WEST Wisdom Blog

We are all biased – it is a basic human trait necessary for survival so that we recognize our tribe, our peeps, and avoid the enemy. However unchecked and unconscious bias creates unfair judgements and endemic prejudice stifling opportunities for both individuals and organizations.

Unconscious or implicit bias is at play when we evaluate people and situations using our instincts developed after years of stereotyping learned from and reinforced by the society around us. When we see the color of someone’s skin, hear their voice and accent, or observe their gestures, for example, our minds quickly seek to make sense of it all by slotting them into specific profiles or roles. We have all made those mistakes!

Topics: Events, Women, Tech, Science, Career, Community, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Biotech, Interactive, Connect, Career Development, Own It, Bias, Stereotypes, Inclusion, Self-Reflection

Biogen's WIN group is offering roundtable discussions with women from various areas of Biogen. They will be talking to female grad students and post-docs about their career paths and decision to work in industry. 

Topics: Events, Women, Tech, Science, Career, Community, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Biotech, Interactive, Connect, Career Development, Own It

WEST is excited to host a networking night with leaders from Bristol-Myers Squibb on October 11^th at the Broad Institute in Kendall Square.  BMS will open their new R&D site in Cambridge this November where they plan to grow their team in key areas such as Oncology and Translational Medicine and Discovery Technologies. This location will be a flagship R&D site for the company with up to approximately 300 employees. Through their Bristol-Myers Squibb Network of Women (B-NOW) which advises on the hiring, compensation, and advancement of women in BMS to their 50.3% female workforce, BMS has demonstrated a strong commitment to an inclusive and diverse workforce.

Topics: Events, Women, Science, Career, Community, Cambridge, Network, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Professional, Biotech, Connect, Talent, Own It, New Opportunities

Dang. Why on earth did I hesitate instead of letting the interviewer know what I wanted? And I’m not just talking about my new salary, I’m actually talking about the role, the title, and the sphere of influence that I want to have in that new job. Dang, dang, dang. I could kick myself for missing that opportunity. Now I’ll just have to settle for something less. Or will I?

Topics: Events, Women, Tech, Science, Career, Communication, Community, negotiation, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Biotech, Interactive, Connect, Developing Your Skills, Career Development, Own It, Advocate

Ugh. Another set of sleepless nights full of anxiety getting ready for a difficult conversation. Whether the conversation involves providing feedback to a colleague or involves asking your boss for a long overdue promotion and pay raise, you just know it is going to be difficult. And stressful.

But… fear not, there REALLY ARE ways to reduce some of the anxiety.

Topics: Events, Women, Tech, Science, Career, Communication, Community, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Biotech, Interactive, Connect, Trust, Developing Your Skills, Challenges, Career Development, Own It

The way in which we communicate – whether at work, at home or in school – has changed dramatically over the years with the accessibility of email, texting, and the use of social media applications.  Communications among colleagues and friends are often reduced to fragmented collections of written phrases and responses, fired off moments after receipt of an inbound message. The on-demand, always accessible manner of communicating has certainly brought significant conveniences, but it has reduced the opportunities for conversations among us. As a result, we may be missing out on the chance to connect, engage, and collaborate in a more meaningful way.

Topics: Events, Women, Tech, Science, Career, Communication, Community, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Relationships, Biotech, Interactive, Connect, Collaboration, Trust, Developing Your Skills, Impact, Career Development, Own It

Are you passionate about women in STEM and community building? Women in the Enterprise of Science and Technology (WEST) is a non-profit Boston-based organization establishing a learning community to provide women with inspiration, knowledge, and connections to advance their careers in the STEM fields. And we are growing! Currently we are seeking to expand our team to include an External Relations & Program Manager. The Program Manager role will focus on managing and growing relationships with our member base and other key stakeholders. The qualified candidate will be responsible for providing support to the marketing and programmatic activities of WEST across multiple platforms (social media, newsletter, blog, calendar, etc.) and be a local point of contact for members, sponsors, and the WEST Board of Directors. The candidate will be a public face for the organization by representing WEST at our Boston area events and coordinating our amazing group of volunteers. This position reports to the Director of Operations and will require attendance at occasional morning events and 2-3 evening events per month. This position offers the opportunity to hone your marketing and web-analytics skills, while allowing for creativity in reaching a broader community, increasing networking opportunities, and bringing efficiencies to the organization. 

Topics: Events, Women, Communication, Community, Job, Networking, Professional, Developing Your Skills, Career Development, Marketing, Outreach

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

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

Networking events are often a daunting necessity for many professionals. You don’t want to go, but you know you have to. Attending networking events is crucial in today’s professional world. Here are a few things to keep in mind when networking:

• Have a Goal
• Do Your Homework
• Dress to Impress
• Bring Copies of Your Resume and Business Cards
• Listen First, Absorb, and Then Contribute

Topics: Events, Women, Tech, Science, Transitions, Career, Communication, Community, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Professional, Biotech, Interactive, Connect, Developing Your Skills, Confidence, Engage, Career Development, Own It, Listen