WEST Wisdom Blog

Senior Leader Interview with Shelia Violette

Posted by WEST Volunteer on Aug 13, 2019 3:13:26 PM

Shelia Violette, Ph.D. recently completed her a board member term with the WEST organization and kindly put aside some time to offer some insights into her experience within the Biotech community. Violette is the Chief Scientific Officer at Admirx, a newly formed pre-clinical stage company which aims to fight serious auto-immune and inflammatory diseases. As CSO, she is responsible for overseeing scientific strategy.

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Topics: Women, Science, Career, Community, Interview, Women in STEM, Networking, Biotech, Connect, Leaders, Sponsor, Advice, Be Fearless, Be Brave

5 lies about networking & how to smash past them

Posted by Diana Anderson on Jul 16, 2019 12:18:20 PM

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.

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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

Lessons Learned from April-June 2019 WEST Events

Posted by Jaime Luna on Jun 28, 2019 8:34:00 AM

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

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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

Get to know WESTorg's Board of Directors through their summer reads

Posted by Diana Anderson on May 14, 2019 3:24:30 PM

 

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Topics: Women, Science, Career, Community, Women in STEM, Networking, Biotech, Connect, Leaders, Book Club, Own It, Learn, Summer Reads

Own it! How to speak your voice

Posted by Diana Anderson on May 6, 2019 8:08:00 AM

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. 

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Topics: Events, Women, Science, Career, Community, Cambridge, Women in STEM, Workshop, Networking, Upcoming Events, Biotech, Connect, Leaders, Own It, Learn, Advocate, #WESTevent, Voice

Compensation is more than cash

Posted by Diana Anderson on Apr 17, 2019 12:16:43 PM
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.
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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)

Managing Up: Balance being a solid contributor and team player with self-advocacy and personal advancement

Posted by Jaime Luna on Apr 4, 2019 8:37:00 AM
Managing up is not about manipulation or capitulation. Rather it’s learning to influence with respect, and broaden your horizons to speculate about the pressures and demands which may be outside of your view. It’s about influencing diplomatically yet authentically. Being intentional about challenging a plan. How can you get what you need at the same time you’re focusing on what your manager needs? How can you effectively negotiate the relationship that has the most impact on your career, and still be yourself? How can you have power   with  your manager, being cooperative and expressive?
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Topics: Events, Leadership, Women, Science, Career, Community, Cambridge, Success, Network, negotiation, Women in STEM, Workshop, Networking, Upcoming Events, Professional, Relationships, Biotech, Interactive, Change, Connect, Influence, Management, Leading Ourselves, Developing Your Skills, Self-Awareness, Support, Conflict Resolution, Leaders, Impact, Career Development, Influence Without Authority, Own It, Empowerment, Learn, Advocate

2019 panel on gender diversity in the workplace

Posted by Diana Anderson on Apr 3, 2019 11:59:30 AM

2019 Women’s History Month career panel on gender diversity hosted by Vertex’s Employee Resource Network IWILL (Inspiring Women in Leadership & Learning)

Vertex Employee Resource Network hosts panel on gender diversity

As part of Women’s History Month celebrations at Vertex, IWILL (Inspiring Women in Leadership and Learning) sponsored a panel on gender diversity with some of Vertex’s top executives. IWILL co-chair Mary-Lynn Fulton explained that IWILL was the first of four Employee Resource Networks (ERN) at Vertex and that IWILL focuses on “attracting, retaining, and developing women at Vertex, particularly into leadership roles.”

Trish Hurter, PhD, executive sponsor of IWILL and an instrumental figure in launching the ERN, moderated the panel. The table below has more information about Trish and the panel participants.

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Topics: Leadership, Women, Science, Career, Panel, Women in STEM, Biotech, Discussion, Connect, Inspiration, Leaders, Mentor, Diversity

Post-Event Blog: Negotiating Pay Equity

Posted by Veronica Huang on Apr 1, 2019 2:38:51 PM

Pay equity expert Katie Donovan gave a mind-blowing seminar on equal pay negotiations for WEST community on March 13th.

Katie provided a few paradigm-shifting ideas which will change the way we communicate about salary negotiation. We, as women often don’t realize that we are being underpaid. And we tend to think that pay is not negotiable and that organizations will pay us fairly. However, the statistics from US Bureau of Labor clearly demonstrate the issue of unequal pay between men and women [Chart 3 below]. Since 2004, the women’s-to-men’s earnings ratio has remained in the 80 to 83 percent range [data]. That’s the awakening mindset Katie challenged every woman to bear in mind.

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Topics: Events, Women, Science, Career, Community, Network, Job, Women in STEM, Networking, Upcoming Events, Professional, Biotech, Discussion, Equal Pay, Connect, Gender Pay Gap, Leaders, Impact, Own It, Advocate

"Own It" Senior Panel Discussion

Posted by Jaime Luna on Mar 25, 2019 1:13:20 PM

Join WESTorg for this flagship event to learn from seasoned senior leaders as they tell us about their inspiring journeys to success in the fast-paced world of science and technology. The topic will be our annual theme, "Own It! Empowering Your Career & Your Life." Hear advice they have for owning your career and taking charge of your future by exploiting your strengths with confidence and fine-tuning your skills to ask for what you want and need. Network with movers and shakers in the science and technology community and support career advancement of the next generation of women leaders in STEM!

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Topics: Events, Leadership, Women, Science, Career, Community, Panel, Network, Women in STEM, Networking, Annual Theme, Upcoming Events, Professional, Biotech, Discussion, Female, Connect, Inspiration, Lead, Leaders, Own It

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