Financial Experts Warn That ‘Moneymaxxing’ Alone Cannot Build Wealth
The new viral trend is helping consumers rethink spending, but experts say it takes more than saving money to generate wealth
Moneymaxxing is the new buzzword flooding social media algorithms. The viral trend encourages consumers to get the maximum value from every dollar by cutting unnecessary expenses, using rewards programs, reducing impulse purchases, and moving cash into high-yield savings accounts. The trend has gained traction, especially among younger adults looking for practical ways to manage and optimize their finances. But while the strategy can help people become more conscious about their spending habits, financial experts say there is a major difference between saving money and building wealth.
“It has likely risen in popularity as young people are searching for ways to get ahead financially,” Corey Bates, a financial and investment adviser at Solomon Financial, told Yahoo Finance.
Bates said younger consumers are increasingly aware of inflation and the rising cost of living, making intentional money management especially important as they build a financial foundation.
Mical Jeanlys-White, the founder of WealthMore and host of the All The Wealth podcast, told CBS Philadelphia that the moneymaxxing conversation often stops before reaching the most important part of wealth building: investing.
“It’s putting your focus on, ‘Hey, where can I save?’ What it’s lacking is, ‘How do I put my money to work?’” he said.
Jeanlys-White also pointed to the financial pressure many households are experiencing. “Everyone is paying more for their basic necessities,” she said. “Inflation is a pay cut. It’s invisible, but you are feeling it.”
According to her, cutting subscriptions, choosing store brands, and avoiding unnecessary purchases can free up cash, but those strategies alone do not necessarily create long-term wealth.
“That’s the investing piece that’s missing,” Jeanlys-White said. “Figure out how to make sure you have enough money to save and invest.”
Her advice reframes moneymaxxing from a lifestyle of constant penny-pinching into a broader wealth-building strategy. The goal is not simply to hold onto more money, but to create a system that lets those dollars grow over time.
For consumers trying to build financial stability, experts recommend understanding where your money is going, focusing on reducing high-cost debt, building an emergency fund, and developing a consistent savings and investment strategy.
“I always say take it off the top,” Jeanlys-White said, recommending that consumers prioritize saving and investing before spending the remainder of their income.
Viola Davis Slams Target’s Apology Over ‘Racist’ Halloween Costume Controversy
The Oscar-winning actress said the retailer's response fails to address the deeper issue of corporate decision-making and Black representation
Viola Davis is calling on Target to do more than just apologize after the retailer pulled a children’s Halloween costume that critics said evoked racist Blackface and minstrel imagery.
The Oscar-winning actress rejected Target’s public response in an Instagram post on Tuesday, arguing that removing the product does not address the broader harm associated with imagery that has historically dehumanized Black people.
“Target, I do not accept your apology and I do not believe that you understand the impact…the pain…the dehumanisation of the above,” Davis wrote, adding, “these images laid the foundation and the ideology for every atrocity that has been committed against my people. We matter! You have shown that you are not on our side.”
The controversy centers on Target’s $25 “Kids’ Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown” costume. The product featured a black-and-orange bodysuit, black gloves, and a hood with an exaggerated smile and small top hat. The product image featured a young Black boy. Following criticism online, Target removed the listing.
“As a company, we know we got this wrong, and we are deeply sorry,” Target said in a statement. “The costume is offensive and should never have been part of our assortment. It is no longer available for sale.”
The retailer also acknowledged the impact on the Black community, saying the incident was “especially hurtful for our Black guests, team members and partners.” The retail giant added that it was examining “how this happened and what needs to change to ensure this won’t happen again.” However, the company has not explained how the product cleared its review processes or identified who was responsible for approving it.
Target has also faced continued criticism over its rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Sheletta Brundidge, a Minneapolis-area business leader who protested Target’s DEI rollback, told Reuters, “You rolled back diversity, so who’s in the room, now, to say ‘hey, this is wrong?’”
Rev. Jamal Bryant, who led a 40-day Target boycott last year, told The Washington Post that imagery evoking Jim Crow-era minstrel shows “is not simply getting it wrong.” He added that the incident showed that Target “still lacks corporate diversity among decision-makers” and needed internal changes.
