by Solange Lopes | Sep 27, 2017 | Career |
As women of color, we often happen to be the only ones in the room in our workplaces. Which makes us more noticeable, but interestingly enough, also more prone to hiding at work. As double minorities, being women and being of color, it’s easy to tell ourselves that we don’t belong or don’t fit in to professional environments mostly made of white males.
I know I did for a long time…As a Black woman and an immigrant, I would take a look around and be intimidated at being the only one, or one of the only ones in the room. It also didn’t help that as an introvert, I wasn’t always used to voicing my opinion. Yet, the fact of the matter is, when we’re outnumbered, we tend to shrink and diminish our valuable contributions. We tend to hide, conform and seek not to stand apart. If you add to this the false myth of the “angry black woman” and other falsities about what it means to be a woman of color, it’s no wonder that revealing ourselves at work is far from being easy.
I was talking to a fellow corporate sister a while ago, and the conversation happened to be around her leaving multiple positions because she wasn’t accepted as who she was. This is also the dilemma of many women of color in corporate and other professional environments: “Do I bring all of myself to work, or do I hide and only show the parts of myself which are acceptable enough not to damage my career?”
In an attempt to be careful not to be perceived as “too aggressive”, or not fitting in well enough, we may tend to conform to the status quo. As a result, we may tend to bury the wealth of experiences, insight and knowledge we’ve acquired over the years, just so that we may avoid the sting of opposition and judgment.
The thing is, we don’t just bring our diplomas and resume to our careers or businesses. Every time you step into a room, you bring ALL of you, from your mindset to your unique perceptions and competence. Trying to suppress any of it not only comes at the pricey cost of restricting your skills and talents. It also deprives the world of all you have to offer.
Let’s keep it real. As a woman of color, at work or in any other setting, you may be judged and perceived differently. This is what happens with anything or anyone different, at least at first. Yet, how can we change perceptions, judgments and opinions if we’re only showing part of who we are? How can we effect change, real change, if we don’t use all the tools we’ve been given to shift the conversation?
For instance, being an immigrant may also mean that you’re brining multiple languages, cultures and an uncanny ability to adapt to changing environments to the table. And can we talk about the invaluable informal networks we have in our churches and communities?
I understood it was time to stop hiding when I realized that I was only showing up partially at work. If we want to achieve the careers and lives of our dreams, we must dare to show up as who we are. This may also mean risk more judgment, yet not bringing our whole selves to the table is also not an option.
The power of authenticity is real. If you can muster the courage to be authentic, it will help you identify the places and people who are not for you. On the positive side, it will help you pinpoint those places and people where you not only fit in, but where you can reach your full potential without compromising who you are.
Every time I see a woman of color authentically pushing through and achieving the seemingly impossible in her career, it inspires me to push harder. It’s proof that showing up as
Do you agree that we must stop hiding as women of color at work?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 26, 2017 | Career
Workwear: Herringbone Peplum Jacket – Photo credit: anntaylor.com
Our Workwear feature presents various pieces of work-appropriate attire at different price ranges and sizes.
‘Tis the season for elegant, streamlined jackets! This herringbone peplum jacket from Ann Taylor is perfect for the office or on week-ends, and adds a touch of sophistication to any outfit. The custom tailoring is ultra flattering, while the long button-open sleeves lend versatility to it.
In a similar style, I also like this double weave collarless blazer.
What pieces of workwear would you like us to feature? Email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
This post contains affiliate links and The Corporate Sister may earn commissions for purchases through links in this post. Thank you!
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 26, 2017 | Career
“Your brand is what people say when you’re not in the room” – Jeff Bezos, CEO and founder of Amazon.
When we think of brands, we often think of big names like Pepsi, Coca Cola, or Amazon. We think of what distinguishes these big companies from their competitors, and makes us as consumers choose one over the others? In the same way, as professionals and job-seekers, there are elements of our personal branding that makes companies pick us over others?
Branding isn’t just for products or big-name organizations such as the Starbucks of this world. It’s the combination of tangible and intangible traits that make some products distinctive. It’s also the unique blend of characteristics defining who you are, what makes you unique, and what value you bring to the table of your career.
Recently, we’ve heard a lot about personal branding. What we seldom think about is how our own personal brands can help boost our career success. Most of us are not always proactive about building our career brand. However, when we don’t define our own career brands, others tend to do it for us.
If you’re not sure what your personal and career brand is, here are 7 questions you can start asking yourself to better understand what sets you apart and what value you add to any situation:
-
What problems do you solve?
To understand the value you bring to the table, you must first realize what problems you solve. In other words, you must be a solution to distinguish yourself. Are you good at solving tech-related problems? Is your talent in writing outstanding reports? This is more than just understanding your strengths. It’s about pinpointing specific problems you can solve for your organization or business.
-
What are you great at that others find difficult?
One definite way that you can set yourself apart is to harness a unique skill that others may not possess. If you’re the only one who knows how to code out of a pool of 100 applicants for a position for which coding knowledge is required, then you have an advantage. This advantage is part of your personal brand.
