If you're one of the millions expecting a tax refund check in 2017, here are three better ways to use it than spending it at the mall, going out to fancy meals or taking a pricey vacation. (USA TODAY)

Some people fear that caring about their co-workers’ success means getting lost in the crowd and that it’ll interfere with moving up the ladder. But that’s not necessarily true. Great teams are full of good people, which means, you don’t have to pick whether you’ll put yourself first or be a strong collaborator. (The Muse)

The NFL is the biggest, most profitable sports league in the world with revenue north of $13 billion. The average team is worth $2.3 billion with an operating profit nearing $100 million. The league’s annual smorgasbord of commercials, halftime extravaganza, pre-game festivities and a sprinkling of football, better known as Super Bowl Sunday, is only days away. Money will be one of the storylines as always with the cost of tickets and ads, as well as with the millionaires on the field and the billionaires in the owners' luxury suites. (Forbes)

Hey kids, want to grow up to land the best job in the country? Then keep poring over those math and science textbooks. Jobs that require a range of STEM skills (science, technology, engineering and math) claimed 14 spots in Glassdoor's new "50 Best Jobs in America" survey, (USA TODAY)

What does it mean to get stuck in "the buffet line"? Rita Mitchell talks business ethics and career advancement with an example from the classroom. (Black Enterprise)

When the company released its first diversity report in 2014, it essentially forced other tech companies to do the same, and confirmed longstanding suspicions about the industry's makeup. But while the concept of annual diversity reports suggests that Silicon Valley wants to hold itself accountable for improving its dismal diversity figures, so far, not a lot has changed. (Fast Company)

Workplace diversity is achievable by businesses regardless of nature, size or budget. It can revolutionize the way business is done today the same way it did since the first models were drawn in the '60s. Managing diversity in the workplace, however, shouldn't end with federal laws or with top management of corporations. There should be involvement in every level of leadership in a company. (Forbes)

India is taking the idea of a universal basic income seriously, if not literally. (The Economist)

While African entrepreneurship is thriving, few ventures are large enough for Western institutional investors. Another reason is that investors are myopically infatuated with snazzy technology. (Harvard Business Review)

After a six-month search, Gov. John Hickenlooper has named a former undersecretary of education in the Obama administration as the new head of the Colorado Department of Higher Education. If confirmed by the state Senate, Kim Hunter Reed will be the department’s first African-American woman* as executive director. (The Colorado Independent)

Privatization skeptics and advocates alike overlook the historical nuances of the prospective administration’s support of vouchers, charter schools, and other school-choice reforms that remove schools from public oversight. An analysis of American history indicates that the use of private means was a critical aspect to ensure quality education for African Americans legally excluded from access to public institutions. (The Atlantic)

The Atlanta Chapter of the National Black MBA Association® convened influential government leaders to explore key challenges and opportunities in education, economic development, and transportation to provide new perspectives on time-sensitive issues that residents in the Atlanta-area are faced with. (Rolling Out)

Airbnb became profitable for the first time during the second half of 2016, according to people close to the company. The home and apartment-rental company anticipates it will maintain profitability in 2017 before interest, taxes and amortization, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing the private company’s earnings. (Bloomberg)

First-hand opinion about what exactly frustrates employees helps companies take action and address the challenges. However, HR managers face many obstacles and inconveniences related to annual surveys and receiving truthful input. (Workforce)

Next time you’re searching for a new job, look to Siri for inspiration. Coders who can help machines communicate with people are in high demand. Software engineers who program computers to understand human speech saw U.S. demand for their labor grow faster than workers with any other skill, according to data from last quarter compiled by Upwork, a website that matches freelancers with employers. The skillset, called natural language processing, is what powers voice-activated virtual assistants like Apple's Siri and Amazon's Echo devices. (Bloomberg)

Whether you're looking to launch or grow your company, these courses will deliver expert guidance that will help you succeed. (Entrepreneur)

The impact of entrepreneurship, driven by small businesses that grow and hire, means more jobs, social mobility, and investment in the communities that need it most. Supporting minority-owned and operated businesses may be President Trump’s best bet to successfully engage communities of color. (Black Enterprise)

More than 18% of African Americans don’t have traditional bank accounts, compared with 7% of all Americans, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. But where banks don’t fill the bill, communities have created their own solutions, including grassroots traditions and minority-owned banks and credit unions. (USA TODAY)

More contributions and the Trump rally drove the average 401(k) balance to an all-time high last year of $92,500, up nearly 5 percent from 2015, according to Fidelity Investments, one of the largest providers of workplace retirement plans. That average balance has increased 33 percent from $69,400 in 2012. (CNBC)

The tax filing deadline this year is Tuesday, April 18, instead of the traditional April 15, because of some quirks of the calendar. April 15 is a Saturday. But the deadline won't be shifted to Monday, April 17, because that is Emancipation Day, which is celebrated in Washington, D.C. What do tax filers need to know this season? (USA TODAY)

Performance reviews are a way to evaluate an employee’s performance over a specified period of time. They are also often used to determine year-end bonuses, raises and promotions. Because of this, they can be tricky to do correctly and efficiently, but here are six tips that human resources professionals can use to help guide the review process at their organization and help make this year’s performance reviews the most effective ones yet. (Workforce)

At its best, the relationship between African-American communities and sneaker brands is one defined by mutual inspiration, the uplifting of black athletes and a value for cultural expression, according to Crystal deGregory, professional historian and executive editor at nonprofit organization HBCUstory.org. At its worst, themes of corporate utilization, as well as a lack of support from companies toward the communities from which they profit most, are prevalent. (Foot Wear News)

The three biggest U.S. airlines asked for a meeting with new Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to discuss their long-held contention that billions of government subsidies enable the Persian Gulf carriers to compete unfairly for passengers.(Bloomberg)

On Thursday, law enforcement officials will unveil piles of counterfeit jerseys, baseball caps, jackets and other sports merchandise seized in the previous year from online vendors, flea markets and stadium parking lots. Operation Team Player, timed for Super Bowl 51 on Sunday, makes for good TV and is designed to publicize the growing prevalence of fakes. It's a problem that's getting worse and harder to control. (Bloomberg)

Noticing the importance of providing a platform for individuals and their families to experience these untapped storylines first hand, one CEO transitioned from a decorated marketing career to make history of his own. Slated to open in 2019, the International African American Museum was founded to stand as the epicenter for exploring and uncovering the pivotal role African Americans have played in designing the modern world. (Forbes)