The State Department began the pause in early August as part of a global training initiative at U.S. embassies and consulates.
The Trump administration has temporarily paused immigrant visa processing for applicants worldwide as U.S. consular officers undergo training on stricter standards for determining whether prospective immigrants could become dependent on government benefits, AP Newsreports.
The State Department began the pause in early August as part of a global training initiative at U.S. embassies and consulates. The interruption is expected to last until early to mid-September, the outlet reports. Applicants with interviews scheduled in August are expected to have their appointments moved to September, October, or November.
The pause largely affects people seeking immigrant visas through family relationships, including parents, spouses, children, and siblings of U.S. citizens. Employment-based applicants with employer sponsorship are generally not affected because they can demonstrate expected earnings, according to AP.
The State Department said the training is intended to help consular officers consistently determine whether applicants could become a “public charge,” a designation under federal immigration law that can make a prospective immigrant inadmissible based on the likelihood of dependence on government assistance.
“The Trump Administration is protecting the American people by upholding the highest standards of screening and vetting of visa applicants,” a State Department spokesperson said.
The State Department has also launched a pilot program allowing consular officers to require certain immigrant visa applicants initially denied on public-charge grounds to apply for a bond as one way of demonstrating they are unlikely to become a public charge after entering the United States.
The worldwide pause comes days after U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas on Aug. 21 struck down a separate Trump administration policy that suspended immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries. Vargas ruled that Secretary of State Marco Rubio exceeded his statutory authority by requiring otherwise eligible applicants to be denied based on nationality.
The 75-country restriction had been in place since January and was similarly based on concerns that immigrants could become dependent on public assistance.
The latest pause is part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to tighten both legal and illegal immigration. Reuters reported that the administration has pursued visa and green-card revocations, increased scrutiny of applicants, and higher fees for certain work visas. Trump has said his immigration policies are intended to strengthen domestic security.
The Remix Economy: Career Reinvention Is the Most Valuable Business Skill
Kendéll Lenice, aka The Remix Coach, helps professionals learn to pivot and adapt to the new realties of changing workplaces.
For decades, career success in our economy followed a familiar script: earn a degree, build experience, climb the corporate ladder, and retire after a steady progression of promotions. That playbook is quickly becoming obsolete.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, companies are restructuring their workforces, entrepreneurship is accelerating, and professionals are being asked to reinvent themselves faster than ever. Career transitions that once happened once or twice in a lifetime are becoming routine.
Welcome to what many professionals are experiencing as the Remix Economy—an era where adaptability, resilience, and continuous reinvention have become more valuable than job titles alone.
The data underscores the shift. Gallup’sState of the Global Workplace 2026 found that employee engagement fell for a second consecutive year to its lowest level since 2020, costing the global economy an estimated $10 trillion in lost productivity. Meanwhile, Gallup reports that half of U.S. workers now use artificial intelligence in some capacity, bringing both productivity gains and growing concerns about disruption and job security.
At the same time, Harvard Business Review continues to spotlight career coaching, burnout prevention, and leadership development as essential skills for navigating an increasingly unpredictable workplace.
Against that backdrop, the demand for career coaches, executive coaches, and transition specialists has surged—not because people have become less capable, but because the rules of success have fundamentally changed.
Few understand that shift better than Kendéll Lenice, a certified life coach, speaker, and author known professionally as The Remix Coach.
“When someone is forced to remix their career because of a changing economy, workplace cultures, industry shifts, or job loss, it often signals that it’s time to pivot, adapt, and approach their future differently,” Lenice tells BLACK ENTERPRISE. “With that comes the opportunity to reinvent themselves, discover new strengths, and embrace new possibilities.”
Her philosophy reflects what many leadership experts now argue: the professionals who thrive won’t necessarily be those with the longest résumés—they’ll be the ones who can learn, adapt, and position themselves differently in the economy.
“We cannot show up the same way to jobs any longer, or we will get lost,” Lenice says. “A remix is imperative.”
Beyond the Résumé
One of the greatest challenges facing today’s professionals isn’t acquiring new skills—it’s separating personal identity from professional identity.
