I want to read um what uh Farah Jasmine Griffin, Dr. . Sharon Jasmine Griffin, uh chair of the African-American and Africana African diaspora studies at Columbia University wrote about you >> in the forward to the look. The denim, the red sweater and white shirt, the slender watch and the tote say, "I am just your average American college student." She later writes, "And so she came, an American girl with a southside twist." and then later still red, white, and blue all American girl with braids. Did you se ...

RT sonch (@soncharm)I think if anything changed in the early/mid-2010s it’s just that the arguments for affirmative action all collectively just got noticeably dumber.There used to be this veneer of carefully-phrased intellectualized sophistry behind it all, with framing and jargon drawn from obscure journals and the like, constructions and circumlocutions meant to pass muster in Supreme Court arguments.But after enough decades, and the long march, people just got lazy, stopped bothering with the facade. Yo ...

RT Sarah Stock ✟ (@sarahcstock)Hispanics and Arabs are classified as White when they commit crimes, but not when they apply to jobs/universities that practice affirmative action ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Mastercard reported strong financial performance with a 25% adjusted EPS CAGR on a currency neutral basis for the three years ending 2024 [46] - The company achieved an 18% currency neutral adjusted net revenue CAGR for the same period [46] - In 2024, Mastercard returned $13.5 billion to shareholders through buybacks and dividends, totaling over $90 billion since its IPO in 2006 [47] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Services accounted for close to 40% of net revenue in 2022, reflecting a healthy growth pace [37] - The company processed over 159 billion transactions, growing both volumes and transactions by 11% on a local currency basis [45] - Mastercard issued over 3.5 billion cards and had approximately 150 million acceptance points globally [45] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Mastercard generates around 70% of its net revenue outside the United States, indicating strong international presence [33] - The company is expanding its domestic switching capabilities across China, enhancing its global acceptance [33] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Mastercard's strategy focuses on three key areas: consumer payments, commercial new payment flows, and value-added services and solutions, which are expected to drive growth [62] - The company emphasizes innovation and trust as core components of its competitive differentiation in the digital economy [38][42] - Mastercard is investing in stablecoin integration and partnerships to enhance its offerings in the digital asset space [56][57] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted the importance of adapting to geopolitical and macroeconomic changes while maintaining a diversified business model [62] - The company is optimistic about the growth potential in digital payments and the integration of stablecoins into mainstream finance [53][59] Other Important Information - The stockholder proposals for a racial equity audit report and a report on affirmative action risks were not approved [24] - Mastercard has been recognized as one of the most trusted companies in America by Forbes and Newsweek for 2025 [44] Q&A Session Summary Question: How does Mastercard approach executive compensation? - The primary objective of the compensation program is to attract, motivate, and retain executives, ensuring alignment with business strategy and performance metrics [51][52] Question: What are the opportunities and risks associated with stablecoins? - Stablecoins present exciting growth opportunities, and Mastercard is integrating them into its network to provide secure and reliable payment experiences [53][54][56] Question: Is Mastercard ready to adapt to a changing political environment? - Mastercard does not take political stances but operates to serve all geographies, respecting a range of political views grounded in goodwill and tolerance [60][61] Question: What will be the main growth drivers in the coming year? - Key growth drivers include consumer payments, commercial new payment flows, and value-added services, which are expected to fuel long-term growth [62]