Navigating the workplace is a challenging dynamic on its own. As a woman, as a minority, or as someone of a diverse background, the obstacles that are often in the way of thriving in a professional environment can be tough to overcome. This is why it's critical to be your own advocate — something many women (myself included, for many years), have struggled with — and for good … [Read more...]
The Challenges and Gifts of Being a Female Minority Entrepreneur
As the daughter of a Mexican immigrant who was raised by my Jewish grandmother, I was introduced to the beauty of embracing my unique mix of cultures from a young age. I'm very proud of who I am and where I come from. A long line of warrior women have allowed me to be the business owner and key figure of Chicago's business community that I am today, and in all that I do, I … [Read more...]
Gratitude, Wonder, and Lessons from Elliot
This is the time of year when every post, article, and email blast centers around the concept of gratitude. We all love encouraging and hopeful stories that highlight humility, appreciation, and generosity of time, money, and spirit. Being grateful for acts of kindness and generosity is compelling and healing, but rather than focus on this concept directly, I want to take this … [Read more...]
Blurring the Boundaries: Side Gigging and Day Jobbing
We have all been told there are two categories. Those who work a “job” and those who don’t (entrepreneurs, freelancers, You or Gig economy people). Classifying work somehow indicates that one is better than the other. It somehow leads to a determination that some people are just “smarter” and choose a “better” way of working. But what if that isn’t the case? And what if we … [Read more...]
Why You Don’t Need to Be Afraid to Change Careers Right Now
The jury may still be out on whether we're in a recession, but the job market has already begun to soften. You can see the first cracks exactly where you would expect. At Robin Hood, for example, where they recently cut 23 percent of the workforce, you can draw a straight line between staff reduction and a reduction in market confidence. We all know inflation is changing the … [Read more...]
How AI Can Close the Equality Gap for Women in the Workplace
In 2022, less than a third of corporate leaders at the VP level or higher were women, according to Women in the Workplace 2022 by McKinsey and LeanIn.org. In the study, 48% of women cited a lack of opportunities to advance as the key reason they moved on from their jobs. The barrier for women to achieve leadership roles has consistently been higher than for men. New … [Read more...]
First Month as a Digital Marketing Apprentice
Have you ever considered working in digital marketing? Looking to find out what it's like or an apprenticeship in general? Let me tell you about my experience in my first month as a digital marketing apprentice. There is so much of a drive now going into hiring apprentices and they can be useful to any business. Tasks and Feelings When I first started, I had the … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Turn Professional Wounds into Power: Why Being Your Own Leader Can Be Healing
Have you been stuck in the same position at a job without opportunities to develop into a role that supports your growth as a leader? Perhaps you were promised an interim review that never came to fruition, or doors continually failed to open despite advocating for a role that excites you. Many of us have been there, and for those of us with an entrepreneurial flair, that … [Read more...]
Sometimes Career Lemons Can’t Be Turned into Lemonade: How to Know When to Leave Your Job
If you’ve been in the workforce for a while now, you’ve likely experienced a range of workplace cultures. You probably have experienced workplaces from the “meh” to the toxic, and maybe even a great one or two. Workplace culture is not static; it ebbs and flows in response to external pressures and new or changing leadership. Workplaces that once were steeped in … [Read more...]
Coaching – From the Other Side of the Desk – And Why We All Need It
When I started my own executive coaching and leadership development business a number of years ago, I only considered what I was good at – coaching and developing others. My thinking didn’t go much further, and in my line of work, I’m embarrassed to admit that. It took the COVID pandemic to make me stop and take the time to think about my own development, and I mean really … [Read more...]