WEST Wisdom Blog

Is your team operating at its best? Do you have a systematic way of evaluating progress towards goals and removing the various impediments your team faces? Is your team delivering the best service or product quality at the right cost? The concept of operational excellence is a guiding philosophy which requires teams and organizations strive to achieve excellence in all aspects of its operations, adding value at every step. It offers a series of tools and methods that can help efficiency, effectiveness, and adaptability. It makes visible key performance indicators and what needs to be done to support performance. Join us on 9/14 for a workshop on Operational Excellence for Team Performance. You will learn about various operational excellence frameworks and how you can create and implement your own using proven techniques and methods. Specifically, you will leave with 10 tools to make your team more effective that you can start using immediately after the workshop. 

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

Now through December only! Huge member discount for WEST workshops. 

Thanks to a very generous donor we are able to offer our members a special discounted rate for workshops through December - workshops will cost only $20 for members, a savings of $30 per event off the non-member rate. Join now and you will quickly cover your annual membership costs while opening the door to our exclusive member-only events.

Topics: Events, Leadership, Women, Tech, Science, Career, Community, Life, Networking, You, Discount, Membership, Upcoming Events

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

"Wonder Woman is psychological propaganda for the new type of woman who should, I believe, rule the world” – William Moulton Marston, creator of Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman did not appear out of nowhere. Accordingly to the legend, she was created and mentored by her mother and was supported by a tribe of strong Amazon role models. Wonder Woman's Amazonian training helped her to develop a wide range of extraordinary skills and tools to help her in her quests for justice. Similarly, engaging with the Amazons of STEM leadership will help us develop the skills and tools required to succeed in our quests for obtaining leadership positions in the STEM arena. 

Topics: Events, Leadership, STEM, Women, Boston, Awards, Success

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

We know that gender inequality at senior levels is a real and important limitation for women in most careers, including STEM. But, have we fully acknowledged the self-limitations we women impose on our own careers? As women in science and technology (and probably most fields), we are often our own worst enemies. Rather than hitting our heads on the glass ceiling, we find ourselves sticking to a floor, where we have poured the molasses.

Topics: Events, Leadership, Gender Balance, Women, Cambridge, Success, Inspire

Topics: Events, Leadership, Women, Tech, Community, Success, Network, Inspire