by Solange Lopes | Jun 24, 2014 | Career
madamenoire.com
Happy Tuesday!
Much has been said on and off about work-life balance. The White House hosted yesterday a celebrity-filled conference “focused on efforts businesses could take – including paid maternity leave – to make their environments more amenable to work-life balance and working women.”
While the very concept of work-life balance is certainly overdue for consideration (and application), it’s also a very elusive one. Indeed, the US is one of 3 countries worldwide, along with Oman and Papua New Guinea, which lacks guaranteed paid maternity leave for working moms,as reported by the United Nations. As a result, today the US ranks 17th in female labor participation among 22 of the world’s wealthiest countries.
So yes, as corporate sisters in the US, we are seriously behind! And as much as we welcome and applaud the government’s efforts to establish an equitable balance of responsibilities at work and at home, we also need to take one step further and consider what is really, actually feasible for us.
The reality is that as women and corporate sisters, we are most often at the intersection of work and home, rather than actually trying to balance the two. Rarely can we draw a distinct line between our careers and personal lives as one keeps intruding into the other constantly. Establishing balance between the two would almost imply that we could realistically separate one from the other, which in many cases, is not…the case!
Doctors’ appointments happen during work hours, so do pumping times for new moms, and kids’ sick days. Real life happens as work is in session, and rather than balancing the two, what most of us want companies and top corporate players to understand is that we need to integrate both in order to be most successful and most productive.
There are times when work will take over and home may take a back seat, and vice-versa. Or when emails will be addressed in the doctor’s waiting room. Or when we may miss a family dinner to meet that deadline.
The balance is not always going to be there. Yet what will always prevail is the need to understand and accept that life will happen, and the pieces will somehow somewhat have to fit in together for the good of all concerned. Now that is real, and much better than any balance in the world…
Would you agree?
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 22, 2014 | Career |
News – inclusivecommunities.com
Happy Sunday! Hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful summer week-end! As I’m relaxing checking out the Melissa Harris-Perry show (my favorite on Sundays), here’s a quick and dirty recap of what made me smile, laugh, tear up a bit this week in the news:
- For all the multi-taskers out there(guilty as charged..), Black Enterprise tells us about the power of chunking: 5 steps that radically reduce the burnout;
- Planning to go through a phone interview? Madame Noire Business tips us off on 10 phone interview tips to land the gig;
- I loved, loved this new ad from Pantene about the need for women to stop apologizing and the related Huffington Post commentary, so yes, not sorry I’m not sorry;
- In other positive diversity-related news, this earlier article from Ebony Mag confirms that yes, Black women (and women in general) are taking over TV;
- Thinking of switching jobs? Linked In influencer Lou Adler shares with us the 30% rule that should be the test for switching jobs;
- Want to remedy gender inequality at work? Inc. reveals to us having daughters changes male CEOs’ leadership styles, as dads with daughters are more cognizant of women’s issues in the workplace;
- After all the controversy on affirmative action, The Economist offers an alternative by encouraging selection procedures based on economic disadvantage, good food for thought;
- On a more festive note, the New York Times gives us the lowdown on three-ingredient summer cocktails (hmmm…);
- Lat but not least, The Corporate Sister is all up on the summer fashion, with this bright layering top, this A-line skirt, and for the week-end, this casual borrowed-from-the-boys button-down.
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The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 20, 2014 | Career
Halsey Button Down – $29.95 – anthropologie.com
It’s the week-end, and we’re pretty excited about it! Hence our week-end fashion pick, this Halsey button down from Anthropologie!
Love the soft, comfy look of this top, which would look great with your favorite pair of jeans or shorts. Definitely a “borrowed from the boys” item for your lazy (and stylish) week-ends. You can even recycle it for a casual Friday at the office, with a nice pair of cropped pants, and voila!
It’s on sale for $29.95 (down from $88) at Anthropologie!
Pssst…Anthropologie is currently having its summer tag sale, with over 800 styles up to 50% off…check it out!
Any plans this week-end?
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 20, 2014 | Career |
Scalloped Sleeve Tee – $32 – barneys.com
TGIF! Better yet, it’s lunch time on Friday, and for our lunch break fashion tour, we are taking a detour Barneys New York‘s way with this O’2nd scalloped sleeve tee! Loving the originality of the scalloped sleeves in chambray, over this cotton blend jersey crew neck tee. Perfect for a casual Friday in the office, or for the week-end!
