5 Ways to Create the Career You Truly Want
At 27, Erica Williams Simon came to an important recognition. She was “successful” but not happy.
“So, I did what we are never supposed to do—especially as women, especially as black women: We’re never supposed to quit. You don’t quit. Well yes, you do and I did,” she recently said.
What she discovered in the time of self-exploration that followed was that many cultural and generational narratives had shaped her idea of what it means to be successful that had nothing to do with what she actually wanted out of life.
Now, the woman who had been listed on several “30 under 30” lists as a rising political star and TV commentator, is on a mission to help others understand the cultural stories that shape their lives and create new ones that will lead them to the life they actually want.
The author of the 2019 book, You Deserve the Truth, Erica shared these five insights with the Conference for Women: Read More
You’re Not Lost: Create the Career YOU Want | 2019 Session
Making some career decisions can be enough to bring any adult to her knees. The anxiety, second-guessing and unsolicited opinions we face are often abundant and result in self-doubt. They can also prevent you from making the small decisions that will help you get where you want to go. Career strategist Maxie McCoy will offer insights and advice for how to think about your choices, trust your instincts and decide whether to stay the course or pivot in a new direction. Read More
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Get Unstuck and Transition with Excitement | 2019 Session
The anxiety, second-guessing and often unsolicited opinions we face during times of transition are abundant and can result in a lot of self-doubt. They can also make you feel stuck and prevent you from making the small decisions that will help you get where you want to go. Social worker and psychotherapist Amy Morin will briefly share the psychological factors that contribute to our mindset when facing transition and lead a dynamic panel conversation that will explore how to think about your choices, trust your instincts and decide whether to stay the course or pivot in a new direction. Read More
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Thinking in Bets: Lessons in Unemotional RiskTaking and Decision-Making | 2019 Session
Do you know when to cut your losses? In poker and throughout our lives, we are more successful when we maximize the time spent in favorable situations and minimize time in unfavorable ones. But many of us are too quick to quit when we are winning, or refuse to walk away from a losing game. Former World Series of Poker champion-n turned-business consultant Annie Duke lives with uncertainty, and has found that the key to long-term success is to think in bets. In this workshop, she examines how the interaction of many cognitive biases can cause us to miss good opportunities and continue on when the odds are against us. She shares strategies to avoid these decision-making pitfalls and learn to take a longer term view. By shifting perspective and embracing uncertainty, you will start accurately assessing what you know and what you don’t, improving your decision-making abilities in your career, and at home. Read More
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Intrapreneurship: Pioneer Passion, Innovation and Vision | 2019 Session
Do you ever daydream about becoming an entrepreneur although you don’t want to leave the company you’re working for? The good news is: You don’t have to start your own business to have an entrepreneurial career! You can be an intrapreneur and act like an entrepreneur within your organization. Starting with a brief presentation and followed by an interactive panel discussion featuring some of today’s most successful entrepreneurs and corporate visionaries, you will learn how to take the fiery passion and creativity of entrepreneurs -and unleash them in your current position. Read More
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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?
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.
5 Smart Steps For Future Entrepreneurs
Ann Miura-Ko, a founding partner of Floodgate
So you have a great idea for a business. What’s your next move?
First, take an honest assessment of your personality. Claire Lee, head of early stage banking at Silicon Valley Bank, has noticed three traits in successful entrepreneurs.
“Number one is adaptability: the ability to pivot, really be open to feedback and advice, knowing which to take and which to ignore,” Lee says. “Number two, and perhaps as important, is resilience and grit—you’ve really got to develop a thick skin. And third is resourcefulness—being able to leverage your network, know where to get help and not be afraid to ask for help, is critical.”
Did you check all three boxes? Great! Here are five more starter steps to help you forge a path forward: Read More
What Women of All Races Need to Know about Success
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While only 1 in 5 C-suite leaders are women, only 1 in 25 are women of color. What can women of all races do to change that? In this episode, Michelle Gadsen-Williams, award-winning author and Accenture North America’s managing director and inclusion and diversity lead, shares her ideas and experiences about finding your voice, being seen, and “the bold-faced lie of having it all.”
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Want to Advance? Set up Your Own Personal Board of Directors
By Deb Pine, Executive Director, Gloria Cordes Larson Center for Women and Business & Bentley University Executive Education
As experienced and trusted advisors, mentors can have a significant impact on your career trajectory. Research has shown that people who have mentors are more likely to get promotions and are more satisfied in their jobs. When Indra Nooyi became the CEO at PepsiCo, she credited the mentoring she received for helping her break glass ceilings in business, “If I hadn’t had mentors, I wouldn’t be here today.” Read More