by Solange Lopes | Apr 25, 2017 | Working Mom & Woman Tips
When the “Take Your Daughter to Work” Day (celebrated on the fourth Thursday of April) was founded back in 1993, the point of it all was to promote gender equality. While it expanded to include sons 10 years later, there’s something about the very fact that we can show our daughters what it means to be a working woman that shouldn’t be overlooked. Or treated lightly…
I mean, it’s one thing saying to dear daughter that she can become anything she puts her mind to. It’s another to actually show her. And not just in terms of what Mommy or Daddy does, but in terms of what it possible, beyond Mom’s Feng shui cubicle or Dad’s dusty desk…
If you’re getting ready to dust off your desk and make your cubicle/office baby-daughter-ready, then here are 5 lessons you may want to consider sharing with baby girl on ‘Take Your Daughter to Work” Day:
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Girls (and women) can do all kinds of work
I have to say, my first impulse to take Dear Daughter to work can be summed up in two words: Girl Power! I do want her to see that girls, and women, are represented in workplaces. Not just through the glorious (and slightly disorganized) examples of her own mom and dad, but by observing other women at work as well.
This means not just taking Dear Daughter around you own department or group, but also giving her a tour of the company, especially around female leadership. It’s important for our daughters to see that women can fill many positions and roles at work, from CEO to janitor, and to let them form their own images of what the working world looks like…
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There’s no such a thing as perfect balance
After all the initial Girl Power moments, comes the much-needed reality check lesson. I have to admit, one of my big first reality checks coming into adulthood “working mode” was that there isn’t any balance whatsoever as a working woman. Not just because we have kids or significant others or a social life, but because having a career is an automatic one-way into no-balance land. Between being our best selves at work, slaying our life goals, returning calls and paying the mortgage on time, working life is a juggling act.
So one of the most important lessons I’ve always wanted to pass on to Dear Daughter is to not expect the whole work thing to be nice and neat and organized. Which means teaching our daughters that the chaos of early mornings, unexpected traffic jams, and dealing with crisis at work is normal. And can actually be fun if we take it all as a challenge, as opposed to insurmountable obstacles…
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Work can look like a lot of different things
This is the part that I’d call “job diversity”. Ok, maybe this is not the optimal term, but it works for now…And it consists in carefully imprinting in Baby Daughter the idea that work is not just what Mommy (or Daddy) does. It’s not just what the well-dressed CEO sitting at the clean desk overlooking the Bay area does either.
It’s also what the lady janitor does so well when she cleans the toilets. Or what the lady at the building entrance does when registering guests inside the offices…
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Work can change
One of the most frequent misconceptions we may unwillingly transmit to our children is that work is static. That Mommy or Daddy goes to the same job every day, gets money for it that they can in turn use to buy them toys or pay for the tokens at Chuck-e Cheese. Pretty basic, right?
Except what this does is stick our kids into the idea that work is this humongous prison all adults go lock themselves in every day. Wrong! Instead, why not use Take Your Daughter to Work day as an incentive to realize that work does change. This can be done by having them talk to other women (and men) at work who had different careers and positions throughout their careers.
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You have to find the work that makes you happy!
Last but not least, work is what should give you the same feeling as when you complete a difficult puzzle, or help a friend in need, or run through that obstacle course you never thought you could even begin. Work is fulfilling, satisfying, challenging. Work makes you happy, and on edge, and full, whatever that looks like…
What lessons would you teach your daughter on Take Your Daughter to Work Day?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Apr 21, 2017 | Career
Welcome to our weekly career, entrepreneurship, lifestyle and fashion news roundup! Think of it as your online watercooler/work gossip station/coffee break spot for now…Want to add anything to our list? Email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
- In awesome news this week, the NY Times reveals the Queen of the Tennis Courts Serena Williams confirmed she’s expecting and we’re in total awe!
- Business Insider lists the highest-paying jobs in each state;
- Got student loans? Black Enterprise explains the financial impact of borrowing student loans;
- The Lyndsey Pollak Blog outlines the most important interview prep you should be doing, but are not!
