About
LedBetter is a research effort that runs a database and application showcasing the number of women in leadership at the world’s top consumer brands and companies. Its mission is to empower and educate consumers, policymakers, leaders, journalists, and others about equitable workplaces. Our work has been cited and covered by media outlets including Fortune, The Washington Post, CNN, CBS News, Marketplace, Glamour, Refinery29, and others. Read our call for corporations to release data on race here.
LedBetter is largely a volunteer-run project.
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In the News
Team
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Courtney Cook, Data Analyst
Courtney Cook is based in Chicago and works as a business analyst at Draper and Kramer Mortgage Company, managing the operational and financial metrics and reporting standards. Courtney began her career in transportation and school bus operational analytics, developing key performance indicators to measure safety and financial success. She holds a B.A. in anthropology with a minor in Scandinavian studies from UCLA, where she was president of the UCLA Fencing Club.
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Ipsheeta Furtado, Technical Advisor
Ipsheeta is director of financial operations at TripActions, a leading global business travel and expense platform. Previously, she started and expanded the operations team at consumer real estate startup Divvy Homes and helped launch fintech startups in banking, lending, and payments at Max Levchin's incubator, HVF Labs. Ipsheeta was CEO and co-founder of Fluid Financial, a venture-backed platform for enabling sustainable financing options for small businesses. She caught the startup bug while founding and managing a product development consultancy in Oakland, California. Ipsheeta holds a B.S. in engineering physics from UC Berkeley and prefers tea to coffee.
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Iris Kuo, Co-Founder & CEO
Iris Kuo is the CEO of LedBetter. She spent over a decade as a business journalist and opinion writer for publications including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and TheAtlantic.com. Iris created and co-led LedBetter’s Gender Equality Index launch in 2016, garnering coverage in Fortune, Inc., CNN, and others. She also co-led the Force the Issue database and campaign to end the use of forced arbitration policies for allegations of sexual harassment in the workplace. She holds a master’s from Columbia University and undergraduate degrees from the University of Texas at Dallas. Iris currently serves as the principal for workplace equity at the Tara Health Foundation, where she leads strategy and investments for Tara Health’s efforts to make the workplace more equitable for low-wage women of color in the U.S.
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Julia Jung, Intern
Julia Jung, based out of Oakland, California, graduated in May 2020 with a B.A in women's and gender studies from Wellesley College. Her academic concentration is in the area of sexual and reproductive health.
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Annie Siebert, Managing Editor
Annie is a Pittsburgh-based freelance writer, editor, and researcher (and, of late, a stay-at-home mother). She currently works as a copy editor for Heated with Mark Bittman on Medium, among other clients. When she’s not behind the keyboard, Annie enjoys cooking, baking, and reading. Annie holds a bachelor’s degree in English writing and anthropology from the University of Pittsburgh.
Special Thanks
LedBetter is grateful for the support of the Tara Health Foundation, whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of women and girls through the creative use of philanthropic capital and 100% mission alignment of its assets.
We also give thanks to the many folks who have supported and helped us along the way with assistance, support, advice and mentorship:
- David Allen and Work Hard Pittsburgh
- Elise Belusa
- Shannon Coulter
- Tenesha Duncan
- Matter Ventures
- Doug Mitchell
- Lisa Molinaro
- Rebecca Monson
- Ha Nguyen
- Camille Ricketts
- Rachel Robasciotti
- Troy Sandal
- Dr. Ruth Shaber
- Julian Threatt
- Janet Yuen
Press
New database aims to expose companies that make employees arbitrate sexual harassment claims — The Washington Post, 2020
L’Oreal’s first female president — Marketplace, 2019.
“There Aren’t Enough Women CEOs in the Beauty Industry—These Colleges Are Changing That” — Glamour, 2019.
"Meet The 8 Women Who May Just Get Us To 50/50." — Refinery29, 2018.
"Amid The Time's Up Movement, Is It Wise For Female-Led Companies To Hire Male Directors?" — Refinery29 (U.K.), 2018.
"Women Are Making Over The Beauty Industry's Boy's Club." — FiveThirtyEight, 2017.
"Companies With The Most (And Least) Female Leadership." — 24/7 Wall Street, 2017.
"Melinda Gates Asked for Ideas to Help Women in Tech: Here They Are." — Wired, 2016
"These 3 Companies Sell to Women — But Have None on Their Executive Teams." — Fortune, 2016.
"'LedBetter' Index Lets You Buy From Companies with Women in Top Jobs." — Forbes, 2016.
"These 10 Brands Have No Women in Leadership Positions." — New York Magazine, 2016.
"This Web App Shows Just How Few Women Hold Leadership Roles at Top Brands." — Inc. Magazine, 2016.
"Hey Ladies, Your Favorite Brand is Probably Run by Men." — Marketplace, 2016.
"A Reason to Shop at H&M That Has Nothing To Do With Fashion." — The Huffington Post, 2016.
"These Are the Companies With the Fewest Women In Leadership Roles." — Mashable, 2016.
"New Website LedBetter Maps the Glass Ceiling At Nearly 2,000 Major Consumer Brands." — Bitch, 2016.