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Three Massachusetts Women Changing the Face of Leadership – Banker & Tradesman

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Three Massachusetts Women Changing the Face of Leadership – Banker & Tradesman



Malia Lazu

Across America, organizations are celebrating Women’s History Month, recognizing the cultural, economic, scientific, and social contributions of women in America. There is no shortage of women luminaries from the past. Two personal favorites of mine are Harriett Tubman and Eleanor Roosevelt and, an activist and ally who championed civil and human rights.

But when we look back across history at women in leadership, we see two very different stories: one for white women and one for women of color. The fact is efforts to improve gender diversity have led to gains mostly by white women, as USA Today reported. For women of color, advancement into leadership has taken longer and for no other reason than systemic racism and inherent bias that determines who gets hired, developed and promoted.

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There are examples everywhere. In 1981, Sandra Day O’Connor became the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court – followed far too many years later by the first women of color to sit on the high court. In 2019, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic and first Latina, was sworn in and, in 2022, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson became the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court.

We see a similar pattern in corporate leadership. In 1972, Katharine Graham of the Washington Post became the first woman on the Fortune 500 list of CEOs. The real trailblazer, though, came in 2009 when Ursula Burns of Xerox became the first Black female CEO on that list.

As we look around our organizations today, we see few, if any, people of color in senior leadership – and even fewer women of color. It’s time to change the face of women in leadership to be truly inclusive: BIPOC women, Asian women, LGBTQ women, and women from other underrepresented groups.

Here in Massachusetts, we have three champions who are leading the way, not just for themselves, but also for greater equity for all.

Three Mass. Women Champions

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Mayor Michelle Wu, the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, became the first woman and the first non-white person to lead the city of Boston. As anyone in Boston real estate development, housing and banking knows all too well, Mayor Wu ran on a platform of completely revamping the Boston Planning & Development Agency, which for too long has favored big developers at the expense of our racially and ethnically diverse communities.

Under Mayor Wu, the BPDA is in the process of being transformed, including by updating and modernizing the zoning code; ensuring development (and the approval process) is more transparent and predictable for developers and community members; and using public land for public good, with a focus on affordability.

Gov. Maura Healey made history in 2022 when she (along with Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek) became one of two openly gay governors in the U.S. During in her political career, as the first openly gay state attorney general to be elected in the country, she led the commonwealth’s challenge of the Defense of Marriage Act, which had banned same-sex marriage.

Now among Gov. Healey’s many initiatives is a push to tackle housing costs, and more specifically increasing the supply of affordable housing. The governor and her team are championing the Affordable Homes Act, which aims to create housing for all income levels in the state.

U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley proudly calls herself an activist, a legislator, a survivor and the first women of color to be elected to Congress from the commonwealth of Massachusetts. She does not shy away from taking on those in power, including in the banking sector. Last summer, she sent letters to the CEOs of JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo and Citi, asking for a “detailed update” on the commitments to racial equity that these financial institutions had announced so publicly in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in May 2020.

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She is calling on these big banks to heal the harm caused, not only historically but also currently in perpetuating the bias and racial inequalities within the banking system.

A Mandate for Change

These strong leaders – all of whom were elected by wide margins – are reminders of what happens when we change the face of women in leadership. Across the public and private sector–including the real estate and financial industries–we need more of these strong women leaders who come from varied backgrounds.

White women rising to the upper echelons of corporate leadership is not enough. Bold, courageous and innovative leadership requires leaders from multiple diverse backgrounds – bringing together the intersectionality of being a woman and being BIPOC, Asian, and LBGTQ. To truly change the face of leadership, women must be united in the cause – with more white women becoming allies to support and champion women of color in leadership.

Malia Lazu is a lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management, CEO of The Lazu Group, former Eastern Massachusetts regional president and chief experience and culture officer at Berkshire Bank and the author of “From Intention to Impact: A Practical Guide to Diversity.”

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Massachusetts

Canadian hydropower line to Massachusetts expected to be running in January

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Canadian hydropower line to Massachusetts expected to be running in January


The long-awaited hydropower line delivering electricity from Québec to New England is expected to be running in January after years of hurdles and delays, the company Hydro Québec stated.

“We have been actively testing the line and the transformers for the past several weeks and are making good progress,” a spokesperson for Hydro Québec said, adding the teams were actively working on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border and “expect to be ready begin energy deliveries in January.”

The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission line, initiated nearly in 2017 under the Baker administration and under construction since 2021, is set to deliver 1,200 megawatts of hydropower from Québec to New England over 20 years, becoming one of the largest sources of baseload power in the region.

Avangrid, the company behind the NECEC, announced in November it had secured the final permit to get the power line running after years of regulatory and legal hurdles. The company estimated the line would be running by the end of 2025 at the time.

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The project to bring Canadian hydropower to the New England power grid, estimated to cost about $1 billion, is expected to provide Massachusetts with approximately 20% of it overall electricity.

The clean energy line will deliver about $3 billion in net benefits to Massachusetts residents paying for electricity, including “reducing in ratepayer bills by around $50 million each year,” state officials said.

“This transmission line will deliver affordable, stable power from our partners in Canada to our residents and businesses,” Gov. Maura Healey said in November. “More energy means lower costs. The NECEC line is a key part of our all-of-the-above approach to lowering energy costs and delivering the power our economy needs.”

On average, officials estimated, residents can expect to save $18 to $20 a year over the contract term.