- TCS lists 7 tips to survive any toxic work environment;
- The Glassdoor Blog lists the #1 reason why women make less than men (and what you can do it about it);
- Are you a new manager? Forbes lists 7 new manager mistakes you don’t even know you’re making;
- If you have employees suffering from high-functioning depression? Ellevate Network has tips on how to be a good leader to them;
- Want to succeed? Ellevate Network advises you to work less;
- Black Enterprise reveals that historically black college Xavier University lab develops a supplement that kills cancer;
- Are you an entrepreneur using Instagram? Entrepreneur recommends you double-down on Instagram stories and explains why;
- Want to take amazing pics right on your phone? Buzzfeed lists 17 ways to make the pics you take on your phone so much better;
- In an empowering message for all women, Essence reports that model and People’s Most Beautiful Woman nominee Danielle Brooks is proud of her stretch marks;
- Traveling for Spring Break? Food52 has a list of 15 travel kits to store your littler things.
Seen any piece of news you’d like to share? Post in the comments below or email me at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
Cheers to the weekend!
The Corporate Sis
by Solange Lopes | Apr 19, 2017 | Career
Everlane Day Heel – Photo credit: shopstyle.com
Our Wear to Work feature showcases workwear pieces in various styles and price ranges. Please note this post contains affiliates links.
If you could combine the classic ease of a chic ballerina shoe with the all-day comfort of a block heel for Spring, you’d get this…The Everlane Day Heel, a ballet-inspired shoe with a round toe and elastic back. Which also means you can literally walk in them.all.day.long. How’s that for a great deal, especially when as the weather gets nice around…It also comes in black suede, rose tan and navy. It’s $145 at Everlane.
Seen any piece you’d like us to feature? Email corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
In Style and Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Apr 19, 2017 | Career
A few weeks ago, Twitter went into a frenzy after Congresswoman Maxine Waters and White House Reporter April Ryan were publicly attacked. Which in turn sparked real outrage over what Black women face at work, starting the very popular hashtag #BlackWomenatWork.
But what this incident really did was bring to the surface the realities that a large majority of Black women face in the workplace. Plus the rampant fear to acknowledge these at all, because: retaliation. However, there are still many things that Black women hear at work. Whether these make us cringe in surprise or smile in disbelief, or anything else in between, here are some of the most common, and interesting, things you may have heard at work as a Black woman, plus some tweets from other sisters to confirm:
Did your hair grow in a week?
So you switched things up between your high bun, your natural curls, and your brand-new Eva weave, all in one week…And the comments are rolling in!
Can we see the manager?
That time when you show up ready to slay at the meeting and you’re politely asked to go get your manager…Except the manager is…you!
Why are you always so angry?
The Angry Black Woman stereotype is very much still alive and well…Iyanla, we need you to come and fix all of this…
Photo credit: essence.com/twitter.com
You’re so well-spoken!
When you’re not sure whether you should take the acknowledgement of your five degrees and three certifications as a compliment, or an insult! Or what the appropriate response should be, for that matter…
Photo credit: essence.com/twitter.com
What would you add to this list?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Apr 18, 2017 | Career
Wear to Work; Floral-Print Blouse – Photo credit: shopstyle.com
Our Wear to Work feature showcases workwear pieces in various styles and price ranges. Please note this post contains affiliates links.
Nothing says Spring like delicate floral prints (not your grandma’s florals though)…Hence today’s pick, this Elie Tahari Reagan silk print-floral blouse from Saks Fifth Avenue.
It’s as elegant as it’s light, airy and easy to style with pretty much any bottom! Pair it with elegant capri pants for a complete Spring look, or tuck it in a sleek pencil skirt and voila! It’s $298 at Saks!
In a similar style, I also like this Etro number, as well as this lace trim version!
Seen any piece you’d like us to feature? Email corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
In Style and Success,
The Corporate Sis.