Layoffs, career pivots, and business setbacks often leave accomplished professionals questioning their value because they’ve attached their confidence to a title, paycheck, or company logo.
“It’s easy to get caught up in what we do instead of who we are,” Lenice explains. “We can begin to define ourselves by our job, our income, or our level of success, forgetting the person we were before any of those things.”
She encourages clients to return to the qualities that created their success in the first place.
“The shift begins with believing that we can do it all again—and this time, even better with the knowledge we acquired through experience,” she says. “Your rebuild can become your breakthrough.”
That perspective mirrors today’s labor market, where reinvention is increasingly becoming a competitive advantage rather than a sign of failure.
Ironically, technology designed to make work easier is creating new forms of exhaustion.
The Hidden Cost of Constant Reinvention
A recent Business Insider report found that many founders and executives are experiencing what experts now describe as AI burnout. Rather than creating more free time, artificial intelligence has intensified workloads, increased pressure to keep pace with competitors, and eliminated many mental breaks that occur naturally throughout the workday.
For Black professionals, those pressures are often compounded by another reality: carrying financial responsibility for extended family while simultaneously trying to build generational wealth in today’s economy.
“This is super common in our community,” Lenice says. “When we make it, we all make it. We carry loads that aren’t even meant for us to carry, but we don’t know how to put the cape down.”
She believes the next generation’s greatest inheritance should extend beyond financial assets.
“The true legacy we should be leaving is the gift of protecting our mental health and the courage to ask for help before burnout,” she says. “Supporting family is a beautiful act of love, but it should never come at the expense of our own well-being.”
Reinvention Starts at Home
Career uncertainty doesn’t stay at the office.
Financial stress, career changes, and entrepreneurial risk often spill into relationships, where fear and uncertainty can quickly create conflict.
“One of the biggest mistakes couples make during unwanted seasons of change is turning their partner into the enemy,” Lenice says. “But the problem is the challenge—not each other.”
Instead, she encourages couples to treat difficult seasons as opportunities to strengthen their partnership.
“The healthiest relationships aren’t defined by the absence of challenges; they’re defined by how two people choose to face those challenges together,” she says. “Remember, this is just a season. Summer will come back around.”
Your Next Chapter
Perhaps the defining characteristic of the Remix Economy isn’t disruption—it’s possibility.
Professionals who once viewed career changes as setbacks are increasingly discovering they can become launchpads into entrepreneurship, consulting, portfolio careers, or entirely new industries.
“Many people feel stuck not because their feet won’t move,” Lenice says. “It’s because mentally, they aren’t able to move forward because of the grief of what happened—or didn’t happen.”
Her advice is simple but timely.
“It’s not a time to give up,” she says. “It’s time to ask, ‘What’s next?'”
In an economy where change has become the only constant, perhaps the greatest investment professionals can make isn’t in another credential or certification. It’s in developing the mindset to reinvent themselves again and again.
“The path you’re about to take,” Lenice says, “may lead to everything you’ve been praying for.”
Colleges Are Cutting Black Studies Programs And Classes
More than a dozen colleges have reduced Black studies departments, majors, and classes in wake of the Trump administration's attack on DEI.
Black studies programs are facing a new round of cuts in higher education as the Trump administration continues its effort to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in schools, corporations, and government.
The Washington Post found that more than a dozen private and public institutions have scaled back Black, African, or African American studies programs since 2024. The changes have included closing or merging academic units, eliminating majors and degrees, trimming courses, and reducing staff. The University of Iowa, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Kansas are among institutions that have closed or consolidated African American studies units. Other schools, including Kennesaw State University, the University of Toledo, and Indiana University Bloomington, have eliminated or begun phasing out programs.
“Politics is the engine, not a factor,” Jafari Sinclaire Allen, the director of Columbia University’s Institute for Research in African American Studies, told The Washington Post.
Allen warned that the consequences could extend beyond individual campuses and weaken the pipeline for future researchers and faculty.
“They are not cutting at the fringe,” Allen said. “They are striking the foundations.”
