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☆ Your boss denied your promotion request. Here's a CEO's simple advice for what to do next
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

If your boss rejects your request for a promotion because you lack experience with a certain program, try addressing that weakness before asking again. When you're ready, Soo advises telling your boss: "This is how I improved and what I've accomplished since the last time. If you think you're clearly qualified for the role, try forming a stronger argument for why you deserve it. Clearly outline why you're qualified — or at least close to being that — and why it would be a smart decision for your boss to choose you. The task gets harder if you're asking your boss to create a completely new role for you.

☆ This California startup says it can predict where wildfires might start—it's using that power in a surprising way
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Nobody can predict the future, but a San Francisco-based startup called Kettle seems able to predict where wildfires could start in California. That means Kettle provides insurance for insurance companies. But Kettle's focus on reinsurance, rather than selling its software directly to insurance companies, is unique, Manning says. Most reinsurers predict wildfire risk through a decades-old technique that relies on historical data, Manning adds. In other words, reinsurance companies do benefit large insurers — but they also make sure you're able to get the money you're owed if disaster strikes.

The recently authorized booster vaccine protects against the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and the more recent omicron variants, BA.4 and BA.5. But there's a new batch of so-called "Scrabble" variants circulating globally. But experts still expect the shots to ramp up your immunity against all Covid variants, to some degree. The Scrabble variants are descendants of omicronThe new variants are descendants of omicron, which is a promising initial sign for the boosters. That can "restore a level of immunity and patch up the holes that some of these new Scrabble variants have found," she explains.

☆ When companies appoint Black CEOs, their market caps jump by 3.1%—here's why, new study says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

In contrast, companies that appointed white CEOs saw their market cap decline by 0.91% over the same time frame. About 93% of Black CEOs in their study had advanced degrees, compared to 53% of white executives. "By the time that these Black CEOs have gotten to the highest levels, they've had to prove themselves time and time again." Only six Black CEOs sit at the helm of Fortune 500 companies this year, barely making up 1% of that group. "There still may be some bias and more challenges they face compared to white CEOs."

☆ What to do if you test positive for Covid right before a Thanksgiving or holiday gathering
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

And though you might not want to think about it, testing positive for Covid just before one of those gatherings could put a real damper on your holidays. There's a short answer and a long answer, experts say. The short answer is simple: Don't go, even if you don't feel sick at all. But health officials still warn of a winter Covid surge that could wreak havoc, just like last year's winter wave of omicron cases. Here's a guide for what to do if you test positive for Covid right before a holiday gathering with loved ones:

☆ We all have different Covid comfort levels these days—here's how to manage those relationships
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Now more than ever, people's attitudes toward Covid comfort and risk are changing, experts say. That means it's harder than ever to find two people with the same approach toward the virus, and it's making our relationships harder to manage. Here are four experts' tips for dealing with those who have a different Covid comfort level than you do. Find potential accommodationsOnce you know someone's Covid comfort level, you can figure out potential accommodations to make. If you're worried about the risk of Covid transmission at your friend's party, you might attend but wear a mask the entire time.

☆ Women don't really need to lower their voices to be taken seriously, says University of Kansas study
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The result: Lower male voices were perceived as more trustworthy, but lower female voices saw no significant change. "For male leaders, the pattern was reconfirmed ... but for female leaders, that pattern was much weaker," Kim says. People tend to expect "dominant leadership" from men and "communal leadership" from women, Kim says. "If a lower voice, which is a dominant skill, is coming from a female figure, then that is violating people's expectations of female leaders," she adds. Female participants said a low voice helped female CEOs seem more competent, but didn't do anything to make them seem like they had more integrity.

☆ This weekly routine builds stronger relationships at work, says GoodRx CEO: 'It makes up for lost time during the pandemic'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

It's a mutually beneficial way for Hirsch and his employees to build closer relationships with each other and uncover "some incredible new ideas" for the billion-dollar company, Hirsch tells CNBC Make It. I now have all these friends out there that actually want to work here, work together and get our job done," he adds. His only conversational rule on those walks: It "can never start with work," he says. The "work" portion only comes when Marsh decides to "softball ideas" with Hirsch for what her research team can do next. The walks allow him and his employees to get closer without undermining their workplace respect for each other, he adds.

☆ Dr. Jha: A 'tripledemic' could hit the U.S., but 'we're not powerless against it'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A "tripledemic" also involving flu and RSV may soon unfold, says Dr. Ashish Jha. But there's good news: "We're not powerless against it," Jha, the White House's Covid response coordinator, said in a Tuesday interview with CBS News. Jha pointed to the widely available vaccines targeting two of the three respiratory viruses: the flu shot and the new omicron-specific Covid booster. "If people went out and got their vaccines, we could really get through this without getting into a lot of trouble," Jha said. Getting those shots is the key to combatting all three viruses because it'll help keep hospital beds open for potential patients across the country, Jha added.

