by Solange Lopes | May 20, 2016 | Career
Casual Friday Pick: Chambray Blazer
I love the blazer-jeans combo for casual, yet still professional-looking Fridays. You never know when you can get pulled into a meeting, and looking pulled-together, even if casually, is always a smart choice.
So my casual Friday pick this week is this tailored chambray blazer from LOFT. The style is effortless, the cut impeccable, and the look screams “I’m not even trying…”.
The notched lapels, and long sleeves with vented cuffs add a serious touch of sophistication to this otherwise easy-going blazer in cotton linen chambray. And did I mention it’s on sale for $109.99?
If you ask me, I’d pair it with classic cropped straight-leg jeans like this Citizens of Humanity pair for a professional-cool vibe…
Yay or Nay?
PS: Like this post? Click HERE to get The Corporate Sister’s career, lifestyle and entrepreneurship, bi-weekly updates!
Love,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | May 20, 2016 | Career
The most important question you should ask your manager
If you’ve ever been around toddlers, you know how many questions they can ask in the space of just a few minutes. What’s a plane? Why does it fly? Do we have to go home? What’s for dinner? Why can’t I have more candy/juice/ice-cream/anything sugary?
The questions come pouring in over and over again, all day long. After all, the average toddler asks about 300 questions a day…By the time y0u’ve mustered enough strength to answer, you hardly remember what they’ve been asking for, nor which one of said inquiries is most pressing to attend to…
I should know, I have two little people of my own filled to the brim with question marks and interrogations of all kind. And by now, my own overactive, caffeine-powered brain’s learnt to discern between the most important inquiries, like “Are you gonna get mad?”(which suggests some form of mischief has taken place), and the ones that can be quickly tuned out with a quick nod, smile, or semi-threatening look…
The same can happen at work too, between sometimes over-inquisitive employees and frequently overwhelmed managers. In an effort to learn more, do more, and look like we really deserve that promotion, we tend to ask away. Unfortunately, most of our questions end up falling under the radar, and not being attended to as they should. I mean, there’s just not enough time, coffee or Kit-Kat bars to go around…
When your manager’s calendar fills up faster than the corner Starbucks, and you have to seize the first window of opportunity available, you have to ask meaningful questions. Preferably ONE meaningful question! ONE question that can be all the difference between working strategically and spinning your wheels to no end. Not to mention the fact that it’ll make your boss do a double-take, and possibly jot down some promising words for your next performance review…
ONE question: “What can I do to make your job easier?”
That’s it.
Sounds too simple? Think again…
One of my mentors put me onto this “magic” question years ago, as she said this: “The best thing you can do is to align your vision and work to that of your managers and the rest of the team. Always ask yourself how your work can further your manager’s interests and help the rest of the team. If there’s one question you must ask, it’s that!”
Whether as part of a performance review, informal one-on-one, or quick touch-base meeting, it goes a long way to show that not only are you committed to your job, you’re committed to your team and your management.
Even more than commitment, it shows strong leadership skills, and is as a sign you’re ready to step to the next level. Your initiative may very well put you in a position where you may be privy to information you wouldn’t otherwise have access to. At worst, it’ll help you re-focus and re-direct your efforts in a strategic way.
What do you think? Have you ever tried asking your boss what you can do to make her/his job easier? Would you?
PS: Like this post? Click HERE to get The Corporate Sister’s career, lifestyle and entrepreneurship, bi-weekly updates!
To your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | May 13, 2016 | Career
Corporate Catwalk: Pottery-print long-sleeve tunic
Doesn’t this Tory Burch pottery-print long sleeve tunic make you instantly think of more relaxing days? Perfect for a casual Friday at the office, or a day out on the week-end, this slim and sophisticated tunic is simply gorgeous. Loving the elegant split neckline, the comfortable long sleeves, and the generally flattering silhouette of this top that can go from casual to dressy in minutes…
I’d pair it with these modern, stacked heels Savona open-toe mules, or these Tory Burch “Raya” beauties!
Yay or Nay?
Love,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | May 13, 2016 | Career
Weekly News Roundup
This is our weekly career and lifestyle news update, where we round up exciting news of the last week and we let you have it…ahem, news-wise that is…
Think of it as your career gossiping section on steroids…
And while you’re at it, follow us on Facebook, Twitter,IG, and Pinterest!
Here we go…
- In inspiring news this week, President Obama’s commencement address at the Howard University’s graduation had me feeling invincible. Read his remarks here;
- In slightly more controversial news this week, Facebook COO and Lean In’s author Sheryl Sandberg apologized in a Facebook post for not acknowledging single moms in her wildly popular best-seller. Apparently, her move’s infuriated quite a few women out there, including blogger Penelope Trunk who finds her apology a little too late. What do you think?