Many of the institutions are also facing challenges in funding and filling the programs. Data analyzed through 2025 found that fewer than 700 degrees in African American studies were awarded nationally for three consecutive years, despite a gradual increase in the number of institutions offering degree programs. At the University of Iowa, officials noted that only nine students were enrolled in its African American studies bachelor’s program when the school decided to eliminate the major. The University of North Texas, meanwhile, cited a projected $45 million budget shortfall as it moved to close or consolidate a list of programs, including an Africana studies minor.
Still, academics argue that enrollment and budget figures don’t tell the entire story. Erica R. Edwards, the chair of Black studies at Yale University, said such programs have become a target because “the field is unapologetic in its critiques of fascism, antiblackness, sexism and antitransness, and antiimmigration.” In an email to The Post, she added that “given the concerted attempts of our current administration and its allies to suppress history and silence truth, it comes as no surprise that Black Studies programs are facing challenges from the inside—cuts, intense scrutiny, censorship, and consolidation—as well as attacks from the outside.”
The cuts are unfolding as states impose new restrictions on how colleges teach race, gender, and other topics. Florida, North Carolina, and Texas have adopted policies that cut race- and identity-related coursework, while the Trump administration has continued its push against diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
“Institutions of higher education have adopted and actively use dangerous, demeaning, and immoral race- and sex-based preferences under the guise of so-called ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion,’” the order states.
Shonda Rhimes is the founder of Shondaland, the production company behind hit series Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and How to Get Away with Murder. She became the first woman to create three television dramas that each surpassed 100 episodes. In 2017, Rhimes moved from network television to streaming, making a landmark deal with Netflix, said to be worth more than $100 million, and was inducted in Television Academy hall of fame She has built an estimated net worth of $250 million through her successful TV empire, production company and strategic business ventures: Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Shonda Rhimes Secures New Five-Year Deal With Netflix
The new agreement keeps Shondaland at Netflix while extending the business relationship beyond television into film, gaming, merchandise, and live experiences.
Shonda Rhimes is expanding her entertainment empire at Netflix.
The television powerhouse, her Shondaland production company, and longtime producing partner Betsy Beers have renewed their overall deal with the streaming giant for another five years, extending a partnership that began in 2017. The agreement keeps Netflix as the exclusive home for Shondaland’s television and film projects while continuing opportunities in gaming, merchandise, and live events connected to the company’s intellectual property, reports TheWrap. The deal’s financial terms were not disclosed.
“I am excited to extend our relationship with Netflix,” Rhimes said in a statement. “For almost a decade, Netflix has provided Shondaland with the autonomy and support to tell our kind of stories—stories that both entertain and reflect diversity and humanity in a way that resonates with audiences around the world.”
Since moving to Netflix, Rhimes has helped build Bridgerton into one of the streamer’s most popular global franchises. The series has expanded beyond traditional television into consumer products and live experiences, demonstrating the business value of owning and developing entertainment properties that can travel across multiple revenue streams.
Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria said Rhimes’ work demonstrates how a strong creative vision can become a much larger cultural and commercial enterprise.
“Few creative partnerships have shown what’s possible when a singular vision meets a global stage,” Bajaria said, according to Variety Australia. “Shonda’s instincts aren’t just brilliant storytelling—they’re a blueprint for what a hit can become.”
The Bridgerton franchise remains a major asset in that equation. Netflix recently confirmed that Season 5 is in production and scheduled for 2027, while the series has also been renewed for a sixth season.
Shondaland’s Netflix portfolio also includes Inventing Anna, The Residence, the Emmy-winning documentary Black Barbie, and Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker. The renewed deal will also continue Netflix’s support for Shondaland’s Ladder Program, which helps train and create opportunities for underrepresented talent working in production.
“I am so thankful to Ted, Bela, and the entire Netflix team for their continued partnership, trust, and enthusiasm,” Rhimes said. “Let’s GO!”
Nearly a decade after bringing Shondaland to Netflix, Rhimes is proving that the real power move in entertainment is not to simply create a hit show. It is building an ecosystem around the stories, talent, and intellectual property that keep the business growing long after the credits roll.
