Your career needs to be managed strategically and proactively - it does not just happen. Even though good luck, the right network and wicked smarts help, YOU are the only one who can set the direction. WEST’s programming theme this year has been specifically designed to help women in science and technology think about your career advancement strategically and develop your own plan for execution.
Topics: Events, Leadership, Women, Tech, Science, Career, Community, Work Life Balance, Life, Cambridge, Networking, You, Annual Theme
"Wonder Woman is psychological propaganda for the new type of woman who should, I believe, rule the world” – William Moulton Marston, creator of Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman did not appear out of nowhere. Accordingly to the legend, she was created and mentored by her mother and was supported by a tribe of strong Amazon role models. Wonder Woman's Amazonian training helped her to develop a wide range of extraordinary skills and tools to help her in her quests for justice. Similarly, engaging with the Amazons of STEM leadership will help us develop the skills and tools required to succeed in our quests for obtaining leadership positions in the STEM arena.
Topics: Events, Leadership, STEM, Women, Boston, Awards, Success
As Warren Buffet says “You can improve your value by 50 percent just by learning communication skills and public speaking." And yet he was terrified of it.
Speaking in public whether we are speaking to a small meeting or a packed conference is daunting. Your presence and delivery are key to your success but you do not have to be a ‘performer’ to deliver a strong, authentic message. These skills can be learned and must be practiced, and practiced and practiced.
Topics: Events, Leadership, Communication, Cambridge, Success, Presentation
You never listen! How many times have you found yourself angrily whispering this statement under your breath to your partner? Or to your kids? If you are like me, there are multiple times a month when it just feels like you have been talking to a brick wall. And it is not just at home. There are even some days at work when I have the same sort of despairing feeling. Like when I have made valuable contributions to the discussion at meetings, only to have one of my colleagues repeat my words and then receive all the accolades for the brilliant suggestions. Or other days when I am trying to engage with my team to solicit input on an important change in project direction, only to see blank stares reflected back at me, accompanied by the deafening sound of silence. Ugh. Frustrating.
Topics: Events, Leadership, Women, Communication, Cambridge, Success
Have you ever thought about starting your own business and wondering what it takes? Maybe you’ve thought about leveraging your skills and experience to join someone else in a new start-up endeavor. Do you think you might be an entrepreneur?
Topics: Events, Women, Tech, Entrepreneurship, Panel, Cambridge
We know that gender inequality at senior levels is a real and important limitation for women in most careers, including STEM. But, have we fully acknowledged the self-limitations we women impose on our own careers? As women in science and technology (and probably most fields), we are often our own worst enemies. Rather than hitting our heads on the glass ceiling, we find ourselves sticking to a floor, where we have poured the molasses.
Topics: Events, Leadership, Gender Balance, Women, Cambridge, Success, Inspire
Climbing the career ladder is challenging in any business, but climbing the career ladder when you work in a male dominated field like technology is especially challenging. Finding a balance between “acting the part” vs “being your authentic self” can feel like walking a tight rope –not only is it time consuming, it can be exhausting too. So, what is the best way to navigate the system? where should you focus your efforts? how should you present yourself? and with whom should you spend time networking?
Topics: Events, Leadership, Women, Tech, Community, Success, Network, Inspire
Feeling stuck or passed over, yet knowing that you can achieve more? Feeling powerless or without choices, yet you are doing it all “right”? Is fear and doubt holding you back even as you try to rise above?
Kimberly Napier will share her own personal, powerful wake-up experience while a leader in corporate America. Now coach to powerhouse women in Boston as well as around the globe, she is passionate about helping women rise above negative inner dialogue, become their own biggest advocate, and find resilience and happiness. Learn from Kimberly’s interactions with hundreds of women as a professional coach.
Come join the WEST community for an exercise-filled evening and walk away with new techniques and tools to achieve who you want to be.
Topics: Events, Women, Career, Life, Choice, Resilience, Success
In today’s world, technology has made it increasingly easy to expand and do business internationally. With video advancements such as Google Hangouts, Facetime, Skype and Zoom, you can virtually spin up an in person meeting with almost anyone anywhere in the world. Businesses are embracing these technologies to expand their customer base and build teams globally to accelerate their success.
Topics: Events, Leadership, Women, Tech, Science, Communication, Success, Global, Culture
Wishing you could handle the work-life balance with this much finesse? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ojvk-4IcOE
Wearing yourself out with perfect execution of your job and both the second (often simultaneous) shift at home? Wearing yourself out even trying? Feeling like you can't succeed in your career and be a "good mom and partner"?
Come join us at lunch time (you have to take time to eat anyway!) to learn some tips and tricks for your work-life balance and hear and share some good stories while doing it! You will walk away with at least 1 idea you can implement immediately.
Topics: Events, Women, Career, Work Life Balance, Inspire, Mom