The post-election mental health battle affecting women

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TThe 14th annual Forbes “30 Under 30” list was released this week – and the 600 young leaders featured in this year’s pack are inventing new technologies to treat tumors, expanding access to electric vehicle charging, making credit cards more secure, and even dream of reflective satellites that could produce the sun at night.

Together, they have raised $3.6 billion in funding, have a total of 300 million social media followers around the world, and have an average age of 27. 43 percent of the list are female (up 1 percent compared to last year). The women on the list include AI founders like Demi Guo (The 26-year-old founded Pika, which is valued at $470 million and can turn a simple text prompt or still image into a movie.) Venture capitalists like 24-year-old Molly Mielke; and actors who happen to have supporting gigs in the gold business, like 27-year-old Kathryn Newton.

By the way, Newton is the top performer in the category I worked on this year – the Hollywood and Entertainment list. She told Forbes that she had no intention of becoming America’s newest queen of horror films, but continued to be drawn to the genre. “I think horror touches people beyond what a romantic comedy or an action film or a fantasy film does, because horror is real,” Newton said. “You don’t have to be beautiful and you don’t have to be in love to be afraid. And everyone knows what it’s like to be in the dark and afraid.”

Cheers!

Maggie

PS: Due to popular demand we have extended the nomination deadline for 50 Over 50: Global until December 9 at 11:59 p.m. ET. So if you missed the first deadline (December 1st), this is your surprise extension – nominate someone using this link today!

Forbes Exclusive Profile: Inside Alex Cooper’s $125 Million Deal to Expand Her Multimedia Empire

Alex Cooper, the 30-year-old Call her dad Star, signed a major deal with SiriusXM in August, promising to bring a new generation to the aging satellite network. Prior to the signing, Cooper had inked a three-year, $60 million deal with streaming giant Spotify. But it was time to move on. “The brand has only grown since she’s been on Spotify,” Cooper says. “I knew the money would be there. The deal was more about what other things people can give to Call Her Daddy and Unwell (Cooper’s podcast network) that will help us grow.”

ICYMI: News of the week

Universal images revealed that On average, women were paid 6.6% more than men about the crew of Evilwhich is currently captivating box offices worldwide. According to industry analyst Box Office Mojo, the film has grossed more than $350 million worldwide since its debut, breaking a record for a film based on a musical.

After devoting most of her career to building a renewable energy business for Honeywell in 2010, Jennifer Holmgren was preparing for retirement. But she got a call from the founders of Lanza Tech– which converts carbon emissions into clothing and jet fuel – and asks her to take the reins of her company as CEO. Holmgren thought she’d be doing this for “a few years,” but more than a decade later, she’s still CEO — and she spoke to ForbesWomen editor Maggie McGrath about her leadership journey and what her company needs to do to succeed be having a significant impact on the fight against climate change.

This comes from new research Women are 42% less likely to start a business in the year they were born. Although the effect wears off over time, it never returns to pre-childbirth levels, meaning women who have children are permanently less likely to start a business.

A political action committee is tied to it Tulsi GabbardDonald Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence spent $33,000 in 2024 on her then-newly published book. For the Love of Country: Leave the Democratic (Sic) Party behind. The bulk purchases apparently helped secure Gabbard a spot on the New York Times bestseller list.

Following the election, many mental health experts have observed a surprising trend among their female clients: a wave of so-called “high-functioning depression.” Women still show up at work, fulfill their responsibilities and appear calm on the outside, but underneath the surface they have problems. To learn more about this trend—what’s driving it and what can help those struggling—watch ForbesWomen editor Maggie McGrath’s discussion with Mika Brzezinski and Huma Abedin in this Know Your Value segment.

The checklist

1. Recognize the strengths of your neurodivergent colleagues. New research shows that one in three neurodivergent workers fear being fired if they disclose their condition, and one in four have experienced bullying or harassment in the workplace. Here’s how you can best support the neurodivergent members of your team.

2. Use technical discussions at Christmas parties to your advantage. If you dread the “How’s work going?” When it comes to questions at holiday parties, you don’t have to go into the gory details—but you CAN use the moment as an opportunity to look for your next step.

3. Get some sun. Okay, yes, this is harder if you live in a northern state where there is currently less sunlight, but there are ways to beat the winter blues and maintain a positive attitude. Here’s how.

The quiz

Controversial conservative hothead Candace Owens has been denied a visa to enter New Zealand for a speaking engagement due to the country’s rule that visas cannot be issued to people exiled from another country. Which country banned Owens first?citing their “ability to foment discord in almost all directions”?

1. Germany
2. South Africa
3. Brazil
4. Australia

Check your answer.