WEST Wisdom Blog

For most of us, this is a question about long-term goals and working environment preferences. Combining an MBA with your STEM skills would prove valuable in situations that require leaders who can wear many hats—lab managers, project team leaders, entrepreneurs or anyone at a startup.

Topics: Events, Leadership, Women, Tech, Science, Career, Community, Panel, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Career Path, Career Development, Self-Reflection, MBA

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

Sandra Glucksmann, President & CEO at Cedilla Therapeutics, will share stories of her career challenges and successes. She will discuss how to best apply your scientific and analytical abilities to develop influence and negotiation skills. Sandra will share her learning experiences as she transitioned from bench scientist to manager, and from manager to executive in both small and large company settings. 

Topics: Events, Leadership, Women, Tech, Science, Transitions, Career, Communication, Community, Cambridge, Success, negotiation, Leader, Women in STEM, Workshop, Networking, Upcoming Events, Discussion, Connect, Influence, Management, Developing Your Skills, Challenges, Career Development, Influence Without Authority

Learn more about past events listed below

7/25: Leadership Strategies to Advance Your Career
6/12: Leadership and Women of the Future Awards and Panel Discussion
5/23: Providing Impactful Feedback Up, Down, and Across
4/26: How to Present Technical Information so People Will Understand, Care, and Remember
4/23: How Does a Start-up Embrace Open Innovation with a Large Corporation
4/11: Innovation and Entrepreneurship Senior Panel Discussion

Topics: Events, Leadership, Women, Boston, Tech, Career, Communication, Awards, Community, Entrepreneurship, Network, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Innovation, Discussion, Connect, Open Innovation, Start-Up, Feedback, Impact

Coaching circles adapt the principles and methods of individual coaching and apply them to small, intentional groups. They set the stage for peer to peer coaching facilitated by trained and qualified professional coaches offering women a supportive and motivating environment to connect through meaningful conversations. Participants develop a set of peer coaching skills in addition to benefiting from professional coaching, and are often preferred by people who learn well in small groups. Join us to establish new relationships, enhance leadership skills and talents, and develop in an area that is a current challenge. We will do three 30 minute sessions. Some of the table topics will be preset and some will be based on ideas submitted when people register to attend. The preset topics will include the following. 

Topics: Events, Leadership, Women, Tech, Science, Career, Communication, Community, Cambridge, Coaching, Women in STEM, Workshop, Networking, Upcoming Events, Relationships, Discussion, Change, Connect, Developing Your Skills, Talent, Confidence, Personal Branding, Strengths, Values, Challenges, Career Development

Every year WEST is proud to organize our special award evening. This will be our 9th annual event. Four women leaders in STEM who have been nominated by their peers as successful, generous role models were selected as awardees. They in turn have chosen four “up and comers” who they believe are outstanding future leaders. We all have much to learn from this impressive group as they tell us their success stories and share their tips for the advancement of women in STEM whatever the stage of your career.   

Topics: Events, Leadership, Women, Tech, Science, Career, Awards, Community, Panel, Cambridge, Women in STEM, Workshop, Networking, Upcoming Events, Discussion, Lessons Learned, Connect, Inspiration, Role Models, Values, Leaders, Career Development

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.

Topics: Events, Leadership, STEM, Women, Tech, Science, Career, Community, Cambridge, Success, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Rockstars, Breakfast, Talent, Board of Directors

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.  

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

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.

Topics: Events, Leadership, STEM, Women, Career, Communication, Community, Resilience, Cambridge, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Relationships, Management, Trust, Vision

In support of our wonderful community the WEST board has invested in the renewal of our website to make it easier to navigate and find out who we are and what we have to offer. We hope this will provide an opportunity to learn more about WEST’s mission and learning events, the benefits of membership, and the ways in which you can become involved with WEST. Take a look at our new event listings for the fall of 2017 and meet some of our members who have provided testimonials describing what they have gained from joining WEST. There are many ways you can get involved in WEST whether as a volunteer, a sponsor, a blogger or a workshop leader. Please take a look and see all that WEST has to offer and consider becoming a member today.

Topics: Events, Leadership, Women, Team, Science, Community, Networking, Upcoming Events, Excellence, Operational