence through Mental Health Equity."
• “Forward-thinking business leaders who address the mental health needs of a diverse workforce can elevate overall well-being for their entire team.”
  “When you focus on improving mental health for those with the greatest need, everyone wins,” said Mark SooHoo, Executive Director of Health Action Alliance.
• “Business leaders have a unique opportunity to champion the well-being of their employees, closing gaps in equitable mental health access, and ultimately driving positive business outcomes within their organizations.”
  “Mental health equity, especially considering racial battle fatigue, is crucial for a thriving workplace.