Mental health struggles can happen to anyone. Being in a negative situation for too long is bound to have its effects, and sometimes it takes a lot of work to undo that damage. In many cases, mental health struggles are a result of one specific situation, or a toxic boss or co-worker, something easy to pinpoint. In STEM, that can be true, but even more so, women have seen a higher rate of mental health struggles because of more industry-wide issues. There’s still a stigma, in some places, that women don’t belong in STEM professions or that women are not going to be as smart or as well-educated as men.
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Topics:
Gender Balance, STEM,
STEM,
Gender Balance,
Communication,
Community,
Choice,
Resilience,
Mentoring,
Coaching,
Culture,
Networking,
Discussion,
Mindfulness,
Change,
Collaboration,
Emotional Intelligence,
Self-Awareness,
Empathy,
Gender Pay Gap,
Confidence,
Challenges,
Career Development,
Empowerment,
Mentor,
Inclusion,
Diversity,
Organizational Culture,
Corporate Culture,
D&I,
Gender Parity,
Equity,
STEM Women,
STEM Leadership,
Female Representation STEM,
Hiring Women in STEM,
Strong Women
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.
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Topics:
Communication,
Coaching,
Culture,
Discussion,
Career Path,
Career Development,
Empowerment,
Inclusion,
Diversity,
#WESTevent,
Change Management,
#WESTorg,
Corporate Culture,
D&I,
Equity,
Conversations
While we hoped that the COVID-19 Pandemic would come to a full close before the start of 2022, it has lingered on. The effects of this continue to impact how we work, where we work, the world we work and live in, our personal lives and relationships, and so much more. In addition to this, we have seen history come crashing down in Ukraine as the people of Ukraine have had to flee, some even separating from their families to offer the best protection they can for their children.
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Topics:
Announcements,
Science,
Community,
Giving Back,
Global,
Culture,
Annual Theme,
Professional,
Connect,
Collaboration,
Confidence,
Polarities,
Leaders,
Empowerment,
Advocate,
Inclusion,
Self-Reflection,
Diversity,
#WESTorg,
Organizational Culture,
STEM Women,
Female Representation STEM,
Strong Women,
Strong World
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.
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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
Change is constant in the industry, so it is necessary to be constantly thinking about your development. Are you facing a career transition or considering your next career move? Are you in a role that is no longer a good fit for you? Are you feeling stagnant in a role with no clear path for growth, but afraid to take the leap? Are you challenged by how best to present yourself in virtual interviews? Or, have you just been laid off, and worried about how to begin a new job hunt in the current remote work environment? You are not alone.
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Topics:
Transitions,
Career,
Success,
Job,
Culture,
Women in STEM,
Upcoming Events,
Biotech,
Interactive,
Change,
Career Possibilities,
#WESTevent,
#WESTorg,
Hiring
Corporate culture is the flavor of your professional ice cream.
We all order from the same counter, but we each create a unique taste from the shared experience. Who doesn't have strong feelings about pistachio versus rocky road? Samsung versus Apple? Even if we do combine them all in a gummy bear-topped cheat day indulgence.
Before you started at your current role, you investigated the company culture. Regardless of your role or your intentions, upon arrival, your primary task was acclimating. First you learned the why’s and how’s. You had to accept the existing culture while you got your bearings. But you’re not a newbie anymore. It's time for the next step.
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Topics:
Best Practices,
Panel,
Cambridge,
Culture,
Women in STEM,
Networking,
Upcoming Events,
Discussion,
Influence,
Making a Difference,
Self-Awareness,
Impact,
Own It,
Inclusion,
Diversity,
#WESTevent,
#WESTorg,
Organizational Culture,
Corporate Culture
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.
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Topics:
Events,
Leadership,
Women,
Tech,
Science,
Communication,
Success,
Global,
Culture
