nafriMay 12, 2023
Jeff C. 🇺🇦🇬🇱

With the news that Musk has apparently selected a woman to take over for him as Twitter’s CEO, I am reminded of the “glass cliff” phenomenon:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/women-often-put-charge-failing-companies

When/if Twitter ultimately goes under, remember that Musk created the conditions for it to do so.

Why women are often put in charge of failing companies

The glass cliff is a phenomenon in which women are more likely to be put into leadership roles under risky and precarious circumstances.

PBS NewsHour
May 11, 2023 at 9:51pmWeb
Show threadJeff C. 🇺🇦🇬🇱May 11, 2023

I wouldn’t be surprised if the new CEO sucks, too, but given that the past year has been indistinguishable from intentional sabotage I don’t envy her task.

And if she succeeds in righting the ship? You’d better believe that Musk will be lining up to take credit.

Show threadProxima CentauriMay 11, 2023
@jeff You can't right a sunken ship.
Show threadJeff C. 🇺🇦🇬🇱May 11, 2023

@proximacentauri Perhaps not, but Apple was about 90 days from bankruptcy in 1997 and it’s now a $2.7T company.

After seeing that I tend to be cautious about writing any company off until it is truly gone.

That said, the odds of a Steve Jobs type figure turning Twitter around are pretty remote, so I’m not going to hold my breath.

Show threadKim ScheinbergMay 12, 2023

@jeff
She can't right the ship. He won't let her. If it even looks like she might succeed, he will sabotage her.

I used to think betrayal was his kink. Now I understand it more as his psychological imperative.

Show threadJeff C. 🇺🇦🇬🇱May 12, 2023

@kims Yeah, volumes could be written about his various pathologies.

And, I’m sure, they will be in time.

Show threadKevin LeecasterMay 11, 2023
@jeff
I wouldn't be surprised at this point if ELoon appoints that LibsOfTikTok stochastic terrorist to be the CEO of twitter.
Show threadAlonMay 11, 2023
@jeff I presume it's because tech culture venerates the founder over the professional CEO, and thus to appoint a woman to the latter position like Sheryl Sandberg still conforms to glass ceiling norms?
Show threadPaulina AshlandMay 11, 2023
@jeff The Onion had a headline during the financial crisis, when Obama and Clinton were running, that was something like: “Situation now dire enough to turn over to minorities, women.”
Show thread🌻 Welcome Back 🌻May 13, 2023

@paulinaashland @jeff

Spot on! And utterly aggravating!

Didn't we used to call it a
"Fall Guy"?

Now it's a "Fall Gal"

Show threadNico HNMay 11, 2023
@jeff also perhaps some degree of subconscious "Mommy, fix it" if there's a sense of overwhelm.
Show threadJack IversMay 12, 2023
@jeff I think he’ll hire a toady
Show threadtoxtethogradyMay 12, 2023

@jeff The corollary to that is women often get called in to be part of Donald Trump's legal team. With the result that they inevitably get sanctioned...
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/19/judge-sanctions-trump-habba-clinton-00078700

https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/trump-ally-sidney-powell-asks-court-overturn-sanctions-over-election-lawsuit-2022-12-08/

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/former-trump-lawyer-jenna-ellis-censured-for-falsehoods-about-2020-election

Judge sanctions Trump, Habba nearly $1 million for ‘completely frivolous’ Clinton suit

The judge ordered Trump and Habba to pay $938,000 to cover the legal costs for the 31 defendants Trump linked in his year-old lawsuit.

POLITICO
Show threadBrisVegasMay 12, 2023
@jeff I thought this exact same thing too. He’s set her up to fail, as he’ll still be pulling the strings, but she’ll take all the flack for it.
Show threadCoastalCoastingMay 12, 2023
@jeff If I were her, I'd have everything Pre-Musk reinstated and giggle my way out the door when fired.
Show threadDr MMay 12, 2023
@jeff totally gonna be the scapegoat.
Show threaduser not foundMay 12, 2023
@jeff ah, the placing of the scapegoat that might or might not work out has begun.
Show threadCelloMom On CarsMay 12, 2023

@jeff

Is that what happened in Iceland after the 2008 financial crisis.

While the guys in the government resigned left and right,
Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir served as interim Prime Minister,
Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir headed the formation of a new coalition government, and
Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir became the PM.

They did some tough things. No country recovered as well from 2008 as Iceland did.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008%E2%80%932011_Icelandic_financial_crisis#Government_resignation

2008–2011 Icelandic financial crisis - Wikipedia