I personally am a tee lover, especially in the summer! On the days when you’re just too hot and want something easy to slip on, this tee is just the thing! It’s on sale for $32 (down from $125) at Barneys NY!
Pssst….Barneys NY is currently having a designer sale, with discounts as deep as 60%….
Seen a great, office-friendly fashion find you’d like to share? Please email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com or post a comment!
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 20, 2014 | Career
rollingout.com
Happy Friday, TGIF! It’s the end of the workweek (well, for some of us at least) , and as we’re contemplating relaxing over the week-end, many of us are also estimating how much momentum they’ve gained in a particular project, or in their work and career in general.
As corporate sisters and (double) minorities in the workplace, building successful careers is a challenge. Yet by taking advantage of the opportunities that present themselves to us, capitalizing on our strengths and being willing to put forth the work, we can succeed! And adding a bit of strategizing to the mix doesn’t hurt either…
That’s where building momentum in our careers comes in! We often think that the harder we work over time, the better the results! While this does hold true, what I’ve realized (largely thanks to my failures) in the course of mine and others’ careers is that the more effort you invest at first, the more and better career outcomes you are able to reap! In other words, hard work alone is not enough to take you to the top, sowing the right seeds at the beginning is what really propels your career forward!
Whether it’s by obtaining the proper credentials, going after those challenging assignments, or networking in the appropriate circles, building momentum in the first stages of your career is key! Stepping into a new career or coming right out of college? Get that certification, request those challenging assignments, now is the time to be bold! Already advanced in your career? Don’t be afraid to invest in continuing education, use your experience as a stepping stone to build momentum, and if necessary, start over again!
Rather than exhausting your resources and energy over time, strategize and decide to invest the bulk of your efforts initially, so you can reap the rewards over time! Just as you’re looking forward to a rewarding week-end of rest and relaxation after a week of hard work…
Do you believe in building momentum in your career?
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 19, 2014 | Career
Seyrue – sternoppy.com
Hello again…In our water cooler convo today, we’d like to shine the spotlight on an entrepreneurial initiative at the corner of fashion and technology that may well take your socks pants off!
Ever been on the lookout for work pants that actually fit and flatter your shape? As a 4″11 woman on the curvy side, looking for work pants that do not actually look frumpy, sag in the rear or the front, and do not have to be altered every single time, is literally a workout! Not only do I have to pay premium for pants, but I also have to pay for alterations (not to mention the time and energy spent!).
So whenI heard of Seyrue, a NY-based brand in the making, focused on creating stylish, comfortable, convenient and well-fitting trousers, I had to do a double take! Founders Crystal Ung and Kristin Paquette’s mission is ” To empower the modern woman to be and feel her best by providing a well-engineered wardrobe to pursue her wildest dreams. Our pants will be your armor to be fearless”. They are currently launching a Kickstarter to fund the company, and I’m personally excited about it! Additional perk of the Seyrue’s pants: they will be machine-washable (bye bye dry cleaning!), will have four-way stretch (hello shape!), and a customized inseam length (thank you!). What’s not to love about it!
Looking forward to feature some Seyrue fashion trousers on the blog….In the meantime, enjoy this quote from their website:
SHERYL SANDBERG THINKS WE SHOULD SIT AT THE TABLE. AT SEYRUE, WE THINK WOMEN SHOULD WEAR THE PANTS.
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 19, 2014 | Career
Color Block Michael Kors Blazer – $64.97 – nordstromrack.com
Happy Thursday! Lunch break time, and as I’m enjoying my turkey chili (really good by the way), here’s my pick for today’s fashion break: this color block Micheal Kors “Chop” blazer from Nordstrom Rack in summer blue!
Love the edginess of this slightly unconventional blazer, which looks great for both work and play! It looks striking paired with a simple pair of jeans on the week-end (as pictured), or thrown over a no-fuss dress or tee and slacks! It’s also 97% cotton, making it great for the sweltering summer months!
It’s $64.97 at Nordstrom Rack!
Seen a great, office-appropriate fashion piece you’d like to share? Please email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com, or post a comment!
The Corporate Sister.
