by Solange Lopes | Jun 2, 2014 | Career
Sphere workstation – Inc.com
It’s coffee break time, and that also means time to get up and give your aching back a…break! Seriously, after years of sitting down staring at a computer, I can honestly say this whole desk thing is a giant pain in the… back! It’s been proven that sitting at a desk all day long has negative health effects; however, and as much as I would like to relieve my back pain, standing all day in my cute heels is not exactly an option either.
So I was really excited to discover this sphere workstation, listed on Inc.com as part of the 2014 Best In Class Awards. What this workstation does is focus on a new type of ergonomics to relieve the giant pain in your back, by actually encouraging a body position that is better than sitting or standing for that matter! Instead, you can perch! Yup, you read right, it’s called “perching”, and relies on a adjustable height system and a specially designed stool, so you’re not exactly sitting down but not standing up either. Pretty innovative, huh?
And to top it off, the sphere workstation is assembled right here in our state of Rhode Island by Focal Upright Furniture, located in Portsmouth, RI. The product was launched last February, and it’s one that I would loooove to try….
Seen a great office-friendly accessory or piece of furniture? Please share with our readers by posting a comment or emailing us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 2, 2014 | Career
Nanette Lepore Take My Hand lace inset dress – $86 – neimanmarcus.com
Hello again! It’s lunch time on Monday, and definitely today, we need a bit of a lunch fashion excursion away from our to-do list reality! So we were ecstatic when we found this Nanette Lepore Take My Hand lace inset dress from Neiman Marcus! Not only is the dress oh so alluring with a bit of a sheer lace insert against the striking blue cobalt hue, but it’s also been marked down from $248 to….yes, $86!
Love love the contrast trim at the waistline, and the flattering pleated skirt. The color looks absolutely ravishing for the season, and is a nice alternative to boring black, while still being conservative enough. And the sheer peekaboo next to the shoulder is definitely the attention-grabbing detail here…Need we say that with this dress, gliding from your file-filled desk to the after-hours restaurant will feel like a breeze…
So yes, we’ll definitely take your hand, beautiful Take My Hand dress! A steal…
Seen any great, office-friendly fashion find you’d like to share? Please post a comment below or email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 2, 2014 | Career
woman-tired-at-work-madamenoire.com
Happy Monday! Yes, it’s Monday…again! And here you are, at your desk, wondering where the week-end went, and most importantly…wondering why you’re so tired and a tad bit cranky. And of course, just blaming it on the fact that oh well, it’s just Mondays…ughhh…
Yet could it be that our stressful, overbooked, or just randomly planned week-ends be to blame for our falling asleep in front of the computer monitor on Monday morning?
Like many corporate sisters out there, my week-ends tend to also be “work”, just a different type of work. From running errands to shuttling the kids left and right, not to mention the pile of laundry awaiting some kind of divine intervention in the corner, week-ends are busy! And if I dare to say (ok, I’ll whisper it then), even busier and more stressful than actual work days.
Yes, indeed! In a culture of more, more and even more, we are overpacking our schedules, overlooking our calendars and just expecting to get it all done as planned! Because really, who needs rest and relaxation when you can just go, go, go?
So after years of gradually increasing my caffeine intake, keeping separate (and matching in excessive length) week-end and weekday to-do lists, I’ve finally had an AHA moment when I mistakenly swapped my dry cleaning pick-up time with the departmental meeting on my BlackBerry calendar. Right before snapping at the cafeteria attendant for the weak espresso!
So for all the planning addicts like myself, if we must plan for week-ends, let’s plan to give ourselves some (mandatory) breathing room…So we don’t make it to work, feeling like we just got run over by a train and still try to do more!
Are your busy week-ends to blame for your lack of productivity at work?
The Corporate Sisters
by Solange Lopes | Jun 1, 2014 | Career
Reading the news
Happy Sunday! Hope everyone’s having a wonderful week-end, it’s beautiful on this side of the blogosphere and we’re enjoying the good weather. As I’m sipping on my second third cup of coffee (I know, I know, working on it!), I’m reading and re-reading the headlines and news of this week that made us smile, laugh, cry and frown and right out go “What ?!?!?!?!?!”:
Happy Sunday, and happy reading! Much love, peace and motivation!
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | May 30, 2014 | Career |
Happy Friday! TGIF!
Attending a conference or planning to attend one? Conferences are one of those sometimes tricky work events to attend, as they do not take place in your usual work digs, involve new people you will meet and will possibly become part of your career path, and are filled with exposure, learning and growth potential. How you present yourself at conferences, and similar industry meetings can significantly impact your career.
