by Solange Lopes | Aug 18, 2014 | Career
Siren tie front white shirt – $88 – whitehouseblackmarket.com
I love a crisp, chic white shirt. It’s timeless, elegant, and classic. Hence today’s Work It pick, this siren tie front white shirt from White House Black Market. This impeccable white button down gets a modern upgrade with a daring tie front bow!
The French cuffs adorned with geometric silver details, the slit neckline and ruched back are a slimming and flattering touch to this shirt. It’s available in petite and regular sizes, and is $88 at WhiteHouseBlackMarket!
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Aug 17, 2014 | Career
Weekly news update – Photo credit: http://drshannonreece.files.wordpress.com
Happy Sunday! Hope everyone is having a blessed morning. I woke up early today, quietly shuffled my way to the outside patio, in awe of the morning’s quiet perfection (read no screaming kids, loud TV or anyone requesting anything to ingest, destroy or use as projectile). And hopefully, you too have about 1 minute 3/4 of peace (feel free to expand your alloted window), of quiet and serenity today to breathe…while laughing, smiling or just downing your cup o’ joe as you scroll through this week’s 411:
- One town name stood above all others this week in the news, and in our hearts. #Ferguson made my mind wonder and my heart ache, as I mourned Michael Brown as the young man who could have been my son, too. If amidst all the sad news reports, you, too, still can’t find the words to talk about Ferguson, please read these from The Root;
- My heart broke at the announcement of comedian Robin William’s passing this week, I’ve always wanted my own “Mrs Doubtfire”…Even for his last exit, Mr. Williams managed to teach us a slew of life lessons and make us smile through the tears, one among which around the pressures of success in the corner office;
- We’ve had to say bye to another Hollywood legend this week. Ms. Bacall embodied many things, among which “grown up”, classy, feminine style. In the words of The Washington Post, the world will miss the “confident swagger of the lady wearing the suit than the suit itself“;
- In women’s empowerment news, Glassdoor lists 10 reasons why women should support other women in the workplace;
- I breathed a sigh of relief when I read black women in the military won the Pentagon hair war;
- No college degree? No problem. Business Insider shares the 20 highest-paying jobs that don’t require a college degree;
- I had to do a double take on this Huff Post article on professionalism behind the wheel (I learnt to drive in Boston, ’nuff said);
- Ever thought of selling your used clothes? Pop Sugar teaches us how to actually make money selling our used clothes;
- Worried about Feng shui? Worry no more, instead worry about how your windowless office is decreasing your productivity;
- Last but not least, The Corporate Sister has a few pointers on how to write more concisely at work (you’re no Jane Austen), and how to fight machismo when working abroad.
Happy Sunday, and happy reading!
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Aug 15, 2014 | Career |
Spring App – Photo credit: shopspring.com
I have to admit I’ve become a lazy shopper. While I could spend hours at the mall scouring stores for the best deals, now I’d rather log in to Pinterest and “borrow” ideas from my favorite fashion bloggers (not to mention taking two toddlers to the mall is just the equivalent of ordering a large migraine with a side of deep aggravation, I’ll pass, thanks). Hence my allegiance to “do the hard work for me” apps, among which this new (it launched today), “the devil wears Carolina Herrera” type app. It’s called Spring, and it made all my fashion buds spring up in sheer (lazy) pleasure…
So…basically, what Spring does is spring up all your favorite designers and brands in one place, and let you salivate in front of all your favorite designs, until you give in and swipe up. Except you don’t even need to swipe up, since your credit card information is already saved (which could be lethal for trigger-happy shoppers). Simple concept, right? Keeps everyone happy, the designers who can make it to your quick shopping fingers, and some of us lazy shoppers who don’t have to get off our couch to commit our next shopping crime…hmmm…
My $0.05: Great convenience app for true fashionistas on the go out there, BUT (there’s always a but) quite risky for the budget-conscious, school-loan laden, 529plan-saving, 401k-sparing, fabulous chick! So take your pick, either you have great self-control or a great wallet…
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Aug 15, 2014 | Career
Scuba layered crop top – $54.95 – Photo credit: lanebryant.com
So I’m not exactly a crop top kind of girl (blame a couple of adorable kids and an undying allegiance to bread and pasta)…Yet I was pleasantly surprised to find this flattering Scuba layered crop top at Lane Bryant. Loving the streamlined cut of this trendy, yet almost timeless top.
The sleek scuba crop is nicely paired with an attached crepe tank, for a sophisticated approach to this modern trend. Great for the office, or after hours. I’d pair it with easy slacks, a long necklace as in the picture, and one of those stylish envelope clutches. Couldn’t have thought of a better way to sport a crop top…
It’s $54.95 at Lane Bryant, and is available from size 14 through 26/28.