The project recently shared an updated list of the top Covid symptoms reported by the more than 4 million users of the ZOE Covid Study app, which has tracked virus symptoms based on daily user-entered data since 2020. Covid infections come with dozens of different potential symptoms, ranging from mild fatigue to strange ones like " Covid tongue ." Four of the five most commonly reported symptoms, including sore throat, runny nose, persistent cough and headache, appeared across all three groups — but their prevalence varied. The ZOE study did not account for which Covid variant caused the infections, how many infections were first-time Covid experiences, whether a user received booster doses, patient demographic information and the severity of people's symptoms. Including booster dose data could potentially change the study's list of symptoms, and their potential duration, for people who have completed their primary vaccine series.

☆ 5 types of bosses can make work a nightmare—here's how to deal with them
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

He says there are seven types of bosses out there — and while five of them can make your life a nightmare at work, you can still find ways to manage your relationships with them. Here are those five types of bad bosses, from most to least common — and how to deal with them, according to Gimbel. Ghost bossA ghost boss takes an extreme "hands-off" approach, failing to keep track of their team's work and not being available when their team needs help, Gimbel says. His recommendation: Regularly update your boss about your work and ask questions whenever you need help. Narcissist bossNarcissist bosses make decisions according to their own wants and needs, and fail to consider the people around them at work, Gimbel says.

☆ It's time to stop saying 'fully vaccinated' for Covid, experts say—here's why
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

If you still say "fully vaccinated" for Covid, it's time to stop. 'Fully vaccinated' is not the term that we want to use," Cindy Prins, an epidemiologist at the University of Florida, tells CNBC Make It. The definition of fully vaccinated hasn't changed since the first Covid vaccines were rolled out almost two years ago. It means two initial doses of a vaccine from Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax, or one dose from Johnson & Johnson. Here's why experts say you shouldn't use the term anymore, and what you should do instead:

☆ There are 7 types of bosses, says workplace culture expert—only 1 is worth working for, or trying to become
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Others only seem good at first, and you can use this guide to differentiate between the two, says workplace culture expert Tom Gimbel. "There's an expression: 'People join companies, but they quit bosses," Gimbel tells CNBC Make It. Gimbel says there are seven types of bosses, with one clearly better than the rest. Socializing at work certainly isn't bad, but Gimbel says those bosses prioritize making friends over properly leading and keeping a team accountable. Those bosses don't realize that it's largely their fault when a finished assignment is far from what they want.

☆ Dr. Fauci: These 2 new fast-spreading omicron Covid subvariants are ‘pretty troublesome'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

As winter inches closer, Dr. Fauci is sounding the alarm about a pair of "pretty troublesome" Covid variants. There's no guarantee that the two strains will eventually overtake BA.5 as the dominant variant in the country. But if they do spread rapidly, they could threaten to reverse a nationwide decline in Covid cases, hospitalizations and deaths, leading Fauci to urge Americans against letting their guard down. Scientists from Peking University in China published a study earlier this month that found BQ.1.1's ability to evade antibodies was "far exceeding" that of BA.5. The CDC recommends masking indoors if you're in a county with a substantial or high-level spread of Covid.

☆ How Target’s CEO gives his 'very best' every day: I sleep and eat like I’m 'playing in the U.S. Open or Super Bowl'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-15 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Instead, take his approach to performing the "very best" every day: Sleep and eat "just like you would if you're playing in the U.S. Open or the Super Bowl." I'm going to get a good meal. I'm going to rest. "They're fatigued, they're exhausted, they haven't eaten and you can't expect them to deliver their best," Cornell said. "I really try to balance the importance of my energy and try to make sure I never had a bad day," Cornell said.

☆ Omicron-specific Covid boosters appear to work well, new data says—regardless of the side effects you experience
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-15 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

If you already got your omicron-specific Covid booster, you might have experienced some side effects. But there's no need to worry: Experts and new data say the new shots appear to work — regardless of whether you experience moderate, mild or no side effects at all. The new boosters gained approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the CDC before they finished clinical trials. Like previous Covid vaccines, the new boosters are designed to help you fight the virus by triggering an immune response in your body. Covid vaccines typically take two to three weeks to fully ramp up your immunity, which can help your body stop an infection from happening or keep it from progressing to severe disease.

☆ Harvard expert: The Twitter deal could be bad for Elon Musk—and for the rest of us
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

(Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage)Elon Musk's controversial bid to buy Twitter could be bad news — for both the world's richest person and the general public, a Harvard expert says. "Twitter is a distraction that could keep [Musk] from what's really important," George, who has studied leadership failures over the past two decades, tells CNBC Make It. From PayPal to Tesla and SpaceX, the tech billionaire had a hand in building some of the world's most influential and valuable companies. Musk has already spent the past six months "getting distracted" by the acrimonious Twitter takeover he first proposed in April, George says. In May, Musk tried to quell concerns about him getting distracted by the Twitter deal, saying "Tesla is on my mind 24/7" during an investor call.

