by Solange Lopes | Sep 14, 2016 | Career
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock (or maybe lost your smartphone as you were being stranded on a deserted island), you may have heard that the first woman Presidential candidate in the US, Hillary Clinton, has pneumonia.
And this may just have been the one single disease that has received this much media coverage in a while. In the midst of conspiracy theories about possible brain damage and other claims against her “stamina”, we’re left to wonder if the problem is the pneumonia, or the woman who has been powering through countless media and campaign events while sick.
Yet, in our day and age, this shouldn’t be news. Women have been working while sick for the longest time. To care for their families, to hold down jobs, to stay up all night with a crying baby, etc. And these same women have been suffering consistent prejudice in the workplace for being weaker than their male counterparts, while they have been doing twice the work for less than half of the recognition (hello gender gap!).
According to the 2015 American Time Survey, women still do more housework and handle more of the childcare than men, even when said men don’t work. Yet, how many of these same women, have to show up for work every morning and literally have to prove that they’re as competent as their male counterparts?
The answer is way too many.
A 2014 survey by the Public Health and Safety Organization finds sickness doesn’t prevent hard-working Americans in general to show up for work. At a certain level, it’s actually considered heroic and the emblem of masculine power in higher corporate circles. Or the equivalent of “extreme sports” office-style…
I personally don’t know any woman who hasn’t powered through illness or painful bouts of that “time of the month”, or even used her sick days to care for ill children or relatives instead of herself. That’s just what’s expected of women, at the risk of being seen as weak or incompetent at work.
Even though this episode is painted in the broader and more confused landscape of politics, it still serves well to remind us that the long-standing, insidious stereotypes about women’s frailty and lack of competence are still, well…long-standing. That if a female presidential candidate can be freely attacked by her detractors on account of her health, then the rest of us might as well forfeit our vacation days for the rest of our career…
What about you? Do you think this is a stark reminder that working sick is still not news for many women out there?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 14, 2016 | Career
Photo credit: shop style.com
Our “Wear toWork” feature presents a piece of workwear, along with great alternatives, for stylish corporate sisters.
I haven’t featured a bag in a while, and was looking for one that would be practical, stylish and still economical to take to work. Hence today’s pick, this Street Level reversible faux leather tote, which comes with a wristlet too. It’s $49 at Nordstrom.It’s a great bag if you’re looking for an inexpensive option that offers multiple styling opportunities.
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 13, 2016 | Career
Our “Wear toWork” feature presents a piece of workwear, along with great alternatives, for stylish corporate sisters.
This Shoshanna macrame eyelet sheath dress is the perfect combination of feminine elegance and style. Loving the simple and sophisticated cut of this round-neck dress, accented by beautiful macrame stitching. The short sleeves are as practical as they’re elegant too. This dress is on sale for $103.50 at Neiman Marcus.
Petites
In the same style, this Calvin Klein perforated striped sheath dress is both trendy and elegant.
Plus-Sizes
This flower eyelet sheath number from Talbots is bright and cheery for the end of the summer. Sizes run to 18WP.
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 13, 2016 | Career
You know those terms that sound really cool, but hardly anyone knows what they really mean. Like “personal brand” for instance…You hear the term being thrown around in networking events and career discussions here and there, but really, what does it mean?
When I think of a brand, I think of Starbucks, or Coke, or Pepsi. It could also be the Nike “swoosh” on your sneakers, or the embroidered alligator on your Lacoste shirt. Look around further and notice the glowing apple on your computer. All these are visual representations of brands we’ve grown accustomed to seeing and buying into…
Does this mean we should start picturing ourselves sitting in our cubicles typing away at our computers with a big “Employee” sticker all over our foreheads? Or that we are mere corporate products sitting on department shelves waiting for our expiration dates? What exactly does it mean to have and develop a personal brand? And how much does it affect our careers?
It took me a while to understand the concept of personal branding, especially as it related to my career. It’s not exactly something you’re taught as you step into Big Corporate, which is unfortunate. If more of us knew about it right from the start, it would help us self-direct our careers more effectively.
After struggling with the concept for quite some time, here’s the simplified definition I came up with:
“Personal branding is the melting pot of who you are, what you are passionate about, and what you do really well, channeled into a concise, clear and focused message about who you are and how you stand out.“
In other words, that’s how you tell the world who you are, what you have to offer, and how unique you are. It’s your own intangible business card, the one you carry with you everywhere you go as you interact with others and build your career.
Why does it matter so much to my career?
- Your personal brand allows you to define yourself, before anyone else does: When I started out in Big Corporate, I had my personal brand handed to me. Like most people. I was the “quiet”, “nose-to-the-grind” employee. Many times, other people’s perceptions of us build our personal brand before we’ve even had a chance to decide on what it should be. By building your personal brand, you get to define who you are in the workplace and beyond before anyone else has a chance to decide for you.