-
How do you help people?
Building a strong personal and career brand is also about being a leader. One of the pre-requisites of effective leadership is service. Every time you’re able to help others in your team or organization, your value increases and your brand is strengthened.
-
Why do you want to help people/solve problems?
Identifying your “why” is a crucial part of establishing your personal and career brand. The more definite your “why”, the stronger your brand. Are you striving in your career for a particular cause? What motivates you to excel and be your best? Understanding this and reminding yourself of this can go a long way towards building a strong career brand.
-
What life experiences do you bring to the table?
You are not just your job! You also bring to the table a host of various experiences that make you WHO you are! It’s the uniqueness of your experiences that also help you distinguish yourself and set yourself apart. No two people have the same life experiences, and what you have gone through has taught you invaluable insight and knowledge.
-
How do you make a difference in the world?
In order to establish a strong career brand, you must see yourself as making a difference in the world. Your contributions, service and experience are impacting your co-workers, team, organization and the world at large.
-
What would you do all day long if you had the time and money?
One surefire way to build your career brand is to build it around the things you love doing and are talented at. Ask yourself the question and those activities you come up with constitute your competitive advantage and are a crucial part of your career brand.
What other questions would you add to this list?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 25, 2017 | Career
Workwear: Sweater Shirt- Photo credit: loft.com
Our Workwear feature presents various pieces of work-appropriate attire at different price ranges and sizes.
This Workwear pick is perfect to skirt by at work and after-hours! This striped pull on sweater shirt from Loft will be your new favorite this Fall! It’s easy to wear, flattering and boldly lined to. Even better, it’s 40% off at Loft.
In a similar style, this striped wrap skirt is also perfect for your 9-to-5. I also love this shimmer flare number, also from Loft.
What pieces of workwear would you like us to feature? Email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
This post contains affiliate links and The Corporate Sister may earn commissions for purchases through links in this post. Thank you!
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 22, 2017 | Career
Welcome to our weekly career, entrepreneurship, lifestyle and fashion news roundup! Think of it as your online watercooler/work gossip station/coffee break spot for now…Want to add anything to our list? Email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
- Are you a new grad? The Daily Muse lists 10 companies with tons of opportunities for new grads;
- Miss the summer? Glassdoor lists 11 companies with offices on the beach;
- Did you know there’s a “blue-collar Linked In”? Linked In shares how its founder advises to succeed without a Bachelor’s degree;
- Looking for books for your Fall reading list? Here are the 6 best business books of 2017;
- Black Enterprise explains the power of Black Girl Magic quantified by a Nielsen study;
- Ellevate Network shares the millennial’s guide to spending (and saving);
- Buffer shares 19 tools for creating social media images, videos and GIFs in minutes;
- Inc. reveals that Walmart wants to deliver groceries straight to your fridge (even if you’re not home);
- Black Enterprise writes about these sisters who launched a way for women to buy tires and auto services without getting ripped off;
- Ellevate Network teaches us to shift our minds from procrastination to action;
- Trying to decipher the business casual rules at work? Check out Corporette‘s new guide to business casual workwear for women;
- Bake at 350 shares 10 cookies and dessert recipes to try this Fall;
- Learn to become a more conscious parent by reading my review of Dr. Shefali Tsabari’s “The Awakened Family”.
Cheers to the weekend!
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 21, 2017 | Career
Workwear: Desta Sheath Dress – Photo credit: www.bloomingdales.com
Our Workwear feature presents various pieces of work-appropriate attire at different price ranges and sizes.
There are few dress silhouettes that are more professional-looking than the classic sheath dress. I particularly love this Desta Sheath dress from Bloomingdale’s. The angled short sleeves and the cheerful color make a modern statement on this otherwise classic number.
In a similar style, this Theory stretch wool sheath dress is perfect for Fall.
What pieces of workwear would you like us to feature? Email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
This post contains affiliate links and The Corporate Sister may earn commissions for purchases through links in this post. Thank you!
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 15, 2017 | Career
Welcome to our weekly career, entrepreneurship, lifestyle and fashion news roundup! Think of it as your online watercooler/work gossip station/coffee break spot for now…Want to add anything to our list? Email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
- Our cute moment of the week is brought to us by Serena Williams who introduced us to her baby girl this week. People had the exclusive!
- Business Insider lists 16 highest-paying jobs for people who don’t work well with others;
- Forbes advises you on how to stop stalling and starting networking;
- The Muse tips you of for how to tattle at work (without being a tattle-teller);
- Ellevate Network shares 7 tips to set goals for unconventional women;
- Glassdoor Blog lists 15 companies with the best parental leave policies;
- These 19 companies are hiring like crazy this September;
- Ellevate Network lists non-salary perks you should ask for;
- Essence reveals Issa Rae is the new face of Cover Girl, and we’re already head over heels!
- This Cookie+Kate recipe only requires that you be lazy and love Mexican food!
Cheers to the weekend!
The Corporate Sis.
