by Solange Lopes | Oct 10, 2014 | Career
Levis authentic denim trucker jacket – $58 – Photo credit: www.urbanoutfitters.com
Loving this Levis authentic denim trucker jacket from Urban Outfitters. It’s simply a classic, with its button-down front, premium cotton denim and shrunken fit. I really like the darker wash which gives it a more rocker-chic yet sophisticated edge. This jacket can be paired with anything from a cute mini to your destroyed jeans or work slacks.
For the week-end, I’d probably do a little throw-back with these classic Converse Chuck Taylor all-stars low-tops or these classic Vans for a cool, relaxed (and pain-free) week-end.
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 9, 2014 | Career |
Is it ok to take selfies at work – Photo credit: uptown magazine.com
In the era of selfies, and posting one’s entire life on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, if you haven’t snapped a photo or two of you smiling (or purposely frowning) into the camera, you may be living under a rock (which in this case is OK).
Other than the fact that selfies have been linked to narcissism, or that selfies are apparently crossing all decency barrier into all occasions including funerals, is it OK to snap a pic of you at work? Does all the confidential stuff serving you as professional background have a place in your smartphone, or on social media for that matter? And if your fellow cube dweller happens to snap his own selfies all day long, should you just shrug and replicate?
My $0.05: I don’t have anything against the whole selfie culture, although it should definitely be done in moderation. Yet of all the places to take a selfie, I would recommend not doing it at work. Not only would it seriously put your professionalism in question, but really, how self-obsessed do you want to look to your co-workers?
What do you think? Are selfies at work ok?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 9, 2014 | Career
Alfani Ruffle Collar Wool Blazer – $84.99 – Photo credit: www.macys.com
I’m in fashion lust with this Alfani ruffle collar blazer with faux-leather details! This is really a stunner, especially in this teal color (it’s also available in grey).
Loving the flattering ruffles at the collar and the streamlined silhouette of this blazer. It would look perfect with elegant slacks or a sleek pencil skirt.
I’d pair this stunning blazer with a no-less elegant work bag like this quilted faux-leather tote from Forever 21, or this Reiss version.
This blazer is $84.99 at Macy’s!
Psst….Look out for Columbus Day sales and discounts at Macy’s!
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 8, 2014 | Career |
Weave app – Photo credi: geekwire.com
If you’d rather meet professional contacts than hang around at happy hour, then there’s an app for you! Weave allows you to locate other professionals you’d actually want to meet with, and it connects with your Linked in profile.
So long dreadful networking events where you didn’t know a soul, and had to the walk of shame across the room to introduce yourself to perfect strangers! Much like the Tinder app, Weave uses your location to match you up with prospective professional contacts you can meet up with for coffee, at a networking event or…at your next job interview.
My $0.05: I like this idea of pre-networking. It’s like baking a cake with the pre-made mix, you have more choice, more time and you can still take the credit for it!
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 8, 2014 | Career
Simplify the most complex tasks at work – Photo: http://1.bp.blogspot.com
I had just gotten the job and on my first week, I got assigned a new project. When the Director said during my interview that I was expected to be drinking from the firehose, he wasn’t joking…It was a new, complex process I knew nothing about, and somehow I had to make it simple enough to make it past my new job nerves, and past my new Manager…
As with time management, performing any task at work requires understanding it first. And in the era of automating and delegating everything for productivity’s sake, it requires understanding it FAST!
1. Get a “can-do” attitude! Attitude is everything, especially at work. When confronted with a challenging task, or a new project you know absolutely nothing about, fix your mind first, as my grand-mother would say! Remember, if you think you can, you’re right!
2. If you can draw it, you got it! As an auditor working with different processes at different companies, it would be easy to get confused by the complexity of businesses everywhere. So I took a cue from my toddler: anything, anything is so much simpler if you can draw it. Whether you scribble on a piece of paper, or build an elaborate flowchart on Visio, get to drawing and visualizing the task at hand!
3. Now it’s puzzle time! Once you’ve garnered your can-do attitude and drawn your task, process or project, it’s puzzle time! Now that you can visualize all the pieces, it’s easier to mentally assemble and disassemble them to pinpoint the areas you need to focus on.
After all, it’s NOT rocket science!
How do you simplify complex tasks at work?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 8, 2014 | Career |
Stripe collared peplum top – Photo: Anntaylor.com
This stripe collared peplum top from Ann Taylor has the makings of a contemporary yet classical top. Perfect for work, and compatible with virtually any bottoms, this top combines a flattering and slightly bold peplum top with a demure Peter Pan collar.
I’d pair this top with this pencil skirt from
Pencil Skirt – $110 – Photo: shopbop.com
Shopbop, and some classic black pumps. This top is $79 at Ann Taylor.
Pssst…Use code SHOPFALL and save $50 off $100, or $75 off $150 or more!
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 7, 2014 | Career |
Should you decorate your office – Photo: design homes.pic
I used to work for a toy company, where most employees used to decorate their office space/cubicle with toys. At the time, coming right out of Public Accounting, where I was fortunate to find an empty spot in the office when I was not on the road traveling to clients’ undesired (and undesirable) conference rooms, office decorations seemed to me like THE most superfluous thing…
Fast-forward a few years, and working, breathing, moving around in the same space day in and day out, I can understand how someone, anyone would want to feel comfortable at work. And yes, comfort does involve adding your own touch to your space, or what constitutes your space for now…
My $0.05: Work is NOT home, BUT for most of us, it’s home away from home, even if for 8+ hours. So yes, if you’d like to decorate your office, you should! Bringing in pictures in cute frames like this one, or a funky decorative lamp like this one is actually advised to personalize your space, and look like you actually have a life outside of the office. You could invest in some original stationery like this one, or even get some funky accessories like this one for the hubby. However, when it comes to decorating your office space, moderation is KEY! Invest in some elegant and professional pieces like this one or that one, and avoid excess photos or personal mementos. All in all, anything you display in your office space should be tasteful and professional (and no, that does not involve the pictures of your last margarita-filled girls’ night out…)
What do you think? Are you open to any office space decorations, or do you think these should be kept reasonable?
The Corporate Sis.
