by Solange Lopes | Jun 4, 2014 | Career
Seersucker one-button jacket – $149 – anntaylor.com
For our lunch break today, we are ushering summer in with this seersucker one-button jacket and coordinated skirt from Ann Taylor. Loving the impeccable tailoring of this stretch jacket, the crisp 3/4 sleeves with the added buttons for style, and did we mention the front besom pockets?
This jacket is so versatile, as it offers many different layering and styling options. While you can layer under it your traditional shorter-sleeved button-down shirt, you can also add a novelty shirt to the mix for a twist on your summer suit! It’s $149 at Ann Taylor!
Psst! Summer suits and select perfect shirts are 30% off at Ann Taylor, use code POWER30!
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 4, 2014 | Career
faithtruthandlovemag.com
Happy Wednesday! It is hump-day already, and a bit rainy on this side of the blogosphere…
And here you are at work, finalizing this big project, focused on your performance all year-round. Frankly, between being so busy at work and at home, there is not much time to focus on anything else. Right? Wrong!
As important as performance may be at work, your individual prospects for growth are the framework, and in many cases, part of the foundation of your career. Where both yourself and your organization see you in the next 3 or 5 years is paramount to steering you in the right career direction. And I would even argue that even without the support of your organization and or Human Resources, having your own individual development plan not only serves as a compass to your career, but also keeps you accountable to yourself and others to fulfill the goals and objectives you’ve set in your career.
Without the proper vision and framework, performance, even stellar performance, is left to chance. Could one still succeed without a development plan? Yes. Yet, how much more could you accomplish with a clear vision and action plan for your career? Infinitely more.
So how do we go about setting an individual development plan? While many a company offers pre-set templates for employees, others do not necessarily put much of an emphasis on it. Whether required by your organization or not, an individual development plan is a MUST, in life or at work! If it’s not currently part of your evaluation or review process, suggest it to your manager. If it is, pay special attention to it!
1. Identify your goals and objectives: whether you’re in a new job/position, need to improve your performance, or are eyeing a lateral position, clearly set your goals. Identify what you want to learn or achieve, in as much detail as you possibly can! Always keep in mind that while you may want to reach the sky, your goals still have to follow the SMART rule (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely)! And remember to write your Vision down!
2. Develop a plan! In life or at work, you need a plan. Goals and objectives are lifeless without a strong, effective plan! Eyeing that promotion? How are you planning on getting it? Are you going to sit for your CPA license, take additional credits or find a mentor to help you? What’s your road map like?
3. Last but not least, get to work! Rome wasn’t built in one day; neither are your objectives going to be achieved in record time. It’s going to take time, effort, and some level of adjusting and re-calibration. Somewhere along the way, your goals may change, become harder or discouragement may set in. However, the one constant should remain your hard, diligent work in the direction you’ve set!
In the case of formal individual development plans, make sure to discuss these carefully with your manager and use the resources around you (people, systems, etc) to make the best decision. Even when the process is less formal, finding an outlet through your peers and mentors can prove beneficial.
Do you have an individual development plan?
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 4, 2014 | Career |
So we are thrilled to be have been nominated by the awesome Chasing “Skinny” blog for a Liebster award! The Corporate Sister is our labor of love, and it is so rewarding and humbling for us to be recognized for what we stand for and the work we do! Thank you, thank you, thank you so much to Kyra and Udeme from the Chasing “Skinny” blog for the nomination!!!
And now, a bit of background about the Liebster award:
The Liebster Award exists to recognize bloggers and connect them to even more bloggers 🙂
The Facts:
– It has German origins – the word “liebster” has several definitions: dearest, sweetest, kindest, nicest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant…
– It’s an award for new and upcoming bloggers.
– It helps promote new blogs, and increases the readership of upcoming blogs.
– It’s a great way to get to know fellow bloggers, and can lead to networking opportunities.
The Rules:
– You must link the person’s blog who nominated you for the award.
– Answer the 11 questions given by the person who nominated you.
– Pick an additional 11 people to nominate with.
– You cannot nominate the blogger who nominated you.
– You must inform the nominees that have been nominated.
Our Questions:
1. How long have you been blogging and why?
I’ve been blogging for a few years now. The Corporate Sister is actually my second blog. I blog because I believe in the importance of telling our stories and leaving testimonies to our experiences, especially when they address an existing problem and can help others.
2. Where is the last place you traveled to?
The last place I traveled to was my home country of Senegal, West Africa.
