ForbesWomen Weekly: Katy Perry Is Now Worth $340 Million. Plus: Spot Burnout Before You Hit Rock Bottom

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This past Saturday marked Working Parents Day—a day for acknowledging the challenges parents have juggling their lives and caregiving responsibilities. But with $24 billion in federal funding for childcare facilities expected to expire on September 30, American parents are facing more challenges than ever before.

Economists project that this expiration of funding could result in the closure of as many as 70,000 childcare programs across the country; more than 3 million children stand to lose their spots in daycare, while parents—who may have to pull out of the workforce to take care of their children—could collectively lose $9 billion in lost earnings.

I recently spoke with Reshma Saujani, the founder of Girls Who Code and also Moms First, an organization that fights for better family-oriented policies in the U.S., about this issue. Saujani told me, “childcare is an economic issue, not a social issue,” and the key to unlocking American competitiveness on the global stage is “prioritizing the things that are preventing us from having a fully participating workforce.” In Saujani’s view, affordable and accessible childcare is a more important lever for American innovation than even AI.

Cheers!

Maggie

Featured Forbes Profile: Katy Perry Is Now Worth $340 Million—And One Of The Richest Self-Made Women In America

Pop superstar Katy Perry sold her music rights to Carlyle-backed Litmus Music on Monday for a reported $225 million. With the sale, her net worth increases to $340 million, making her one of the richest self-made women in America. The 38-year-old Perry did not make Forbes’ 2023 list of the Richest Self Made Women in America, which was published in June–though she is surely a contender for next year’s. With her increased net worth, she would join the ranks alongside other wealthy female musicians, including Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Madonna, Beyoncé, Celine Dion, Dolly Parton and Barbra Streisand.

ICYMI: News Of The Week

Planned Parenthood clinics in Wisconsin started providing abortions again on Monday for the first time in over a year, restoring abortion access in the state after a court ruled it was permissible despite Wisconsin’s pre-Civil War-era ban. Planned Parenthood president and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson spoke with Forbes about the other states she’s watching and, also, what a ‘better’ Roe v. Wade should look like.

Many employees facing strongly worded return-to-office mandates may suspect that their marching orders are based on little more than the chief executive’s gut instinct. Now employees at Amazon, at least, have had their suspicions confirmed.

Last year, Amanda Bradford sold the dating app she’d founded, The League, to Match Group (owner of Tinder, Hinge, OkCupid, and other dating apps) for $30 million. Bradford spoke to ForbesWomen in her first on-the-record interview since that sale–here’s what she had to say about leading the only dating app entirely engineered and coded by a woman.

Nominations for the 2024 Forbes 50 Over 50: EMEA and 50 Over 50: Asia are officially open! Do you know a woman who lives and works primarily in Europe, the Middle East, Africa or Asia who founded her company after 50? Forged a new scientific discovery or broke a barrier in her field? Ascended to CEO of an industry-defining company? Please tell us about her here! You have until December 10 to submit your best ideas.

The Checklist

1. Spot burnout before you hit rock bottom. Knowing your unique “tells” when you’re on the path to burnout can help you put the brakes on before it’s too late. Maybe you’re not sleeping; maybe texts from friends are overwhelming you as much as work is. Here’s how to identify the signs and strategize what to do next.

2. Stop overthinking and overworking. Overgiving is a result of the tendency to people please, while overthinking comes from anxiety. These two factors lead to overwork—but here’s how you can nip it in the bud.

3. Leadership roles could be closer than you think. Even if you’re still early in your career, or still in college, the time to grow and learn about yourself as a leader is now. Here are five leadership tips from (RED) President and COO Jennifer Lotito.

The Quiz

Sandra Douglass Morgan is still the only Black woman team president in the NFL, a little more than a year into the role. Which AFC West team does she lead?

A. Denver Broncos

B. Kansas City Chiefs

C. Las Vegas Raiders

D. Los Angeles Chargers

Check your answer here!

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