A new day
“…your personal story is your brand.”
… it has also become an illustration of Black women’s unique place of power at the intersection of culture, commerce and consciousness.
Hi readers,
As I was scrolling through my feed on LinkedIn, I came across an article and report by Nielsen, a global information, data, and measurement company. Read on, and download the report. You won’t be disappointed.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN: OUR SCIENCE, HER MAGIC
-Bilen
Forget about your “career path”. Embrace a career stumble
Hi readers,
Happy September! Fall is in the air.
I recently stumbled across an insightful article that I thought I’d share. Below is a quote that stood out to me.
“You can create your own luck by creating and seizing opportunities. For the curios and determined people amongst my readers, here’s how: find an immediate focus, work your ass off, repeat.“
Enjoy!
xo, B
Using innovation with ingenuity
The way we live, think and do our work evolves around technology on a daily basis. Why has the tech industry become the number one topic to discuss these days? Do you remember when we said robots may be taking over our workforce, or whether cars should be flying in this day and age? We already have self-driving cars – hello, Google and Tesla – and although they are not yet in the market, things we haven’t foreseen ten years ago, are coming to fruition.
Technology can also help people in commendable ways. Let’s take this story for example: 12 high school aged-girls from Southern California used innovation with ingenuity in an effort to help the community’s homeless population. The group of aspiring inventors came up with an idea to build a solar-powered tent that could double as a backpack.
To do this, they partnered with a local nonprofit organization, DIY Girls – dedicated to supporting and mentoring girls who are interested in STEM fields and raised $15,000 to send the teens to MIT’s EurekaFest, an annual event put on to inspire and showcase young inventors.
Not only were the young innovators awarded a $10,000 grant from the Lemelson-MIT Program, but will also present at the event.
Go after your idea and strive to make it a reality, because you never know where it may lead you…
Xo, B
Source: http://www.entrepreneur.com
Inc.’s 30 Under 30
And here we have it, Inc.’s 30 under 30 list for 2017 is out! These young men and women founded million-dollar companies (um, hello, Millennials!), and they’re not even 30.
I love going through this list, along with Forbes, because I believe it’s a great motivator and quite honestly, inspiring. I mean – how could it not? One start-up that stood out to me is named Envested; founded in 2015 by 29 year old, Isa Watson. The software company makes it easy for employees to get involved in charity projects and launch their own, as well as reducing the time businesses need to spend on attendant administrative tasks.
Do you have a business plan in mind and see a need for it today? With digital and technology playing a vital role in the success of a company, startups that are a need in our technology-driven society could really benefit – from marketing to sales to HR.
Go read about your fellow peers in how they’re planting seeds, helping companies thrive and completely changing the game.
-B
Making the switch to the tech industry
Hey readers,
I hope you’re having a great weekend thus far. Recently, I made the switch to the technology industry, and boy is there a lot to learn! But, I am enjoying every second it. I read a great article on LinkedIn on how a product manager, Jolawn Victor, did the same and excelled at doing it. She laid out great career tips for those of us who are not only women in a male-dominated industry, but a minority, an African-American woman.
One thing Jolawn said that stood out for me is how relevant tech is in our every day lives. It’s how we function, how we live, how we do business and how we socialize. And her advice to women who are trying to “balance it all?”
“Every woman is different and we’re all on different journeys. My biggest piece of advice is to women managers – remember what it was like when you were in their shoes and be a supportive champion of the awesome women on your team.”
Read the article on MLT’s website here.
Are you in the tech industry or aspire to be? I would love to hear from you!
xo, B
Black women at work: magic but real
It’s officially May. What are your goals for the month? Me? I recently started a new job, so I’m currently drinking from the firehose. This month, I’m trying to learn everything I can about my company and my role. With that being said, I want you to read a great LinkedIn post I thought was very relevant. Set a goal for the month, and LET’S GET TO WORK.
Black Women at Work: Magic But Real
Xx,
-B
Scholarship program for female college students
Today, Beyoncé announced a scholarship program called the “Formation Scholars” awards. The scholarship will be available to one recipient, at each of the four participating institutions: Boston’s Berklee College of Music; Howard University in Washington, D.C.; Parsons School of Design in New York City; and Atlanta’s Spelman College — Howard and Spelman being historically black institutions.
What a great initiative. Read all about it here.
-B
Women Rising
It’s almost graduation season! Graduates, are you ready to take on the world as a working adult? Fear not. Better yet, get excited!
You might have heard that it’s tough being a woman in Corporate America. In 2015, female full-time, year-round workers made only 80 cents for every dollar earned by men, a gender wage gap of 20 percent. That was just two years ago!
Choosing a college major is vital for women regarding compensation, opportunity to excel and take leadership roles. Your college major can have a lasting impact on how much money you make over your career — for better or worse. Below is a list of degrees that lead to women out-earning men, according to Glassdoor:
1. Architecture
Women earn $1.14 for every $1 men earn
2. Music
Women earn $1.10 for every $1 men earn
3. Social Work
Women earn $1.08 for every $1 men earn
4. Advertising
Women earn $1.08 for every $1 men earn
5. Environmental Science
Women earn $1.07 for every $1 men earn
6. Chemical Engineering
Women earn $1.05 for every $1 men earn
7. Kinesiology
Women earn $1.05 for every $1 men earn
8. Mechanical Engineering
Women earn $1.03 for every $1 men earn
9. Sports Management
Women earn $1.02 for every $1 men earn
10. Anthropology
Women earn $1.02 for every $1 men earn
Yet, half of us come out of college and is in a profession that doesn’t necessarily align with the degree we worked so hard for, and not to mention, spent thousands on. What gives? I’m a proud aunt, and I want my nieces to decide on a major that will not only fulfill their passion, but will be able to earn a comfortable salary as soon as they graduate. So, when you’re talking to your sibling(s), niece(s), or daughter(s), ask, “What are you passionate about and how can I help you get to where you want to be?” If you’d like a mentor for your loved one in the respected field, find one.
If you’re truly passionate about a subject that could turn into a career, work hard and smart for it because the sky is the limit. That’s my two-cents.
Also, ladies — ask for a promotion and negotiate your pay! Topic for another post 😉
-B
Jubileena's Circle 