☆ The CEO of OpenTable says there's no such thing as a 'wrong turn' in your career: 'You really don't have to stress out'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

At some point, you might find yourself agonizing over an important career decision. And Soo says she never would have even made it to Kayak if not for an early career job she initially thought she'd regret. Her takeaway: Whether you enjoy or hate your job, you'll undeniably learn from it. Be open-mindedEven if you dislike your position right off the bat, remember that there's always something to learn from the experience, Soo says. "That hasn't been my experience, and I'm sure that won't be what other people experience ... You really don't have to stress out too much."

☆ The best wildlife photos of 2022 include a ball of bees, a snake eating a bat, and polar bears raiding an abandoned town
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The London Natural History Museum announced the 2022 winners of its Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest. The winning photos include a frenzied ball of bees, a dancing sea star, and the brushy mouth of a whale. The cactus bees, like most other bees, are endangered by habitat loss, pesticides, and the changing climate. The resulting photo, above, won the Grand Title in this year's Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, which is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum in London each year. As clouds of sea-star sperm and eggs filled the water, photographer Tony Wu captured this otherwordly invertebrate in the throes of its dance.

☆ How introverts can become ‘masters’ at networking: 7 tips from a professional coach
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

But that's what networking is all about — and a networking coach says you're fully capable of mastering the skill. Jevonya Allen, a self-described introvert who has been a networking coach for more than five years, says people often look down on introverts. Allen recommends writing down your affirmations in a journal, an index card or even somewhere on your phone. Have a strategy for networking eventsAs much as you might want to avoid attending networking events with large groups of people, they're still a great way to make business connections, Allen says. Allen recommends meeting at least one networking connection weekly, for roughly 30 minutes each.

☆ Pfizer or Moderna: Which new omicron-specific Covid booster should you get?
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Americans have two options for a new omicron-specific Covid booster shot: Pfizer or Moderna. Pfizer's booster is cleared for anyone 12 and older, while Moderna's booster is for people 18 and older. "People ages 18 years and older may get a different product for a booster than they got for their primary series, as long as it is [Pfizer or Moderna,]" the CDC's website reads. "It's OK to mix and match Moderna and Pfizer," Dr. Ralph Gonzales, associate dean for clinical innovation at UC San Francisco, said at a campus town hall earlier this month. I definitely felt a stronger response with the Moderna — having had Pfizer before — but either combinations are fine."

☆ These 7 states have the least air pollution in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-24 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

That's good news for residents of several states, according to a new U.S. News and World Report analysis, which ranked all 50 states according to how polluted they are and the risk that pollution poses to their population's health. That ranking is consistent with other 2022 analyses: The American Lung Association (ALA) says Vermont's cities are among the cleanest by air quality in the country, and have low levels of the most harmful and widespread types of air pollution. The state's Burlington-South metro area in particular is one of only two U.S. cities that rank as the cleanest for the worst types of air pollution, which include particle pollution and ozone air pollution. In 2022, the ALA said the state's air quality got "mixed grades." Several pieces of research point to the state's poor air quality.

☆ Omicron-specific Covid boosters for children ages 5 to 11 are 'only a matter of weeks away,' says FDA vaccine chief
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

New omicron-specific Covid boosters for children ages 5 to 11 are "only a matter of weeks away," according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's vaccine chief. Marks added that an authorization for the youngest age group — kids under 5 — is still "a few months away." The CDC expects Pfizer's redesigned booster to be for children ages 5 to 11, and Moderna's to be for children ages 6 to 17. Currently, children ages 5 to 11 are only eligible to receive Covid vaccines for their primary series, and a single monovalent booster dose from Pfizer. If the new bivalent boosters receive approval from the FDA and CDC, the monovalent boosters may no longer be authorized for the age group, according to the CDC's planning guide.

☆ Mark Zuckerberg is ‘derailing’ Facebook, says Harvard expert—here's how he can get ‘back on track'
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Mark Zuckerberg's leadership is putting Meta on track to fail, a Harvard management expert says — but it's not a lost cause. That's the suggestion for Zuckerberg from Bill George, a senior fellow at Harvard Business School and former CEO of medical technology company Medtronic. Instead, Zuckerberg has become a leader who prioritizes profits, doesn't accept advice and blames others, according to George. In February, CNBC's Jim Cramer said he has "total faith in Mark Zuckerberg" when it comes to Meta's bet on the metaverse. Why a sabbatical may be unlikely for ZuckerbergBut the odds of Zuckerberg actually following George's advice may be unlikely.

☆ Your workplace desperately needs this type of boss, researchers say—but only 1 in 4 employees have one
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Gartner has conducted extensive research on what employees expect from their managers now, over two years into the pandemic. After reviewing academic articles, surveying thousands of workers, and conducting interviews, Gartner found that it all boils down to a concept called "human leadership." They also adapt to meet the unique needs of their employees and enable self-expression to create a happier and more productive workplace, Duffy says. Just over 1 in 4 employees, 29%, say their supervisors are effective at human leadership, according to a 2022 Gartner survey. Whether you're looking for a more supportive boss — or you're a supervisor looking for ways to better serve your employees' needs — here are the three key qualities of human leadership, according to Duffy:

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