3. What are the goals you have in mind for your blog whether big or small?
I hope my blog will be a meeting place and a source of inspiration for multi-cultural women and all women at work. I envision it to be an honest, open, and productive forum where women, real women, can discuss the issues they face at work and how to deal with these.
4. Do you feel inspired to blog daily or is it a more sporadic process?
Although I may not always blog on a daily basis due to time constraints, I am definitely inspired to blog daily. I love writing, and there is just so much to write and talk about!
5. What is the favorite post you’ve ever written be it on your current blog or elsewhere?
Hmm…this is a tough one! Of course I’m biased towards all my posts! I would have to say that one of my favorites from The Corporate Sister blog is entitled “The Corporate Sister’s Letter to Santa” (https://www.thecorporatesister.com/the-corporate-sisters-letter-to-santa-486). It’s basically my own personal letter as a corporate sister to Santa, and summarizes some of the most pressing struggles of Black and multi-cultural women everywhere.
6. What have been the best ways to promote your blog?
So far, I’ve mostly experimented with social media, especially Twitter. I’ve found Twitter to be a great way to promote my blog, and intend on exploring other promotional avenues as well. I’ve also guest posted on Black Girl Nerds and Shethrives.com, which has also led to some great exposure.
7. Has the original theme of your blog (ex: fitness, beauty etc.) remained the same or have you expanded or narrowed its content?
The theme of my blog, i.e. Black and multicultural women at work, has remained the same so far. I do plan on expanding the blog’s content by including more lifestyle and parenting posts for corporate sisters as well.
8. Have you revamped the layout of your blog lately and why?
Unfortunately, I haven’t, but it’s definitely on top of my to-do list.
9. What album/artist is currently on heavy rotation for you at the moment?
Hmmm….I have pretty eclectic musical tastes, so I would not necessarily have an album/artist on heavy rotation at the moment. However, among my musical go-to’s lately, are gospel singer Nia Allen, jazz singer Mayra Andrade and John Legend. Did I mention my musical tastes are all over the place? 🙂
10. What’s the biggest challenge you face in regards to blogging?
In regards to blogging, one of my biggest challenge is marketing my blog. As much as I love the writing part, the marketing part is definitely more challenging!
11. What’s your favorite season and why?
My favorite season is summer hands down. Love love the sunshine, heat and all-around warmth of the summer months! Yet after so many years in New England, fall is a close second.
Thanks again so much for this nomination! Now it’s our turn to nominate and connect with more blogs!
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 3, 2014 | Career
sheknows.com
In our after-hours feature today (that by chance I actually have the time to write because luckily I had a lighter than usual “second shift” today), as I was washing dishes and running after my youngest one who happens to think eating dirt is cool, we’re thinking about all the corporate sisters/mamas/aunties who have just started or are just getting ready to start their “second shift”. What do we mean by “second shift”?
Well, for those of you readers who don’t know, the “second shift” is our second job, otherwise known as the sum of all our family and house-related responsibilities, tasks and chores. Basically, all the fun stuff we have to tackle as we barely come in the door from a grueling day at work, from picking up the kids to washing the dishes, cooking dinner, giving the kids a bath, cleaning the kitchen, possibly catching up on laundry, preparing lunches for the next day, etc…right before plopping on the couch, make-up and all…
It’s the not-so-secret life of many a corporate sister everywhere, as they work at work and come back to work some more (albeit for a labor of love) at home. It’s the many colossal challenges that many of us consider to be the norm for women at work, yet fail to recognize as part of the ever-enlarging gender divide. And yes, to all our husbands, boyfriends and significant others out there, as grateful as we are to you, the reality still remains that there is a heavy expectation (both from society and ourselves) to perform on both personal and professional fronts at maximum capacity.
So, to all my corporate sisters out there, whether you’ve started your second shift or are plotting some way to make those dishes magically disappear in the dishwasher, we salute you and wish you all a good night (please don’t forget to remove your make-up, the last thing we need is wrinkles now…).
Have you started your second shift yet?
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 3, 2014 | Career |
l’Eau d’Issey – sephora.com
In our coffee break feature today, we are addressing one of the questions that many a corporate sister asks herself. When it comes to perfumes and fragrances, is it ok to sport your favorite fragrance to work? Or should you think twice about incommoding your co-workers with a particular sensitivity towards smells? Or even run the risk of projecting a certain image of yourself?
