WEST Wisdom Blog

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.

Topics: Events, STEM, Women, Nominate, Awards, Community, Giving Back, Cambridge, Giving, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Balance, Making a Difference, Inspiration, Role Models

In today's business world, it's rare that a team is physically located in the same space. Remote work is becoming increasingly popular and easier with advancements in technology. Business are also more global than ever before as it's easier to expand abroad. As it becomes easier for businesses to physically expand, it also becomes more difficult to collaborate and communicate. Between different time zones, cultural communication styles and varying priorities it's hard to stay aligned as a business. This creates challenges as we try and execute on a strategy. It's important that we double down on visibility into collaborative work and leverage tools that help us stay aligned. 

Topics: Events, STEM, Women, Career, Communication, Community, Cambridge, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Excellence, Operational, Business, Collaboration, Digital, IT, Tools

Shy?  Afraid you won't know anyone?  Like having a bit of an ice breaker?  (not too uncommon for those in the STEM fields).

 

WEST and Alnylam have teamed up to help you hit the easy button with respect to your networking.  You know you need to do it - why not have some help?

 

Come join us November 14 to meet and mingle with like-minded STEM professionals in networking activities designed to engage you with each other.

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

Ever wished you could be the type of person that people take notice of when you walk into a meeting? You know the scenario…. the room hushes, heads turn expectantly towards the door, and there is an electric aura of expectation for what will come next. Or maybe you would like to be the person whose ideas are still being talked about long after the meeting has ended. Well, guess what…. it IS possible to become THAT person. Learn how to be the influencer, rather than the influenced!

Topics: Events, Women, Career, Community, Cambridge, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Presence, Discussion, Connect, Influence

Enjoy breakfast with  Yvonne Greenstreet,  Chief Operating Officer  and Laurie Keating, Chief Legal Counsel. They will share learnings from women in the C-suite and serving on Boards.

Topics: Events, Women, Career, Community, Cambridge, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Discussion, Rockstars, Lessons Learned, Breakfast

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

Are you looking for an opportunity to network and hobnob with local senior leaders? If so, this is THE event for you. Enjoy a light breakfast accompanied by lots of conversation with Emily Reichert, CEO of Greentown Labs and Chesley Chen, CEO of Safety Partners, Inc. Registration will be limited to a maximum of 20 participants to ensure an intimate experience. 

Topics: Events, Leadership, Women, Tech, Science, Career, Community, Cambridge, Network, CEO, Networking

Often conflicts arise, either at work or in our personal lives. At these times we have a choice to make between having a challenging conversation and remaining silent.

As leaders, learning when and how to have challenging conversations in a kind and effective way can resolve conflicts and encourage growth in the organization.

Topics: Events, Leadership, Communication, Cambridge, Success, Women in STEM, Workshop

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