Promoted to manager? Congrats!
Wait, wait. Wait. What exactly is my job now?
The shift from individual contributor to manager can be difficult. As Karen Dillon explains, “The irony for most newly appointed managers is that the skills and qualities that earned them the promotion are very different from those that will serve them well as a leader.”
This paradox is especially sharply felt in STEM. Fortunately, while acute, this reaction is also incredibly common. To learn more, WEST spoke to Richard Laskey about his experience transitioning from a senior software engineer to software engineering manager.
Read More
Topics:
Leadership,
STEM,
Women in STEM,
Upcoming Events,
Business,
Career Path,
Management,
Delegation,
Lead,
Emotional Intelligence,
Developing Your Skills,
Insight,
Confidence,
Leaders,
Own It,
Empowerment,
New Opportunities,
Advice,
MBA,
#WESTevent,
Change Management,
#WESTorg,
Women in Business,
Organizational Culture,
Be Fearless, Be Brave
Regardless of your current LinkedIn title, you are the CEO of your career.
What is the #1 indicator of leadership potential?
EQ: Emotional intelligence
Daniel Goleman literally wrote the book on emotional intelligence. In his renowned 2004 Harvard Business Review article, ‘What Makes a Leader,’ he explained:
‘Most effective leaders are alike in one crucial way: They all have a high degree of what has come to be known as emotional intelligence. It’s not that IQ and technical skills are irrelevant. They do matter, but mainly as “threshold capabilities”; that is, they are the entry-level requirements for executive positions. But my research, along with other recent studies, clearly shows that emotional intelligence is the sine qua non of leadership. Without it, a person can have the best training in the world, an incisive, analytical mind, and an endless supply of smart ideas, but he still won’t make a great leader.'
But wait, it gets better.
Read More
Topics:
Events,
Leadership,
Science,
Career,
Inspire,
Women in STEM,
Workshop,
Networking,
Upcoming Events,
Emotional Intelligence,
#WESTevent,
#WESTorg,
Be Fearless, Be Brave
1–I’m not an effective networker because I'm not a natural extrovert.
You’re the boss of you. You author your own self-fulfilling prophecy when you decide whether to limit yourself to, or expand upon, your natural talents. Everyone, extrovert or introvert, has to be intentional about networking. And success in anything, not just networking, is far more strongly correlated to continuous effort than the hand that fate or genetics dealt you. A chance event may point you in a certain direction, but only you can keep yourself moving along that path or venture off to go bushwhacking elsewhere, if so inclined.
Read More
Topics:
Events,
STEM,
Women,
Career,
Cambridge,
Network,
Women in STEM,
Networking,
Upcoming Events,
Empowerment,
Advice,
Inclusion,
Diversity,
#WESTevent,
#WESTorg,
Be Fearless, Be Brave,
D&I
Sure, there’s still the glass stratosphere and whatnot. But life sciences VC offers seats on a shuttle that’s taxing the runway now.
—Dr. Lucy Rogers (Twitter: @DrLucyRogers)
If you’re reading this, you're probably already active in encouraging girls in STEM pursuits. Whether that’s science lab slime kit birthday present for your niece, or through organizations like Boston Area Girls’ STEM Collaborative or Code to Inspire.
Read More
Topics:
Panel,
Cambridge,
Women in STEM,
Networking,
Upcoming Events,
Discussion,
Influence,
Making a Difference,
Impact,
Own It,
Inclusion,
Diversity,
#WESTevent,
#WESTorg,
Life Science VC,
Be Fearless, Be Brave,
Venture Capital/VC,
D&I
Learn more about past events listed below
5/15: Finding your Voice Among all the Chatter
6/12: How to Inspire, Advocate and Grow During Change
6/20: Building Your Company Culture and Developing Your People
Read More
Topics:
Events,
Best Practices,
STEM,
Women,
Boston,
Tech,
Science,
Career,
Communication,
Community,
Panel,
Cambridge,
Network,
Women in STEM,
Workshop,
Networking,
Innovation,
Biotech,
Discussion,
Interactive,
Change,
Lessons Learned,
Connect,
Management,
Developing Your Skills,
Leaders,
Own It,
Advocate,
Diversity,
#WESTevent,
Change Management,
#WESTorg,
Organizational Culture,
Corporate Culture
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.
Read More
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
Change may be life's only constant, but unexpected change is tricky for everyone.
You speak. WEST listens! By popular request, the next WESTevent is a workshop on how to own unexpected change. We're talking to Claudette Rowley about handling the change you didn't see coming. Change that is beyond our control. Change that we did not instigate and cannot avoid.
Read More
Topics:
Women in STEM,
Upcoming Events,
Change,
Developing Your Skills,
Self-Awareness,
Conflict Resolution,
Career Development,
Own It,
#WESTevent,
Change Management,
#WESTorg,
Women in Business
Rewire your mind by reprogramming your body
Neuroscience has proven that learning is not just a mental process. We use our whole body to learn.
Our cerebral activities have physiological counterpoints. Our posture, energy and stamina reflect our mental states. It’s no coincidence that the nervous system, manager of our unconscious bodily functions like breath and digestion, offers the greatest insight on our conscious thoughts and mental status.
Read More
Topics:
Events,
Women,
Science,
Career,
Community,
Cambridge,
Women in STEM,
Workshop,
Networking,
Upcoming Events,
Biotech,
Connect,
Leaders,
Own It,
Learn,
Advocate,
#WESTevent,
Voice
A well-managed equity portfolio can use your equity compensation to
transform your income into self-sustaining wealth. Compensation is changing and it’s about far more than just cash. Learn 3 things you need to know now to move beyond income to wealth.
Read More
Topics:
Events,
Women,
Science,
Career,
Community,
Cambridge,
negotiation,
Women in STEM,
Workshop,
Networking,
Upcoming Events,
Biotech,
Connect,
Management,
Compensation,
Leaders,
Own It,
Learn,
Advocate,
#WESTevent,
Equity Management,
Intellectual Property (IP)
