WEST Wisdom Blog

Innovation and all the benefits that stem from it, are correlated to board diversity. Regardless of whether you’re planning to join a board, you should be aware of where organizations that impact your life sit on the spectrum of board diversity. 

Check out some of the best infographics in the Missing Pieces Report: The 2018 Board Diversity Census of Women and Minorities on Fortune 500 Boards. Download the complete report, a multiyear collaboration by the Alliance for Board Diversity and Deloitte here.

Topics: Women, Community, Networking, Women in STEM, Connect, Career, Science, Biotech, Leaders, Events, Network, Own It, Impact, Professional, Upcoming Events, Cambridge, Board of Directors, Innovation, Panel, Diversity

For most of us, this is a question about long-term goals and working environment preferences. Combining an MBA with your STEM skills would prove valuable in situations that require leaders who can wear many hats—lab managers, project team leaders, entrepreneurs or anyone at a startup.

Topics: Events, Women, Community, Upcoming Events, Networking, Women in STEM, Career, Career Development, Science, Tech, Self-Reflection, MBA, Career Path, Leadership, Panel

Every year WEST is proud to organize our special award evening. This will be our 9th annual event. Four women leaders in STEM who have been nominated by their peers as successful, generous role models were selected as awardees. They in turn have chosen four “up and comers” who they believe are outstanding future leaders. We all have much to learn from this impressive group as they tell us their success stories and share their tips for the advancement of women in STEM whatever the stage of your career.   

Topics: Events, Women, Community, Upcoming Events, Networking, Women in STEM, Connect, Discussion, Workshop, Cambridge, Career, Career Development, Science, Tech, Lessons Learned, Panel, Awards, Leadership, Leaders, Values, Role Models, Inspiration

Come one, come all! WEST invites you to join us for our 2018 Summer Series! Every Wednesday night in June, WEST offers the opportunity to network with other like-minded individuals to build your career toolbox by implementing the skills that instill confidence in your ability to advance your own opportunity for success. Our Career Possibilities and Career Management events provide opportunities for personalized feedback including an individual assessment to self-reflect and build upon your strengths, motivations and individual interests. The series is $75 for members. Not a member yet? For $175, you can get the series and an annual WEST membership. Can’t make it to the whole series? You can register for just one or two of the events. Isn't it time to invest in yourself so that you can maximize your professional self? We hope you will join us for a month of empowerment and mentorship!

Topics: Events, Women, Community, Upcoming Events, Networking, Women in STEM, Connect, Discussion, Workshop, Cambridge, Career, Career Development, Support, Values, Career Possibilities, Science, Tech, Lessons Learned, Panel, Coaching, Speed Networking

Over our lifetimes we evolve and grow and our career needs and desires change. As your personal life brings new opportunities and joys your professional preferences change.

You may find yourself dreaming of a very different work environment from the one you have today; a new challenge where you can stretch your wings and explore new roles and leadership responsibilities.

You are probably in the science/technology field because you were good at STEM subjects at school. But you are also good at other things that may want to use and develop in your career.

Topics: Events, Women, Community, Upcoming Events, Networking, Women in STEM, Connect, Discussion, Workshop, Cambridge, Career, Career Development, Support, Values, Career Possibilities, Science, Tech, Speed Networking, Lessons Learned, Panel

Senior STEM leaders from organizations ranging from incubator to startup to large corporations will share their perspectives on the topic of open innovation and how they help their company embrace it. Key discussion points will include methods for encouraging entrepreneurial concepts, approaches for launching new companies, and how a start-up can adopt open innovation including when/how they start working with larger corporations. Learn what works well and what pitfalls to avoid. Take advantage of this event to meet and network with the movers and shakers in the local STEM ecosystem. 

Topics: Events, Women, Community, Upcoming Events, Career, Networking, Women in STEM, Science, Tech, Communication, Biotech, Connect, Innovation, Open Innovation, Panel, Discussion, Cambridge, Entrepreneurship, Start-Up

By Jo Viney, Co-founder and CSO, Pandion Therapeutics

Last summer, one of our local radio stations, WBUR, ran a feature entitled “How Boston Became 'The Best Place In The World' To Launch A Biotech Company” (WBUR, June 19^th 2017). The article described the evolution of our unique infrastructure – physical, cultural and sociological – that resulted in Boston being THE place where ideas are catalyzed and made into reality. But what does it really take to be an innovator? And what characteristics are essential to becoming a successful entrepreneur?

Topics: Events, Women, Community, Upcoming Events, Career, Networking, Women in STEM, Cambridge, STEM, Science, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Leaders, Team, Challenges, Support, Inspiration, Lessons Learned, Discussion, Biotech, Panel, Success, Boston

Listen to the inspiring journeys of successful women and men leaders in science as they talk about their careers at the intersection of computing and biotech. They will discuss their highlights, motivations, role models, career moves, guiding principles, biggest challenges, and more. The panelists will also share their perspectives on career development for women in computing/biotech including company initiatives, best practices, and what can be done to support the development and advancement of women in the field. This is a great opportunity for you to meet and network with the movers and shakers in the local science ecosystem.

Topics: Events, Women, Community, Upcoming Events, Career, Networking, Women in STEM, Cambridge, STEM, Biotech, Computing, Panel, Success, Role Models, Challenges

mind·ful·ness
ˈmīn(d)f(ə)lnəs/
noun
1. the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.
"their mindfulness of the wider cinematic tradition"
2. a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.

Topics: Events, Women, Community, Upcoming Events, Discussion, Resources, Panel, Mindfulness, Interactive, Workshop

Motivating your team to achieve top results can be hard when it's not clear as to how you'll get there. Teams need a framework and tools for achieving greatness, but often times teams can be skeptical of those frameworks and tools. Changing behavior for how things are done is hard. In order to create momentum with a new behavioral change, you want to find small wins with your new frameworks and tools so teams buy into them. Once the team sees a "win" with a new framework, it will be easier to get buy in moving forward and roll out for bigger initiatives on your path to success.

Topics: Events, Women, Community, Upcoming Events, Discussion, Entrepreneurship, Financial, Resources, Business, Tech, Panel