WEST Wisdom Blog

Considering a job or career change can be daunting, or it can be the most exciting life change you plan in a year. The difference is in how you approach making your career change. You could jump in blindly and hope to stumble on the right job, hope that your new position is a good fit for you and that you find a position you can finally call your career, but hope isn’t a plan. Starting your career change process with the Career Possibilities Panel & Speed Networking series put on by WEST and sponsored by Gilead Sciences can be. This series features panels with specialized STEM experiences. Each event gives panelists the opportunity to share about their backgrounds, experiences, and current jobs, as well as giving attendees the opportunity to network with the panelists and other STEM professionals. 

Topics: Events, Career, Communication, Panel, Network, Networking, Upcoming Events, Career Development, Career Possibilities, Speed Networking, Advice, #WESTevent, #WESTorg, Experience

Let’s get uncomfortable for a second. Have you ever noticed something about a perfect stranger that made you think a certain way about them? What about when you look in the mirror? There’s so much to say about the things we focus on when we first meet a new person or see ourselves each day. If you stop and think about those thoughts, you’ll notice what’s called your unconscious bias. These are things you think, but don’t necessarily know that often change your perception. Not all unconscious biases are prejudicial, but none of them help you to truly listen and know another person.

Topics: Communication, Coaching, Culture, Discussion, Career Path, Career Development, Empowerment, Inclusion, Diversity, #WESTevent, Change Management, #WESTorg, Corporate Culture, D&I, Equity, Conversations

I have been thinking deeply about how women in STEM can have more seats at the table and not the kiddie table where one goes to do tidying up and office housework. The table where their voices are heard, acknowledged, and acted upon. Working in tech myself, I notice particularly how women of color are under-represented and white men are over-represented. Is this a result of the ways in which women are conditioned since childhood? The subtle messages they receive again and again? Are women being excluded in important conversations and meetings? Are their thoughts discarded or ignored? Are they not being given credit for their contributions? Is a lack of mentorship and sponsorship the problem? Is the motherhood bias compiled in under-represented fields? Do women of color experience this even more than any other intersectionality? In many ways women are made to feel as if they don’t belong and speaking up about it can come at the detriment of one’s job and security. However, this narrative needs to change. If we want more women leaders and more of them at the top, we need to be able to approach these conversations calmly and strategically. We need a framework for having inclusive conversations and with that framework we need to use it as a piece of workplace culture that emanates throughout the rest of the organization.

Topics: Events, Leadership, Women, Career, Communication, Network, Culture, Women in STEM, Upcoming Events, Professional, Tools, Trust, Conflict Resolution, Challenges, Inclusion, Ally, Allyship, Strong Women, Strong World

Another day headed into work, and you’re stressed about it before you even leave the house. You get to work and find that something just isn’t going your way, and you haven’t even finished your morning coffee yet. You’ve been stressed at work, about work, just thinking about work for weeks now and you know something’s got to give. Finally, it does. Your boss sends an email that just sends you over the edge and you decide you just can’t deal with it right now and take an early lunch. At lunch, you find yourself sitting there thinking, “It’s just me. This job doesn’t seem this stressful to anyone else, there must be something wrong with me.”

Topics: Events, Leadership, Women, Career, Communication, Resilience, Network, Women in STEM, Upcoming Events, Professional, Tools, Empowerment, Strong Women, Strong World, Overwhelm

Mary Cheyne recounts sitting in a corporate meeting with approximately 25 other people, after a major issue with a project they had been working on. Every person around her had spoken up and provided their input, except her. She managed to leave the meeting without having shared any of her ideas, no matter how brilliant they may have been, because she was afraid of the judgment of everyone else in the room. Feeling ashamed, disappointed in herself, and unable to get out of her own way, she recognized something had to change. 

Topics: Events, Leadership, Women, Career, Communication, Network, Women in STEM, Upcoming Events, Professional, Confidence, Empowerment, Competence, Public Speaking, Strong Women, Strong World

Communication is the key to success in life, work and relationships… especially in uncertain times, it will decide whether we win or fail navigating a crisis.

And yet, often enough we face situations where our message turns into error, misunderstanding or frustration, simply because it was misinterpreted or maybe poorly delivered. And we’re left off with a feeling of being lost in translation.

Topics: Career, Communication, Success, Women in STEM, Upcoming Events, Biotech, Interactive, Change, #WESTevent, #WESTorg

Facebook, Whatsapp, Slack, Zoom, Teams, Instagram, emails, and all the other communication systems that I am forgetting to list right now. In today’s world we constantly communicate with others. The question is: do we actually connect with them? And, what does it mean to connect with others?

For Kemi Sorinmade -leadership trainer, coach, and owner of the Growth Studio- to connect means to be able to build a common ground and to be on the same page with your audience. This building process might often need some time and effort: if we want to connect, we need to take an extra step in exploring the other person’s world. In this exploration, we need to bring with us curiosity, interest, and empathy. These tools will help us unlock a safe common space, in which we will be willing to share, trust, and open up with each other.

Topics: Leadership, Women, Career, Communication, Women in STEM, Upcoming Events, Interactive, Developing Your Skills, Impact, Learn, #WESTevent, #WESTorg

Despite popular belief, people’s top fear is NOT public speaking. That is a myth. For many people, especially women, the top fear is public JUDGMENT.

As a woman leader or emerging leader, how do you OWN what you’re saying without feeling like a fraud?

Whether you’re speaking up in an online virtual conference, a board meeting or giving a presentation, you need to be able to speak with confidence to influence your listeners.

Topics: Events, Leadership, Women, Career, Communication, Women in STEM, Upcoming Events, Developing Your Skills, Career Development, #WESTevent, #WESTorg, Be Fearless, Be Brave, Imposter Syndrome, Webinar, Fearlessness, Public Speaking

Take charge of your development. Take advantage of the opportunity to join events virtually from anywhere. WEST has many exciting upcoming events to help you improve communication, bypass your inner critic in public speaking, practice fearlessness, refine your presentation skills, and much more.

Topics: Events, Leadership, Women, Career, Communication, Resilience, Panel, Network, Presentation, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Mindfulness, Developing Your Skills, Career Development, Learn, Advocate, #WESTevent, #WESTorg, Be Fearless, Be Brave, Webinar, Fearlessness, Parenting, Public Speaking

As COVID-19 continues to spread in Massachusetts and the Country, we are reminded of how interconnected we are. These are challenging times for us all, and WEST hopes to play a small role to help those in need! WEST is pleased to organize a special virtual panel discussion with WEST Board and Advisory Board members. One hundred percent of the proceeds from this event will be donated to the Life Sciences Cares COVID-19 Response Fund providing flexible grants to organizations working to meet the emerging and shifting needs caused by this unprecedented outbreak. Panelists will share inspiration, challenges, advice, and ways their companies are addressing issues with COVID-19. Join us to ask questions and share your experiences working remotely. Learn more and register at https://www.westorg.org/2020-04-22-virtual-covid19-fundraiser.

Topics: Donation, Events, Leadership, Women, Career, Communication, Panel, Giving, Women in STEM, Upcoming Events, #WESTevent, #WESTorg, Be Fearless, Be Brave, Webinar