- Your personal brand helps you figure out what makes you stand out, and use it to your advantage: The process of building your brand will force you to sit down and take a good, hard look at what makes you unique and different from others. In a corporate, and world culture in general, where we may try to fit in more than we try to differentiate ourselves, this can draw the line between having an average, normal career, and soaring to the heights of your professional field.
- Your personal brand increases your value and decision power in your career: Why do you think that guy got hired instead of you? Or why this person got the promotion instead of that other one? There’s a lot that goes into the balance when recruiters, management, or even investors (if you happen to be an entrepreneur) decide to bet on one person and not on the other. Building a strong personal brand hijacks your value, as it makes you stand ahead of the pack, and allows you to have more choice in your career.
Have you thought about developing your personal brand, and how it can affect your career?
PS: Want to learn more about personal branding? Join the “Recharge Your Career” month, for a discussion on re-energizing and re-inventing your career.
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 9, 2016 | Career
Wear this weekend: Patchwork Boyfriend Jeans
Our “Wear toWork” feature presents a piece of workwear, along with great alternatives, for stylish corporate sisters.
So I’ve been checking out the latest Fall “deconstructed denim” trend. I have to say, the idea of patching different types of denim on one single piece of apparel was not exactly tempting to me at first; but browsing through various brand sites, I’ve found a selection of styles I really like! Like this BlankNYC denim patchwork boyfriend pair from Nordstrom Rack.
Loving the lived-in appeal of the patchwork panels on this subtly distressed pair of jeans. The slimmed down boyfriend fit is also really flattering. And at $39.97, the price isn’t bad either!
I also like this cool (and equally inexpensive) version from H&M, as well as these sharp Current/Elliott stiletto ankle jeans from Neiman Marcus.
Petites
I’ve also found really cool styles for petite sizes, like this Inc Indigo wash boyfriend pair from Macy’s. This scarlet patch version from ASOS is not too shabby either!
Plus sizes
This City Chic “Patched Up” distressed skinny jeans number from Nordstrom will definitely turn heads. And this patch denim boyfriend pair from JC Penney is a winner all by itself!
What do you think of the patchwork/deconstructed denim trend? Would you sport it?
Love,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 9, 2016 | Career
This is our weekly career and lifestyle news update, where we round up exciting news of the last week and we let you have it…ahem, news-wise that is…
Think of it as your career gossiping section on steroids…
And while you’re at it, follow us on Facebook, Twitter,IG, and Pinterest!
Here we go…
- Big Corporate can be pretty tough! This Ellevate Network article gives you 10 insider lessons for surviving the corporate world;
- Got a big presentation coming up? Business Insider tips you off on 15 things you should do in the 15 minutes before;
- Are you bored at work but unwilling to quit? Work It Daily has this suggestion…
- Preparing for a big interview? Here are 21 questions designed to trick you…
- Eyeing that next promotion? Ellevate Network has 4 strategies to help you;
- There’s hope for sitting through all those dreaded meetings! Mashable presents world’s strongest coffee is here, and its caffeine levels will electrify you…
- Want to raise wildly successful kids? Inc. says you should try this;
- Did you know about these hidden fees in your 401k?
- Are you an entrepreneur? Check out this tactical guide to building a million-dollar network;
- In a career rut? Use this mindset tip;
- Wondering where to shop for plus-size workwear? Check out my guide here.
Happy Friday!
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 7, 2016 | Career
Wear to Work: Pajama Shirt Dress – Photo credit: shopstyle.com
Our “Wear toWork” feature presents a piece of workwear, along with great alternatives, for stylish corporate sisters.
If you thought the concepts of pajamas and workwear would never co-exist, think again! It’s actually one of the biggest fashion trends for Fall 2016!
This WhoWhatWear pajama shirt dress from Target is here to prove you can mix loungewear and elegant workwear. Loving the lightweight feel of this dress that can be worn in any season! It’s available in blue, brown polka dot, and dark red. My fave is the brow polka dot shown on the picture. It’s $34.99 at Target!
I also like this floral pajama style dress, also from ASOS. If you’re ready to splurge, then this F.R.S. elevated shirt dress may be right down your alley!
Petites
I’ve also found this style of dresses in Petite sizes at ASOS, with this floral print stepped hem pajama shirt dress. Oh and this one too! Both these styles also comes in Tall sizes.
Plus-sizes
I’ve not found much choice for pajama style dresses in plus sizes (hello designers, let’s get to work!). But a nice alternative is a pajama style jacket, like this elegant cream number from River Island which comes in sizes up to 14.
What do you think of the pajama trend? Would you sport it?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