- On a more encouraging more for women, Ellevate’s Sallie Krawcheck answers the question as to why women’s careers heat up as men’s tend to slow down;
- Don’t you like it when you get more money in your paycheck? Well, the new overtime rules expected to become law later this year may make you really happy. US Money tells you more about it;
- If this annoying in-between, rainy one day, scorching hot the other, weather has got you wondering what to wear, Levo League has some advice for keeping it cute and professional;
- If you’ve ever dreamt of working remotely but couldn’t muster the strength to ask, Glassdoor tells you how;
- On an empowering note, here are the three words that changed my career;
- No Bachelor’s degree? No problem…Here are 25 high-paying jobs you can get without it!
- Is your elevator pitch quite not there? Ellevate Network shares a few tips on how to create a memorable pitch;
- Last but not least, isn’t this print V-neck top just taking you somewhere warm and exotic?
Happy Friday!
Love,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | May 10, 2016 | Career
Corporate Catwalk: Print V-Neck Top
This Catherine Malandrino “Rea” print V-neck top takes me straight to some tropical oasis in my mind… Loving the happy prints on this elegant and easy cap-sleeve top, set on a soft pink background. The print pattern is perfect for Spring. Not to mention the mid-section pleats which create a flattering silhouette all over…
This top is $48 at Nordstrom, and would look fantastic paired with a flattering pair of skinny ankle pants like this Nic+Zoe crisp pair.Or these Derek Lam straight pants.
So yay or nay?
Love,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | May 10, 2016 | Career
How to Empower Women at Work
“When you’ve worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity…you do not slam it shut behind you…you reach back and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.” Michelle Obama
It was a grueling afternoon team meeting…The kind that makes you believe there’s not enough coffee (or patience) in the world, to make up for this humongous outflow of energy in the room. I was sitting right across from the other manager on the audit, refraining a strong urge to utter some choice words at him. Not only had he taken credit for my work and rudely taken over the conversation since the meeting started, he would constantly keep interrupting me…Talk about a meeting from hell…
I remember exiting the meeting room as fast as I could, files in hand. frustration all over my face, scurrying back to my desk. That’s when the Senior Manager called me. “Let’s take a walk!” “Oh great, now what?”, I started thinking. I haven’t been in the job more than a year, and after this disastrous meeting, I may not be any longer…
“I see what’s happening”, she said, looking at me squarely in the face.”And I empower you to speak up, and present your ideas. Don’t wait for permission, take your chance and go!”
I’ll never forget her words…Neither will I ever forget the warm sense of confidence that washed all over me afterwards. This was the first time, in years of grueling meetings, male interruptions, and stolen credit, that someone, especially an executive, officially said these three words that totally changed my career: “I empower you…”
Something powerful happens when someone else helps you claim the power that’s always been yours. Many times, especially as women at work, we’re conditioned not to see, acknowledge, or claim our own power. Is it any wonder then that we can’t write express it?
Empowerment is contagious. The more you give it away, the more of a ripple effect it has.
This executive single-handedly changed the course of my career. And I suspect the course of many a careers…Maybe because as a woman like myself, she was able to see through the veil of hesitation and quietness. Maybe because someone else had empowered her too. Or even maybe because she’s had to empower herself so many times, it became easier to extend the favor to others.
The point of the matter is, the simple fact of speaking empowerment into someone else’s career, and ultimately, someone else’s life, can change it for the better. Sometimes for the best. Especially when opportunities tend to be scarce for women at work. When everywhere we turn, we read about the confidence gap, the wage gap, and all kinds of other structural and societal gaps that leave us wondering how we’ll ever fill our cups and come out on the other side. And that’s exactly why we have each other…
And for the record, I never could shut my mouth much after that (as you can probably tell from my ramblings on this blog)…
Has anyone ever empowered you to be successful at work? What did they say to you that turned your career around, or helped you gain a new perspective on work? Please share with us…
To your success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | May 6, 2016 | Career
Corporate Catwalk: Peaks Point Wedges
For our Corporate Catwalk pick today, these Peaks Point leather nubuck pointy toe wedges from Free People had me at “Hellur”! Loving the combination of the sophisticated pointy toe with the luxe material, bringing this otherwise casual shoe to star level. The easily adjustable ankle straps make for a very flattering, and comfy, style. At $138, these beauties are exquisite.
I’d pair these with ankle-length jeans on casual fridays, or on the week-ends, like this Hudson skinny pair, or this ultra-white Paige denim pair.
Yay or Nay?
Love,
The Corporate Sis.
