WEST Wisdom Blog

Coaching Circles - Connect and grow through meaningful conversations

Posted by Peng Meng Kou on Feb 28, 2018 9:35:00 AM

It is almost March, are you keeping up with your New Year's resolutions? Are you stressed at work and don't have enough free time?  Perhaps you are on track with your goals but are hoping to find better ways to advance your career?  You may just want to break out of your own circle and expand your personal and professional network.  Have you considered working with a professional coach to accelerate your growth?

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Topics: Events, STEM, Women, Career, Communication, Community, Work Life Balance, Cambridge, Coaching, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Relationships, Change, Influence, Insight, Confidence, Personal Branding, Strengths, Values, Support, Conflict Resolution

Zoom Leadership – a tool to help with decision making

Posted by Uma Chandrasekaran on Feb 5, 2018 10:00:00 AM

In this ever-evolving fast-paced world, we are faced with decision-making at every turn of our lives and career - should I consider this opportunity for promotion within the company or do I accept this new job opportunity. Not just that, we are expected to be capable of making the best decisions at the drop of a hat. The key to making better decisions whether at work or in life is to think clearly and thoroughly. However, it is easy to be consumed by overthinking and get stuck in one point of view. Through changing your focus and considering alternative viewpoints you can rethink your strategies and arrive at a better decision.

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Topics: Events, STEM, Women, Science, Career, Community, Cambridge, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Decision Making, Focus, Insight, Author Chat, Confidence, Problem Solving

Know Your Worth – the key to negotiating your compensation package

Posted by Uma Chandrasekaran on Jan 29, 2018 10:00:00 AM

For many of us, negotiating our compensation package with a potential new employer can be a scary experience. In fact, almost 20% never negotiate their salaries. Fear and lack of confidence are the main reasons for not asking your real worth. But of the people who overcome their fear and do negotiate, many end up getting a bump close to 10%. So, learning to negotiate your compensation package is an important skill to learn.

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Topics: Events, STEM, Women, Financial Planning, Science, Career, Community, Cambridge, negotiation, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Gender Pay Gap, Stock, Compensation

The Board Room – unveiling the mystery of what it takes to get there

Posted by WEST Board Member on Jan 20, 2018 5:19:24 PM
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.
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Topics: Events, Leadership, STEM, Women, Tech, Science, Career, Community, Cambridge, Success, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Rockstars, Breakfast, Talent, Board of Directors

Real-life Super Heroes

Posted by WEST Board Member on Jan 11, 2018 9:44:00 AM
Meet some “Wonder Women” and “Super Men” at the WEST 10th 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. 
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Topics: Events, STEM, Women, Tech, Science, Career, Awards, Community, Giving Back, Life, Cambridge, Success, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Female, Balance, Making a Difference, Inspiration, Role Models, Volunteer

Courage – the key to leading yourself with confidence

Posted by WEST Board Member on Jan 10, 2018 9:20:00 AM
Fear of failure and the unknown can sabotage your life’s journey and prevent you from reaching your full potential. Through heightened self awareness and knowledge of your strengths you can take the personal responsibility of owning your life and courageously step forward out of your comfort zone.  
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Topics: Events, Leadership, STEM, Women, Career, Community, Life, Resilience, Cambridge, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Lead, Leading Ourselves, Emotional Intelligence, Developing Your Skills, Self-Awareness, Empathy

Distance does not make the heart grow fonder: managing and motivating remote teams

Posted by WEST Board Member on Jan 3, 2018 1:27:12 PM
You are probably managing or working in a team with members scattered in different offices, different cities and different parts of the world. We can all underestimate, and especially if we are the ones at cozy HQ, how lonely, disconnected and inefficient this can feel. Misunderstandings and toxic office politics can swell with distance as team motivation and the sense of agency diminishes.
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Topics: Events, Leadership, STEM, Women, Career, Communication, Community, Resilience, Cambridge, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Relationships, Management, Trust, Vision

Put an End to Constant Juggling and Devise Strategies for Managing the Multiple Demands on Your Time

Posted by WEST Board Member on Dec 7, 2017 8:02:00 AM

"Christmas Carrels?" - From where I sit, managing my work and managing my people is an immersive experience.  Literally.  I always choose to place my desk in the middle of our workspace, the better to both be accessible and to communicate to my staff and my colleagues that we are all in this together.  In my view, leadership by example works best when those I lead can see my example every day as they walk past my desk. It is also a reality check, and humbling, to see the dedication of all those around me. It is all to easy to underestimate the amount of time and effort required to deliver on a project. Hard work is its own reward and by being in the center of all the action ensures I work (and can be seen to work) as long and hard as any of my direct reports. Whilst I do enjoy the "open office" design concept and believe it is important to be available for all the little questions, not just the big ones, there is a “cost”. A significant cost. And that is the cost of being constantly pulled in many different directions, and having to flex quickly between my many different roles as subject matter expert, communicator, decision maker, firefighter, manager, peer, and subordinate. It is very easy to feel out of control, and it is all too easy to succumb to being over overwhelmed, especially when taking on a new role, such as a manager or project leader. Don’t panic – there are simple ways to regain control and increase your effectiveness (and your enjoyment!).

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Topics: Events, STEM, Women, Career, Communication, Community, Cambridge, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Management, Delegation

Take Charge of Your VIEW: Career Advice You Won’t Get from Your Boss

Posted by WEST Board Member on Nov 28, 2017 9:03:00 AM

How do you think about managing your career path? Do you have the same conversations with your boss and find yourself trying to figure out what would work best in your organization? Does it feel like you are having the same conversation and using same general strategy? Maybe it’s time to put a twist on things and view your career advancement through a different lens. On December 4th, WEST will host an interactive workshop and fireside chat with Lisa Prior, a veteran leadership coach and author of “Take Charge of Your VIEW: Career Advice You Won’t Get from Your Boss.” Lisa will enable you to implement a different approach to advancing your career. One that will allow you to take charge and develop a strategy. Lisa will lead an interactive discussion that will help you dig deep and come away with a different perspective. Come away with the desire to bring out the best in yourself and develop a new method to advance your career and the organization in which you work. Join us for an interactive evening filled with good conversation, an opportunity to meet other WEST members, and learn some interesting new skills that you can apply in life and at work.

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Topics: Events, STEM, Women, Career, Community, Cambridge, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Career Path

Last Week to Nominate Someone for a WEST Giving Back Award

Posted by Jaime Luna on Nov 27, 2017 8:00:00 AM
January 25th is WEST's 10th Annual Giving Back Awards honoring role models who balance job and personal responsibilities while making a difference in their community. Do you know someone providing direct service to the community, giving outside of the core responsibilities of his or her job, who has a day job in science or technology, and is willing to have his or her story printed in the event program? Nominate him or her during the month of November at http:// bit.ly /2zhweRa.
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Topics: Events, STEM, Women, Nominate, Awards, Community, Giving Back, Cambridge, Giving, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Balance, Making a Difference, Inspiration, Role Models

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