The Cost of Autonomy: How Vic Mensa Is Building a Black Media Empire
The Chicago-born artist and entrepreneur breaks down how to navigate corporate partnerships and redefine economic power for Black creatives.
Vic Mensa has never been one to toe the corporate line. From his early rise as a Chicago rapper to launching his production banner, establishing Illinois’ first Black-owned legal cannabis brand, and hosting The Vic Mensa Show, Mensa’s career is a case study in creative self-determination.
In an era where corporate sponsors often demand sanitized narratives, Mensa continues to tackle systemic inequities, radical politics, and raw truth head-on. In this exclusive conversation with BLACK ENTERPRISE, Mensa dives into his vision for The Vic Mensa Show, the mechanics of IP ownership, and building business equity.
The questions and Mensa’s answers have been edited for clarity.
BE: The Vic Mensa Show tackles heavy topics like politics and systemic flaws. How do you navigate corporate sponsors and advertisers who might get nervous when you choose raw truth over corporate safety?
Mensa: The goal of the show is to maintain the authenticity synonymous with my brand and find partnerships that fit our politics. Relationships aren’t perfect, but some things just don’t make sense. We’ve had to pass on many deals because they simply don’t align, and that’s OK. You can’t sell your soul to the highest bidder. Some people might, but I couldn’t feel right doing that. It wouldn’t be me.
BE: How does your team determine which brands to work with? Are advertisers approaching you, or are you proactively seeking partners who align with social justice?
Mensa: It’s on a case-by-case basis. I’m not personally talking to advertisers—I’m focused on the ideas, the concepts, the words, the production, and the art itself. I’m blessed to have a great team that seeks out partnerships and opportunities that actually make sense for what we stand for.
BE: How did you partner with major platforms like Mass Appeal, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple for The Vic Mensa Show without losing control of your vision?
Mensa: Man, I gotta say I’m grateful to have great partners in it that can help to structure business and have just a good team putting together solid deals and working on my behalf, on our behalf, to maintain control and ownership over what we do, you know? And also, like, I came into it funding things myself, which also changes your dynamic too.
When you start by putting your own money on the line, it’s also a bit of a different journey, you know, than if all you have is an idea. I approach things, right now, from a place of tangible proof. Whatever I’m doing, if it’s a TV venture I’m working on, I went and shot a short film, which is almost like a digital pilot version of the TV show that I’m writing and pitching, so that I’m showing people something tangible.
It costs a lot, but it’s like I’m showing you the real thing. I’m not just coming to you with, like, an amorphous vision. I’m showing you, like, this is what I’m talking about.
BE: This season featured a formidable lineup—Chance the Rapper, Lena Waithe, Rapsody, Aja Monet, and Van Lathan. What’s the main takeaway you want audiences to gather from bringing these specific voices together?
Mensa: A dominant theme throughout this season is the cost of freedom—what is the price paid? Every guest has experienced that differently. Chance gave us a blueprint for the independent musician model. Van Lathan worked within legacy media, broke rank, and forged his own path. Aja Monet has organized alongside me and taught me so much about freedom movements. With her album, a portion of every dollar generated goes directly to women’s and girls’ organizations. It’s about reimagining how we operate within a system we are inherently part of.
BE: As these guests have built successful media footprints, are you looking to establish yourself as a broader thought leader or media personality alongside your music?
Mensa: With this show, my primary motivation is the conversation itself. Cody Chesnutt once told Chance and me, “Every conversation is a construction site. The primary question is: what are we building?” I don’t necessarily envision myself as a media personality. “Thought leader” sounds nice, but I don’t get caught up in labels. I’m just chasing my interests and remaining a student—reading, studying, and learning in public through dialogue with others.
BE: How has retaining your intellectual property (IP) changed how you monetize, take risks, and structure deals?
Vic Mensa: At this stage, owning your IP is everything. We’ve been sold a business model where we take upfront capital to cover immediate needs—like paying rent—and forfeit all backend profits. The result is that you rarely see money again.
Coming at this with experience changes the dynamic. Owning your IP allows you to move beyond basic survival, retain long-term value, and maintain control over your creative expression.
BE: How critical is direct support from your audience?
