Women Working

Arianna Huffington recently sat down with the Dalai Lama to discuss how we can use modern information sharing to promote a more mindful lifestyle. Read more here. Does anything in particular strike a chord with you? How do you reconcile your spiritual life with your dependence on modern technology?

You're heard of the boomerang generation, but did you know that only half of recent college grads are employed within a year? Yikes! Not great odds—especially when you consider that college admissions are more competitive than ever, making it tougher to even get that higher education in the first place. If you're a recent grad (or know one), we'd love to hear about your experience approaching the job market. Any tips or insights to help others get noticed?

May is Women's Health Month. Remember that what you invest in your physical, mental, and emotional health shows up directly in the quality of your work—not to mention the quality of your life! Seize this opportunity to take stock of your state of being. If you're not sure where to start, check out the FDA's helpful resource guide. Wishing you a happy, healthy May!

Discrimination specifically related to pregnancy is becoming an increasing concern, according to a recent post on Time magazine's health blog. As if women weren't already climbing uphill at work! Have you experienced hostility or resentment from an employer due to pregnancy? Do you think special exceptions should be made for women who are expecting?

We've got another cool woman on our radar! The Chicago Bar Association’s Alliance for Women (AFW) will honor Julianne M. Hartzell, a partner with the Chicago intellectual property law firm Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP, at its annual awards luncheon on Tuesday, May 15. Ms. Hartzell will receive the "Alta May Hulett Award," named for the first woman lawyer in Illinois. The award is presented annually to a recipient who has significantly contributed to the advancement of women in the legal profession, and whose career exemplifies the highest level of professional achievement, ethics, and excellence. For more details, visit here—and if you know a woman who is doing great things in her profession or community, feel free to share it on our forum!

The results are in, and we'd like to congratulate Little Pink Book's Top 10 Women in Technology! Representing powerhouse companies like Ford, BlackBerry, and Google and boasting hobbies ranging from clarinet to karate, these women prove that you don't have to choose between a full life and a successful career. Can you think of anyone else you'd like to see added to the list?

We're always looking to support strong women in our community, so we were thrilled to hear that Verizon CIO Judith Spitz would be honored in an upcoming award reception at Pace University. Helene knows Judy personally and has found her to be a powerful leader and mother, as well as a woman committed to making a difference. See more info below. Congrats, Judy!

Pace University will honor Verizon CIO Judith Spitz at the 17th Annual Leadership and Service in Technology Award Reception on Thursday, June 2. CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien will deliver a keynote address on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.

The Technology Leadership Award is presented annually by Pace University’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems to an outstanding individual or company who best exemplifies leadership in the field of technology by demonstrating a commitment to development, innovation, research and application. Proceeds from the award reception support students by providing scholarship funding and underwriting key academic initiatives.

This year’s award recipient is Judith Spitz, Ph.D., Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President IT Strategy & Planning at Verizon. She is responsible for establishing and driving enterprise-wide standards for IT computing infrastructure and systems architecture, for IT portfolio management, talent management, process and technology transformation, IT governance and compliance, and for integration with corporate strategy.

Have you been following the controversy over Seventeen magazine and Photoshop? The mixed messages we receive as young women greatly affect our ability to be confident human beings and productive workers, so the issue definitely hits home for us. What do you think—do magazines like Seventeen hurt more than they help?

A new study highlights the difference between how men and women experience jealousy (a threat to or loss of a relationship due to rivalry) and envy (an emotional reponse to a perceived discrepancy) at the office. While women are more likely to be jealous or envious of men in situations related to sexual competition, both parties experience these emotions equally when dealing when the conflict surrounds a rival's social skills. Have you dealt with jealousy or envy at the office? How did you handle it?

I attended a reception and awards dinner last night of an important group.  We need more women on boards, and this group is looking to make that happen.

They are also creating a Global Nominating Commission.  Important work that will benefit all of us.

Hello,

This is your invitation to ask a question or pose a challenge that you would like some insight and solutions on. I am a former psychotherapist now coaching, speaking and training and I welcome anything that impacts your life or career because it's all really life. 

Alan Allard

www.alanallard.com

Election years bring out some of the best (and worst) debates on gender and the workplace. Controversy has recently erupted around an argument that seems to imply that the reason women are still earning less than men is because men work harder overall. You can read more details here. Huffington Post definitely finds the statement offensive, but what about you? Do you agree? Let's get a conversation going!

Have you ever received criticism for being a working mother, either from the the office or from home? How did you deal with it? We'd love to hear your stories!

This article about the Barnard/Columbia commencement controversy (see article for a summary) brings up an interesting point—many women reach (and thrive in) secondary executive roles, but few actually hold the #1 position. Why do you think this is?

The Conference Board's Women's Leadership Conference is going on today and tomorrow in NYC, and Helene (our founder) will be in attendance! Just a heads-up for anyone who's interested, plus a reminder to seek out like-minded, motivated women to inspire and support you as you build your career. Happy Thursday!

Equal Pay Day might be over, but the issue of equal pay in the workplace demands our ongoing attention (and action!). Nationally, women still earn just 77 cents for every dollar earned by their male counterparts. Have you ever been the victim of pay discrimination? How did you deal with it?

Today's New York Times article on teen mothers reminds us that people are often a product of their circumstances. Rather than judge, we need to lend our support to those in need, and empower young women to make better decisions going forward. Have you ever felt judged by society when you tried to ask for help? How did that feel?

The much-hyped and highly polarizing Girls debuted last night on HBO. The show has been described as a younger, grittier Sex and the City, and we're excited to see attention being paid to the struggles faced by real young women entering the workforce. Did you watch? What did you think?

When it comes to female celebrities taking a stand on important issues, Jessica Alba is at the head of the pack. We really enjoyed this interview—particularly the part about finding a healthy balance between life and work. Who are some other famous role models for working women?

Did you know Martha Stewart was still working as a stockbroker at age 30? It's never too late to change career paths—experts now estimate that the average person has four different "careers" over the course of one lifetime. If you've made a major job switch, how did you go about it? Any tips for someone looking to do the same?