I recently attended yet another work conference. After so many years of attending these, I have learnt to not only dress for the occasion, but also to make efficient clothing choices.
These are my three picks for the fashion essentials to attend conferences:
- The Blazer:
One-button blazer – $58.80 – the limited.com
The blazer is your number one go-to topper for conferences.Not only does it lend itself well to pretty much any outfit choice, be it an easy sheath or elegant pencil skirt, but it also adds an added touch of sophistication and elegance. Whether you pick a casual or more conservative blazer (unless you decide to go the fluorescent route), you can hardly ever go wrong with a blazer!
- The Sheath dress:
Anne Klein Sheath Colorblock Dress – $67.49 – macys.com
Loving this color block dress from Macy’s! It’s contemporary, easy, yet still very much office-friendly. The sheath dress makes an easy (remember the one piece rule!) and elegant alternative to pants or skirt for conferences. Pair it with a black or neutral cardigan, and you can go from the conference room to cocktail hour in a cinch!
- The Suit:
Black Check Suit – $198 – bananarepublicgap.com
My perennial favorite: the suit! I prefer easy (note, not your conservative, interview-style) suits, in breathable fabrics and modern cuts. Depending on the type of conference, you have the option of toning it down by layering a tee or lightweight sweater underneath. Or if you’re about to discuss the latest SEC financial reporting requirements, you can always add your crisp button-down shirt and string of pearls. Besides, if you happen to be packing for an out-of-town conference, taking your favorite suit along may allow you to recycle the pants or jacket on different days, and make two or three outfits out of one. Did I mention efficiency?
What are your fashion essentials for conferences?
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | May 28, 2014 | Career
George Women’s Ponte Knit Blazer – walmart.com – $19.99
It’s lunch fashion time! For our fashion mini-escapade today, we are saving, and not splurging, with this work-apropriate, and absolutely gorgeous ponte knit blazer from…yes, you read right, Walmart! A great fashionista on Twitter (thank you @LavaunHoey) pointed out some great work fashion find from Walmart, and I realized that we’ve never featured any Walmart pieces on the blog, so here it is!
Dressing for work does not have to break the bank! And if like myself, you’ve been that first year intern or summer associate with a limited budget and unlimited ambition, then you know you can pull a professional outfit in a hot minute and still be ready to give your best at work!
And it’s exactly why we are loving this $19.99 George ponte knit blazer in black and white. It’s the perfect topper for those chilly days, or even chillier one-on-one meetings with the boss. The reviews are great on it, and for this price, it’s a buy! Woop woop!
Seen a great, work-friendly fashion piece you’d like to share? Please email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com or post a comment below!
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | May 28, 2014 | Career
Happy Hump Day!
It’s the middle of the week, and for many of us, as we’re barely getting over this week’s hump, we’re also (unfortunately) barely getting over the hump in our careers. Many of us feel “stuck”, so far off from their goals or dreams, unfulfilled, dissatisfied, or just plain sick and tired of being sick and tired of our jobs and careers.
And while there is all this talk about “leaning in”, women’s empowerment, and career success, all we tend to see at the top of the corporate game are really the select few, the career vets, the Arianna Huffington’s, Ursula Burns, and Oprah’s of this world. As inspiring as these extraordinary women may be, frankly, it’s still quite hard for me to relate to the Indra Nooyi’s of this world as I’m rushing to work in the morning, half-swallowing my breakfast as I mentally prepare to ask my boss for yet another flexible time arrangement to take my car to the shop.
And yes, as convincing as all the success testimonies may be out there from the very few women who’ve made it to the corporate mountaintop, it also looks like many of these women have dedicated their lives (and families?) to their career. In the era of the highly educated, highly indebted, minimalist and non-conformist millenial, the paths that many of these influential women have taken years ago no longer apply to us. And even if the message remains in essence the same, the ways of conveying and illustrating it are sorely lacking in realism for many of us.
Don’t get me wrong, women would not be where we are today, hadn’t it been for the exemplary work, sacrifice and dedication of many, including these same icons of corporate success we aspire to emulate. However, the economic, political and social context has so drastically changed that it has become imperative to not only provide a more diverse and realistic voice to our generation of professional women, but also to widen the pool of women representing us to include women from all professional stations, not just those sitting at the top.
Because in order to address the concerns of the administrative assistant with 3 children who is going back to school and shopping for health-care for her children, we need to give her a face and a voice. In order to respond to the needs of the senior accountant stuck in a mid-level position with limited hope and resources to advance, we need to hear from her.
Do you think we need more realistic role models?
The Corporate Sister.