Mensa: None of this is possible without direct support from the people. Audiences are hungry for authentic storytelling, intellectual depth, and left-of-center Black politics.
BE: What is your advice for digital creators trying to convert social media views into long-term business equity?
Mensa: Focus on branding what you do and owning the means of production. For example, during the Orange Tree series, I wore apparel that I was actively producing and selling—not just promoting someone else’s brand. Don’t be a middleman for your own business; treat yourself as an enterprise.
Ideologically, focus on collective power. While capitalism won’t save us, we operate within it, so a dual-prong strategy is necessary: build sustainable equity while staying grounded in theory and collective community advancement.
BE: Looking at The Vic Mensa Show from a 30,000-foot view, how do you define success for the project?
Mensa: For me, success isn’t tied to arbitrary numerical benchmarks; it’s about consistency and longevity. If you execute at the highest creative level and sustain that work over time, long-term impact and business equity are inevitable.
Melissa Butler Is Offering Equity To Save Thread Beauty
Rather than shutting down Thread Beauty, Melissa Butler is betting that community and the right business partner can save the brand
Melissa Butler turned The Lip Bar from a lipstick that she made in her Brooklyn kitchen into a nationally distributed beauty business. But even seasoned entrepreneurs can struggle to get another venture off the ground.
Butler, who created The Lip Bar in 2012, revealed that she considered closing the cosmetic line she launched in 2022, Thread Beauty, last year after it failed to gain the same momentum as her flagship company. Target, however, encouraged her to keep going. Rather than shutting it down, Butler has taken an unconventional approach to revive Thread Beauty, revealing in a TikTok video that she’s giving someone else a chance to own part of the business.
I’m looking for a business partner for @threadbeauty! This is a rare opportunity to have ownership in a brand that has national distribution and a relevant value proposition (especially in a tough economy) without having to spend money up front! If you want to build something meaningful in the beauty space and be the face + part owner of @threadbeauty, I’d love to hear from you. Eligibility Requirements: -100k+ ENGAGED followers on a single platform -Ability to create compelling content -Deep Love for makeup + an aligned audience -US based This is a hands-on opportunity for someone who is ambitious, passionate and ready to grow. Serious inquiries only. Fill out the form on my site melissarbutler.com @Mel B
“It’s not working, which is kinda hard to say,” Butler said in the video posted on Aug. 10. “So, I thought about closing it last year, and Target was like, ‘No, Melissa, we still believe in this brand.’”
Thread Beauty launched at Target as an affordable and inclusive cosmetics brand aimed at younger consumers. The brand’s products, including blush, eyeliner, lip gloss, and complexion products, are all priced at $8.
“Thread is young, it’s fun, it’s very affordable. Everything is $8,” said the founder. However, she realized that the brand is missing community and connection.
“I underestimated that it really needed a face,” Butler said. “It really needed a human connection.”
Now, she is seeking a business partner who can also become the public face of the brand. In turn, she is offering equity in the company, which already has nationwide distribution through Target.
“I can’t be the face of Thread and The Lip Bar,” Butler said. “I am literally taking applications for not only a business partner, but a face of the brand.”
Butler’s move highlights a different approach to business growth and turnaround strategy. Rather than shutting down the brand or relying solely on additional capital, she is leveraging assets Thread Beauty already has: retail distribution, infrastructure, a robust social media audience, and an existing product pipeline.
Her announcement comes more than a year after The Lip Bar suffered from a decline in sales at Target after Black civil rights and religious leaders launched a nationwide boycott in 2025 to protest the retailer’s decision to roll back its DEI initiatives. In a social media video, she confirmed that sales at the big-name retailer dropped 30%.
“Our sales are down 30, 40%. Like that’s exactly what we thought was going to happen,” said the Detroit native, referring to the side effects she anticipated would happen in the wake of the boycott.
“That’s not to say that people should continue or go back to shopping at Target. It’s just to say that we knew that there was going to be a huge impact, and to offset the impact, it requires people to be really intentional about where they are shopping,” Butler added.
A new study published in Frontiers of Psychology last month found that fully remote workers reported being the happiest, while employees who worked entirely onsite reported the lowest. The research also found little evidence that working remotely weakened employees’ connections to colleagues or workplace culture.