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NESN’S Tom Caron, Dave O’Brien Named 2025 NSMA Massachusetts Co-Sportscasters Of The Year

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NESN’S Tom Caron, Dave O’Brien Named 2025 NSMA Massachusetts Co-Sportscasters Of The Year


New England Sports Network (NESN) on Monday announced that Boston Red Sox broadcast leaders Tom Caron and Dave O’Brien have been named 2025 Massachusetts Co-Sportscasters of the Year by the National Sports Media Association (NSMA).

Caron and O’Brien serve as the cornerstone voices of NESN’s Red Sox coverage, leading the network’s studio and game productions, respectively. Together, they anchor NESN’s comprehensive Red Sox broadcasts, delivering in-depth analysis, trusted storytelling and championship-caliber coverage to fans across New England.

“Tom and Dave represent the gold standard of sports broadcasting,” said David Wisnia, President & CEO of NESN. “Their credibility, storytelling, and deep connection to Red Sox fans elevate every broadcast. This recognition by NSMA is a well-deserved honor and a reflection of their impact on New England sports media.”

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This recognition continues NESN’s tradition of broadcast excellence, following Jack Edwards’ selection as the 2024 NSMA Massachusetts Sportscaster of the Year for his work as the play-by-play voice of the Boston Bruins.

Tom Caron joined NESN in 1995, recently celebrating 30 years with the network. For the past 24 seasons, he has been a central figure in NESN’s Red Sox coverage, serving as the network’s first baseball sideline reporter before becoming host of the Red Sox pregame and postgame shows during the club’s historic 2004 championship season. In addition to leading NESN’s Red Sox studio programming and hosting the “310 To Left” VODcast, Caron has served as studio host for Boston Bruins hockey and as play-by-play announcer for premier New England college hockey events, including the Beanpot Tournament and Hockey East Championship. A nine-time New England Emmy Award winner, Caron was inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 2021 and is deeply involved in numerous charitable organizations throughout the region, including serving as Co-Chair of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Jimmy Fund.

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Dave O’Brien has served as NESN’s primary play-by-play voice of the Red Sox since 2016, following nine years with the Red Sox Radio Network. In addition to leading NESN’s game broadcasts, O’Brien is also the lead play-by-play announcer for college football and basketball on ESPN’s ACC Network. His career includes Major League Baseball postseason broadcasts, international World Series coverage, and play-by-play roles with the Florida Marlins, New York Mets, and Atlanta Braves. A Boston native, O’Brien is a recipient of multiple national and regional broadcasting honors and is widely respected as one of the sport’s premier voices.

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The National Sports Media Association annually recognizes excellence in sports media across the country, honoring broadcasters who demonstrate outstanding professionalism, longevity, and impact in their markets.

About NESN
NESN is consistently one of the top-rated regional sports networks in the country with award-winning Red Sox and Bruins coverage, and recently named RSN of the Year by Cynopsis. NESN and NESN+ are delivered throughout the six-state New England region and are available anytime, anywhere, on any device on the NESN 360 app via direct subscription or TV authentication. The network is also distributed nationally as NESN National. NESN’s free ad-supported streaming (FAST) channel, NESN NATION, offers 35+ hours of weekly live and original programming, including exclusive sports content, interviews, and behind-the-scenes features, available on Samsung TV Plus, Prime Video, Roku, LG, Twitch, Plex, and TCLtv+. NESN.com is one of the country’s most visited sports websites with dedicated digital video production and always-on news coverage. NESN’s social responsibility program, NESN Connects, is proud to support and connect its employees with charitable organizations in the Greater Boston community. NESN also manages SportsNet Pittsburgh, home of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pittsburgh Pirates for all regionally televised games in and around Pittsburgh, as well as other local sports content. NESN is owned by Fenway Sports Group (owners of the Boston Red Sox) and Delaware North (owners of the Boston Bruins).

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Mass. weather: How much snow is expected across the state on Monday

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Mass. weather: How much snow is expected across the state on Monday


All of Massachusetts is predicted to see some snowfall in the latter half of the day on Monday, with most of the state getting 1 to 2 inches of accumulation, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures are expected to dip into the teens overnight on Sunday before rising into the mid to high 20s on Monday, the weather service said. Clouds are predicted to increase throughout the day before the snow begins in the afternoon.

Berkshire County could see some light snow Sunday night and Monday morning, but heavier precipitation is expected to begin by 1 p.m. Monday, according to the weather service. Most of the rest of the state is predicted to start seeing snow between 3 and 6 p.m., first in western Massachusetts, then spreading across the state.

The snowfall is expected to stop between 10 p.m. Monday and 1 a.m. Tuesday in most of Massachusetts, according to the weather service. Much of the state may also experience patchy fog Monday night.

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The northwestern half of Worcester County and most of Berkshire County is expected to get the most snow — up to 3 inches, according to the weather service. The Cape, Islands and South Coast are predicted to get less than an inch, and the rest of the state is expected to get 1 to 2 inches.

Most of Massachusetts is predicted to get 1 to 2 inches of snow Monday afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service.National Weather Service

Overnight lows on Monday are predicted to drop into the low to mid 20s, according to the weather service. Temperatures on Tuesday are expected to be warmer, reaching the mid 30s to low 40s.

There is a chance of rain in most of Massachusetts Tuesday afternoon, with precipitation more likely after 4 p.m., according to the weather service. Tuesday night is predicted to be rainy across the state, though the precipitation may come down as freezing rain or snow at higher elevations.

Temperatures overnight on Tuesday are expected to dip into the high 20s and low 30s before rising into the mid 40s on Wednesday, according to the weather service. Communities in the central and western parts of the state are predicted to see the rain cease by 10 a.m., while Eastern Massachusetts can expect to experience rain until midday.

Sunny skies are predicted across the state following the rain on Wednesday, according to the weather service.

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