I happen to consider perfume as a part of dressing, out of sheer habit and personal taste. While I consider that one should be tasteful in their fragrance choices and careful not to incommode others, I do also believe in respecting each other’s preferences. I have been wearing perfume to work for decades now, and have only gotten one negative comment after wearing a particularly strong fragrance with a stubborn and quite obnoxious smell (which I won’t disclose for fear of bad publicity). While this experience did not make me give up on wearing perfume to work, it did teach me to carefully pick my fragrances and just spritz a bit, as opposed to getting drenched in it (which the sheer cost of perfume would probably stop me from doing!).
For my $0.05, I have been in the presence of influential women from all career paths whose delicate yet powerful fragrances I still remember. I think wearing perfume to work is definitely ok, granted it is permissible in your line of work and office, and that you are careful to choose delicate, light scents in moderation.
Here are some of my favorite fragrances for work:
- L’Eau D’Issey by Issey Miyake: love love the floral with musky and woody tones of this perfume. It’s a classic!
- Elizabeth Arden Green Tea: I’m addicted to the aromatic citrus scent of this fragrance. Not only does it smell heavenly, but it will definitely wake you up in the middle of the afternoon when all you want is crawl under your desk!
- Hermes Eau de Pamplemousse Rose: Absolutely delicious, that’s all I can say about this one!
- Last but not least, Henri Bendel’s White Gardenia Petals, worn by none other than Princess Kate on her wedding day. Simply stunning! There’s a reason why this perfume is referred to as a “bouquet of white flowers”, subtle yet oh so elegant!
Do you think it’s ok to wear perfume to work?
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 3, 2014 | Career |
Halcyon Acrylic Bib Necklace – $42 – baublebar.com
It’s lunch/fashion time! Today we’re accessorizing with this lovely Halcyion acrylic bib necklace from Baublebar. When it comes to accessories, and more specifically statement necklaces at work, I believe while it’s safer to avoid going the “BIG LOOK AT ME” statement road, some statement is ok (and even recommended in some workplaces, think advertising, PR…etc)!
So I’m loving this delicate statement acrylic bib necklace for its light-catching crystal fans and delicate spring colors. It’s available in an array of springy shades, including blue and pink (I’d go for the girly pink personally!), and is $42!
Pssst! Shipping is free in the US, and since it’s Treat Yourself Tuesday, use the TREATYOURSELF code for a little somethin’ something’ extra on your $20+ order!
Seen a great, office-appropriate accessory you’d like to recommend/share? Please post a comment or email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 3, 2014 | Career
madamenoire.com
Happy Tuesday!
With all the hype on women’s empowerment, leaning in and sitting at the table, it seems all women at work should do is speak up! We should voice our opinions, fight for equal rights and be as opinionated as we can afford to!
Yet, in mine and many others’ experiences, there are instances when it’s just smarter to not speak up. Words are great conveyors of meaning, so choosing your words carefully, at work or in life, is crucial to your success. If less than desirable or plain negative situations inspire you to speak up, re-consider your argument and decide carefully on whether speaking up is going to help or hinder your career:
1. Speaking up to complain…for the sake of complaining: Complaining to complain is not effective, and can even look bad on you! So your colleague got the promotion you thought you deserved? Or your review is not as fair as it should be? Should you consider your options to remedy the situation? Certainly! Yet, is it a reason to speak up loud and clear to complain about a situation that you may not have the power or bandwidth to change? Maybe not. Yes, we should speak up against unfair situations or personal attacks, but unless our words are positive, effective and offer some sort of solution or compromise, you may have to wait a bit to speak up…
2. Speaking up to deflect blame: “It’s not my problem!” is a common blame deflector in the workplace. Why should I care if my entire business unit is performing poorly, I’m doing my job, right? Wrong! Someone once told me that if you’re not part of the solution, then you’re part of the problem. At work or in life, taking responsibility is key. Rather than speaking up to deflect blame or responsibility, ask yourself how you can help remedy the problem, then speak up.
3. Speaking up out of uncertainty: “I’ll try”, or “I may be able to meet this deadline”, and similar statements all have a common denominator: Uncertainty. And uncertainty is not appealing at work, as it denotes a certain lack of self-confidence and assertiveness. If you’re going to speak up, let it be out of a place of confidence and authority. Statements such as “I anticipate having this project completed by Monday”, or “I am planning to close this deal the first week of the month”, are not only more definitive, powerful and effective, but they also convey a sense of ownership in your work. Afraid to make mistakes? Mistakes are par for the course, and can only help demonstrate your ability to do better. So go ahead and speak up with confidence…
Would you agree?
The Corporate Sister.