Researchers analyzed 7,704 employees at a large healthcare organization, comparing fully remote, hybrid, and fully onsite workers. The study measured well-being across physical, mental, emotional, social, and financial dimensions and later compared those results with employee turnover data. Fully remote employees reported the strongest well-being, followed by hybrid workers, while fully onsite employees reported the lowest levels.
“Our findings challenge the idea that simply bringing people back into a building will automatically make them more engaged, connected, or likely to stay,” researchers Stefanie Johnson and Courtney Holladay told Fortune.
One year after the initial survey, employees with higher well-being were less likely to leave the organization, creating a potential business case for flexibility beyond employee preference. That matters for employers watching the bottom line, as employee turnover can carry significant costs, from recruiting and training to lost institutional knowledge and productivity. A 2019 Gallup analysis estimated that voluntary turnover was costing U.S. businesses $1 trillion annually.
Still, some of corporate America’s most prominent executives remain committed to return-to-office policies. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has been a vocal advocate for in-person work, while Tesla CEO Elon Musk has also taken a hard line against remote work.
“The mistake is treating physical presence as the outcome rather than asking what organizations are trying to accomplish through it,” Johnson and Holladay told Fortune.
The researchers did not measure productivity, and the study focused on one large healthcare organization, meaning the findings may not translate equally across every industry or job function. But the research adds another data point to an increasingly important conversation for business leaders: whether showing up to an office is the same as building engagement.
For companies trying to retain talent and compete for skilled workers, the answer may be less about where employees work and more about whether the work arrangement supports them. As Johnson put it, employers should “design experiences that actually produce those outcomes.”
The remote-work conversation, in other words, may be bigger than office attendance. It is increasingly becoming a conversation about retention, workplace strategy, and whether companies are measuring the outcomes that really matter.
Groom Guy Brings Black-Owned Luxury Grooming To Marriott’s Autograph Collection
Groom Guy, founded by Darius Davie and Matthew Sears in 2020, operates inside the hotel's spa.
Black-owned luxury men’s grooming company Groom Guy is expanding its presence in the hospitality industry after the Washington hotel where it operates joined Marriott’s Autograph Collection, AfroTech reports.
The Potomac Hotel, Autograph Collection, formerly Salamander Washington DC, officially debuted under its new name on Aug. 5. The 373-room property is owned by real estate investment firm Henderson Park, with Salamander Collection Founder Sheila Johnson remaining a minority partner. Pyramid Global Hospitality assumed management of the hotel as part of the transition.
Groom Guy, founded by Darius Davie and Matthew Sears in 2020, operates inside the hotel’s spa. The company opened at the property in April 2025, before it transitioned to the Marriott portfolio. Marriott now lists Groom Guy among the experiences available at The Potomac Hotel.
The development gives Groom Guy a presence inside a property connected to Marriott Bonvoy, something Davie said had long been a goal.
“Today marks a new chapter for Groom Guy. We started as a 300 sq. ft. pop-up shop with a simple belief: men’s grooming services could become the next revenue anchor in hotels,” Davie wrote on LinkedIn, according to the outlet.
Groom Guy provides services including haircuts, beard trims, and hot towel shaves. Since launching, the company has completed more than 8,000 grooming services and generated at least $720,000 in sales, according to AfroTech.
The company also offers services at IHG’s Yours Truly DC Hotel. Its expansion into hotels reflects a business model centered on positioning men’s grooming as an additional hospitality service rather than operating solely through traditional barbershops.
The Potomac Hotel’s transition also brings the property into Marriott Bonvoy, allowing eligible guests to earn and redeem points and access other program benefits. The hotel retains amenities including its two-level spa and Dōgon, the Afro-Caribbean restaurant led by chef Kwame Onwuachi.
For Davie, the hotel’s transition represents another step in Groom Guy’s effort to expand its model within the hospitality sector.
“Moments like this remind me that when one door closes, another really does open,” Davie said. “We’re proud to be part of this next chapter and even more excited for what’s ahead as we continue reimagining the role of men’s grooming in hospitality.”
