WEST Wisdom Blog

Join WESTorg at Takeda on Wednesday, January 23, 2019, for the #WESTawards to honor individuals in the Boston science and technology community that embody WEST’s 2018-2019 theme, ‘Own It: Empowering Your Career & Your Life’. 

WEST is a learning community that provides women in the enterprise of science and technology with the inspiration, knowledge and connections to reach their full potential. Please join #WESTorg and our sponsors, Takeda, Johnson & Johnson and Safety Partners at Takeda’s Cambridge offices for the 2019 #WESTawards and Networking Night to honor individuals in Boston’s STEM community who embody WEST’s mission and our ‘Own It’ theme in their service of inclusivity and empowerment in STEM and STEM initiatives that benefit the community at large.

Topics: Women, Community, Networking, Women in STEM, Connect, Career, Science, Biotech, Interview, Leaders, Advocate, Compensation, Events, Network, Awards, Sponsor, Own It, Impact, Support, Strengths, Volunteer, Making a Difference, Role Models, Inspiration, Rockstars, Professional, Upcoming Events, Inspire, Giving Back, Success, Cambridge

You look back on the year and you nailed it. All of it. You checked every box and made every milestone. Graduated with honors. Got that dream job. Finally took that vacation paid for with the raise that came with your promotion. So why does it seem like you forgot something? Like the puzzle is missing a piece?

Topics: Events, Women, Community, Upcoming Events, Networking, Women in STEM, Connect, Career, Career Development, Science, Tech, Interactive, Biotech, Own It, Learn, Workshop, Cambridge, Success, Strengths, Values

Influencing without authority is one of the most valuable skills you can learn and there are many useful forms of influence that you could be taking greater advantage of. Six sources of influence are positional, expertise, resources, informational, direct, and relationships.

Topics: Events, Women, Community, Upcoming Events, Networking, Women in STEM, Connect, Career, Career Development, Science, Tech, Developing Your Skills, Communication, Interactive, Biotech, Professional, Own It, Influence Without Authority, Influence, Support, Relationships, Success

Sandra Glucksmann, CEO of Cedilla Therapeutics and a founding board member of WEST, sat down with us to share her experience and lessons learned over her 25-year career in biotech. Sandra holds a PhD in molecular genetics and cell biology from the University of Chicago and carried out her post-doctorate work at MIT.

Sandra’s career path spanned both science and business. She attributes her success to being open to new opportunities that were not necessarily in her wheel house and to cultivating a strong network. After working as a bench scientist for eleven years at Millennium, she made a mid-career shift into the business side of biotech. She believes that staying deeply connected with her science background gave her a leg-up when developing her corporate presence in biotech. 

Topics: Women, Community, Women in STEM, Career, Career Development, Biotech, Science, PhD, Business, Success, New Opportunities, Network, Presence, Leadership, Leader, Influence Without Authority, Inspire, Developing Your Skills, Change, Mentor, Sponsor, Advice, Ask, Risk, Learn, Strengths, Giving Back, Connect

Sandra Glucksmann, President & CEO at Cedilla Therapeutics, will share stories of her career challenges and successes. She will discuss how to best apply your scientific and analytical abilities to develop influence and negotiation skills. Sandra will share her learning experiences as she transitioned from bench scientist to manager, and from manager to executive in both small and large company settings. 

Topics: Events, Women, Community, Upcoming Events, Networking, Women in STEM, Connect, Discussion, Workshop, Cambridge, Career, Career Development, Science, Tech, Developing Your Skills, Leadership, Challenges, Success, Influence, negotiation, Transitions, Management, Communication, Influence Without Authority, Leader

WEST is offering a book club for WEST members focusing on women's career advancement. We will have a meeting with a new book every other month. We would like participants to commit to four sessions to create a supportive community.  

We will have a facilitator for each discussion group who will have read the book, so those who do not finish the whole book should still feel comfortable attending and joining in the conversation. We understand people get busy at certain times of the year and may not get to finish every book. 

Topics: Events, Women, Community, Upcoming Events, Career, Networking, Women in STEM, Cambridge, Leaders, Support, Discussion, Success, Book Club

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

Ever wonder how the board room is different from the executive room, including what is needed to get there?   Cissy Young   at Executive Recruiting firm Russell Reynolds will share her insights and experience on board and executive recruiting. This intimate, WEST members only Q&A breakfast will help unveil the basics and the nuances of getting to the boardroom.

Topics: Events, Women, Community, Upcoming Events, Career, Networking, Women in STEM, Cambridge, STEM, Success, Science, Tech, Board of Directors, Rockstars, Breakfast, Leadership, Talent

Meet some “Wonder Women” and “Super Men” at the WEST 10^th Annual Giving Back Awards!

 

For most of us, working all day and managing to get dinner on the table is heroic. For others, like Sara Nochur, working all day is a prelude to fundraising that enables young children in rural India to stay in school by providing them with homes, food, and shelter. Or for Elizabeth O’Day, it’s starting a non-profit organization that recycles electronics and uses the resale profits to build computer centers in orphanages around the world. If these sound like incredible feats, it’s because they are. And yet amazing people working in our local STEM community are doing those extraordinary things, and much more. 

Topics: Events, Women, Community, Upcoming Events, Career, Networking, Women in STEM, Cambridge, STEM, Life, Volunteer, Giving Back, Balance, Making a Difference, Role Models, Inspiration, Female, Awards, Success, Science, Tech