Networking is More (and Less) Than You Think
Laura Okmin
Sometimes, the most valuable lessons come from the most humbling moments. At least, it was one of those moments that gave FOX NFL reporter Laura Okmin one of her greatest insights in what not to do when networking.
As a young reporter, and the first woman to be covering TV news in Alabama, she had gotten to know Charles Barkley, the NBA champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist.
“One day, I called Charles and he answered the phone and said: “Well, well, well. Laura Okmin, what do you need?” And I went: “Well, can’t a girl just call and say hello?” “A girl can,” he said. “You just never do.…I know when you call, you need something. So, what do you need?”
Register one of the biggest networking mistakes: always having an agenda. From then on, Okmin made sure she reached out to offer something—such as, congratulations on wins and condolences on losses—more often than she asked for something. She’d learned that networking is really about relationship-building.
Here are 3 more tips from Conference for Women experts: Read More
The Real Road to the C-Suite
Shoma Chatterjee
There’s an image many of us have of who makes it to the C-Suite: Think square-jawed, 6’4″ tall, Ivy League educated, followed a linear road to success. No mistakes. Right?
Well, not exactly. According to a study of 18,000 executives who were finalists for C-Suite positions, conducted by GhSMART, a New York-based executive advisory firm:
- 45 percent got there after surviving at least one big career blow-up.
- 33 percent took a giant leap that they didn’t feel ready for. “They went through all the imposter syndrome gremlins that said, ‘You shouldn’t do it.’ But somehow, they did; and that was the pivotal moment for them,” said GhSMART’s Shoma Chatterjee.
- 66 percent started small—beginning their own business, or taking on a project in another country or region where they could see a business through end-to-end.
Is there room for all of US?
“The majority of the U.S. population will be people of color by 2050.”
“The majority of the U.S. population will be people of color by 2050.”By Stephanie Browne, VP of Talent Acquisition and Chief Diversity Officer for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Did you know that the majority of the U.S. population will be people of color by 2050?
Companies who count the public as the main consumer of their products and services will need to be even more aware of the likes and dislikes of all their customers. They will need to be culturally competent to understand the different cultures that shape their consumers’ opinions on health, foods, travel and community. If everyone in your company has similar backgrounds and experiences, this can’t happen. It’s important to invest and embrace in an employee base that is generationally and racially diverse, and gender-balanced. You must create a culture that fosters curiosity and respect for all ideas, allows for continuous learning and is free of bias that hinders innovation. Read More
The Q&A
Human Resources VP Susan LaPointe: “Women have tremendous confidence today. We are no longer willing to sit on the sidelines.”
Human Resources VP Susan LaPointe: “Women have tremendous confidence today. We are no longer willing to sit on the sidelines.”Susan LaPointe, VP of Human Resources of the Web Division at Akamai Technologies (a leader in content delivery network services and cloud security systems) shares the best and boldest decision she ever made, what she’s learned about success, and more.
Q: What was your dream job as a child?
I wanted to be a graphic designer because I loved to doodle.
Q: What do you love about the work you do now?
3 People Who Inspire Me Now
Mary-Jo Gagliardi: “Spring is often viewed as a time for growth and rebirth. What will you focus your attention on this season?”
Mary-Jo Gagliardi: “Spring is often viewed as a time for growth and rebirth. What will you focus your attention on this season?”Mary-Jo Gagliardi is senior vice president of Human Resources and leads Human Resources for Wells Fargo Capital Finance, a global $45 billion lending division within Wells Fargo.
Spring is often viewed as a time for growth and rebirth. What will you focus your attention on this season? My plan is to water the flowers—not the weeds—and renew my personal commitment to a growth mindset. I will give my time and attention to activities that help me see my surroundings with new eyes and deepen the human connections in my life. Read More
You Asked. She Answered.
Q: Is there a good comeback for when someone repeats your idea and takes credit for it? I usually just sit there and think: What just happened?
A: Charmaine McClarie, leadership expert and executive coach says: You can simply say, ‘Excellent idea. I’m really glad that you agree. And I have three strategies that will make a difference as we move this forward.’ Then send out an email and identify what they are so that everyone knows it’s you.
Tired of Feeling Invisible? Here’s How to Be Seen and Rewarded
“Do you feel sometimes like there’s a person inside that’s screaming to jump out?” asks leadership expert and executive coach Charmaine McClarie. “I want you to let that person out because that person is really the truth of who you are.”
But to be recognized and rewarded for who you truly are, it’s essential to use the language of leadership that makes people turn their heads and listen, says McClarie, who says her strategies have helped 98 percent of her clients be promoted within 18 months.
Here are her top five: Read More
4 Proven Strategies that Will Help You Get a Raise
The gender pay gap became front-page news last month after presidential candidate Kamala Harris announced a proposal that would require companies to prove they pay women equitably—or pay a fine.
But if you don’t want to wait to see what comes of that, here are four tips that expert Conference for Women speakers say have helped them negotiate salary increases: Read More
A Leading Doctor on Stress, Kidney Health and Work Life Balance
Featuring Dugan Maddux, M.D., Vice President for Kidney Disease Initiatives, Fresenius Medical Care North America
Happy Women’s Health Month! One issue that doesn’t get nearly enough coverage: chronic kidney disease (CKD). It’s on the rise for both women and men. We asked Dugan Maddux, M.D., vice president of kidney care initiatives at Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA), to fill us in about CKD and to share her advice as a working woman for more than 25 years.
Q: Why is CKD on the rise, and what should women be on the lookout for? Read More
9 Mantras to Help You Turn Your Idea into a Business
Nathalie Molina Niño, CEO of BRAVA Investments
While starting a business, you’ll find yourself talking yourself into, and out of, a lot of choices. From idea to full-fledged enterprise, these mantras from real founders and executives will help you stay strong along the way. Pick and repeat the ones that speak to you the most.
#1. Corner yourself with courage—and go. Read More