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Aug 15, 2014 | Career |
Dealing with machismo abroad – Photo credit: madamenoire.com
Happy Friday! TGIF!
One of my mentors once told me over lunch about some of her disastrous (albeit funny) experiences abroad as a business manager. I almost swallowed sideways as she mentioned how she would be referred to as “the girl” in company meetings. And if you know my mentor, the last thing you’d want to refer to her as is a “girl”…
Having traveled and worked abroad for brief periods of time, I knew exactly what she meant. In many other global regions outside of the U.S, machismo towards working women is not only acceptable, it’s actually considered a pretty good idea. Islamic, Latin, African and many Asian cultures do not allow for females in business, unless it is in limited, non-challenging ways. And when U.S. women work overseas, the limitations in these male-dominated cultures can seem really daunting.
Yet, faced with an ever-expanding economy and a heated debate about gender parity and women leaning in to better opportunities at work, it is hard for today’s professional women to avoid working abroad. Actually, it is recommended to complete overseas work assignments to bring one’s career to the next level.
1. Research the culture of the country! Whether you’ve been assigned to work in Saudi Arabia, or beautiful Rio de Janeiro, your first step should be to research the customs of the place. In some conservative Muslim countries, men do not make eye contact with women, while the latter should have their heads covered in public. Be aware of the settings you’re going into!
2. Show respect! While some of us may find some of the local customs to be at polar opposites from what we’re accustomed to, it is still important to show respect. Establishing a good business connection starts with respecting each other’s differences. And this is all the more prevalent as you may be representing an entire company.
3. Speak softly and carry a big stick! I’ve always found Theodore Roosevelt’s quote to be fitting to conducting business abroad, especially as a woman. Aggressiveness on the part of women is often negatively perceived in male-dominated cultures and are likely to impair productive business. A non-aggressive, yet assertive personality, will get the job done more effectively.
4. Expect blocks in the road! There will be blocks in the road, and probably some flared tempers along the way. It’s all part of the process, and will have to be managed effectively. Whether you have to use your own authority or resort to having higher management intervene, expect there to be challenges and obstacles. And thankfully so, how else would we grow?
What is your experience as a woman working overseas in male-dominated cultures?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Aug 14, 2014 | Career |
Polka Dot Pleated Skirt – $89 – Photo credit: anntaylor.com
Happy lunch break fashion time! I’m happy to introduce a somewhat modified version of our Work Fashion feature, the “Under $100 Work Fashion”! I’m a busy mom of 2, and I like to stretch a dollar and be frugal. And while a great work fashion piece definitely makes me smile, I’d smile even more if it is under $100, so there…
I’m on the roll this week with polka dots (check yesterday’s pick), hence today’s polka dot pleated skirt feature from Ann Taylor. Loving the sophisticated freshness of this skirt, which combines two of my favorite trends, pleats and polka dots. I would definitely add this classic yet modern piece to my “must-haves” list.
I’d pair it with a crisp white button-down shirt for work, and take it for a spin at night with a nice black sleeveless shirt during a summer week-end. It’s $89 at Ann Taylor, and Ann Taylor is currently offering $30 off on full-price skirts (no code needed) which brings it down to $59! Definitely a winner!
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Aug 14, 2014 | Career |
Writing concisely at work – Photo credit: http://www.christianbookbuzzonline.com
I love words, and writing, and long, flowy sentences with lots of commas and dancing punctuation. I can thank my classical French and English literature high school teachers for that. And while I may be poised to write the next big novel, I’ve had to hear over and over how much I needed to write more concisely at work…
Considering how words, after all, are supposed to help us communicate and understand each other, it became obvious mine were militating against my success at work. So after a few reports sprinkled with insisting question marks and crossed out lines, something had to give…
1. Less is more! When it comes to communicating your message across at work, whether in email or formal report format, less is more! Just as Coco Chanel advised to remove one accessory before leaving the house, keep an eye on the wordiness of your professional write-ups. Reduce the words in your sentences, delete extraneous phrases or words (“that” has become one of my pet peeves), and keep it clear and to the point!
2. Appearance matters! Check the alignment of your paragraphs and sentences. Should your paragraphs be aligned to the left or justified? When using bullet point lists, keep in mind when you should put a period at the end of each item. Did you leave a space between each paragraph? Are the dates on your reports correct, and individuals’ names correctly spelled? Appearances matter…
3. Spell check please! Last but not least, there’s a reason why the spell check feature was invented. NEVER submit a report or send an email again without checking your spelling. The devil may be in the details, but your success may just be a grammatical error away…
The Corporate Sis.
