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2022-2023 Past Events
Get on Board: Inside the Board of Directors If you would like to serve on a board, are already on a board, or work with a board, join us for Get on Board! The panelists are directors of both for-profit and nonprofit organization boards, and will address issues relating to service as directors, including the combinations of skills and experiences that boards are seeking, how to best position yourself for nonprofit or for-profit board candidacy, resources available to help you identify and take advantage of both paid and volunteer board opportunities, what it’s like to serve as a director on a board, and issues particular to women on boards. The discussion will be moderated by Ann Miller. Panelists include: Susan Graf, Board Chair & Audit Committee Chair, Finch Therapeutics, Minji Kim, President & CEO, Cross Border Partners, LLC, and John Sundy, Chief Medical Officer and Head of R&D, Seismic Therapeutic. Location: Cambridge Consultants, 2 Drydock, Boston, MA Career Possibilities Panel & Speed Networking: Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, & Pharmacovigilance This panel is designed to help you think about your career path and the different options that are open to you. The panel will have an informational interview type feel with panelists sharing their career paths, a look at what their job entails, transferrable skills for those looking to make a change, tips for uncovering opportunities, advice for others, and how to make brave leaps. The panel will be moderated by Karen Weisinger, Director of Biology at Cambridge Consultants. Panelists included Yasha Dwivedi, Director Supply Chain Management, Alkermes, Alyssa Marino, VP, Head of Clinical Operations, Marengo Therapeutics, Yureeda Qazi, M.D., Director, Clinical Development (Ophthalmology), Dompé US. Thanks to our Series Sponsor: Gilead Sciences WoW - WEST on Wednesdays Networking The WoW - WEST on Wednesdays Networking series has become one of our most popular! These events are great opportunities to network with other STEM professionals while enjoying drinks and appetizers. We are looking forward to appetizers from our food sponsors Freight Farms and Norfolk Healthy Produce. Also, from 7:00-7:30 PM ET, we are hosting a focus group about future programming. Location: 730 Tavern, 730 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139 -Venue changed due to weather From Being Laid Off to Job Changes: Different Stories of the Job Search Journey When you've been laid off and find yourself with a lot of time on your hands it's easy to start to feel alone in the job searching process. The best thing you can remember is that you're not alone. This is a great time to look at your new free time as a learning opportunity and work to grow yourself. In the final event in this series we'll hear from four panelists who are currently in, or recently completed a job search. These panelists will share about their journey and their process, how they have spun being laid off in interviews, and how they stay(ed) positive throughout the process. Panelists to include: Dawn Kumiega, Job Searching, Caroline Rufo, Senior Manager, Investor Relations at Astria Therapeutics, Inc., Zita Schneider, Job Searching. Location: Zoom
The Pathway for Success for Hispanics & Latinos in Biotech Join WEST to promote and engage talent diversity in the biotech industry. This event hosted by The Janssen Pharmaceuticals Companies of Johnson & Johnson is focused on enhancing the representation of Hispanic and Latino groups in biotech, breaking barriers, and building relationships with the community and peers. There will be a panel discussion and networking with appetizers and drinks. This event will be moderated by Cristina Almansa, Senior Director, Head of Clinical Sciences, Translational Medicine, Immunology Research & Development at The Janssen Pharmaceuticals Companies of Johnson & Johnson. Panelists Include:
Location: Johnson & Johnson, 320 Bent St., Cambridge, MA Laid Off Series: Landing a Job Through Recruiters Eyes Ever wonder what a recruiter sees after you hit the submit button on your application for a job? The hardest part of the job hunt is often the waiting between submitting an application and getting a response. During the wait we all wonder what a recruiter sees, if we're what they're looking for, and if we were able to best convey to them that we very well could be the right candidate for the job. Join us for the second event in this series to hear from recruiters with decades of experience and learn what they're looking for and some tips to help you make a great first impression. Recruiters: Location: Zoom Career Possibilities Panel & Speed Networking: Business Development In the world of business, careers are no longer linear or predictable. What was once a clearly sign-posted path as you progressed through milestones, a career road map is now circuitous presenting new challenges and opportunities at every bend. Life-long careers in one sector or one company are becoming a rarity as new technologies and shifting social norms disrupt traditional careers. Both employers and employees are seeking more diversity of experience, lifestyle flexibility and alternative paths. This panel is designed to help you think about your career path and the different options that are open to you. The panel will have an informational interview type feel with panelists sharing their career paths, a look at what their job entails, transferrable skills for those looking to make a change, tips for uncovering opportunities, advice for others, and how to make brave leaps. The panel discussion will be moderated by Yelena Wetherill, Director, Alliance Management, Business Development & Licensing at Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR). Panelists to Include:
Location: Zoom Cost: Free More Information: https://www.westorg.org/2023-05-10-career-possibilities-business-development Mental Balance: Navigating Layoffs & Job Changes Are you struggling to cope with the stress and uncertainty of a layoff? It's a tough experience that can leave you feeling lost, overwhelmed, and uncertain about what lies ahead. However, it is possible to navigate through this tough time and emerge stronger and more resilient than before. In this webinar, we'll explore the mental and emotional challenges that come with job loss, and share a mental model that can help you move through these challenges in a healthy and productive way. We'll also discuss the human tendency to seek certainty and avoid uncertainty, and how to embrace uncertainty as an opportunity for growth and learning. Most importantly, we will focus on the state of mind necessary for moving forward and taking action. By cultivating a growth oriented and proactive mindset, you can build resilience and make meaningful progress towards your career goals. Join us for this webinar and gain valuable insights for achieving mental balance during times of change. Whether you're currently facing a job change or simply preparing for the future, we're here to help you thrive and succeed! Location: Zoom Career Possibilities Panel & Speed Networking: Research & Development, Discovery In the world of business, careers are no longer linear or predictable. What was once a clearly sign-posted path as you progressed through milestones, a career road map is now circuitous presenting new challenges and opportunities at every bend. Life-long careers in one sector or one company are becoming a rarity as new technologies and shifting social norms disrupt traditional careers. Both employers and employees are seeking more diversity of experience, lifestyle flexibility and alternative paths. This panel is designed to help you think about your career path and the different options that are open to you. The panel will have an informational interview type feel with panelists sharing their career paths, a look at what their job entails, transferrable skills for those looking to make a change, tips for uncovering opportunities, advice for others, and how to make brave leaps. This panel will be moderated by Lesley Chan, Senior Director of Process Sciences and Innovations at bluebird bio. Panelists Include:
Location: Zoom Cost: Free More Information: https://www.westorg.org/2023-04-26-career-possibilities-research-development-discovery Marriage is About Love, Divorce is About Money Author Chat Every divorcing person needs an action plan and a comprehensive strategy. Marriage is About Love, Divorce is About Money® by Gabrielle Clemens, is a step-by-step guide through the legal and financial aspects of divorce from an attorney and certified divorce financial advisor. You'll learn:
Cost: WEST Members: $0; Non-Members: $10 More Information: https://www.westorg.org/2023-04-13-marriage-divorce-author-chat WoW - WEST on Wednesdays Networking Ready to get back to in-person networking? Join us for appetizers, drinks, and some fun networking with your fellow STEM professionals. This networking event is hosted by Proclinical. Thanks to our Sponsor: Codiak BioSciences Asking For More: Approaching Salary Negotiations with Confidence At work, some of the hardest conversations we have are about our own compensation. Often, it’s much easier for us to advocate for others than to lean into the self-advocacy. This can create and perpetuate numerous problems, including feeling undervalued and resentful, not to mention hurting own financial wellbeing. In this interactive workshop, lead by Corona Pritchard, we will:
Come prepared with your questions and scary “what-ifs” and burning questions! Location: Zoom Work From the Inside Out: Managing Uncertainty, Creating Meaning Author Chat We spend a great deal of time at work, more than we do with our families, sleeping, or in other important parts of our lives. Many of us have invested significant resources and made sacrifices to meet our highest goals. We are living longer and working later in life too. In this interactive webinar, led by Author Tammy Gooler Loeb, we will open up the conversation to identify the strategies to help you stay on track as obstacles and opportunities show up in your careers. We will discuss the importance of maintaining your networks and the practices that strengthen relationships, serving the needs of your organization and your career growth. Location: Zoom Leadership Strategies to Advance Your Career in Science Sandra Glucksmann, Past President & CEO at Cedilla Therapeutics, will share stories of her career challenges and successes. She will discuss how to best apply your scientific and analytical abilities to develop influence and negotiation skills. Sandra will share her learning experiences as she transitioned from bench scientist to manager, and from manager to executive in both small and large company settings. Location: Pfizer, 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139 Accelerate Your Career Through Personal Branding and Marketing Yourself Do you know your story and are you prepared to share it with passion and purpose? Are you comfortable marketing your talents, accomplishments, and value, both live and virtually? Learn the 3 Ps marketing technique and empower yourself to identify, build, and enhance your personal brand. Lead your journey and own your career. In this session, led by Rita B. Allen, you will learn how to: apply the 3 Ps marketing technique for personal and staff career development; use a proven framework with tools and resources; and gain on-going self-assessment and exploration processes to use well beyond the session. Thanks to our sponsor: Bristol Myers Squibb Career Possibilities Panel & Speed Networking - Communications: Internal Relations, Public Relations, Internal Communications, Scientific Communications This panel is designed to help you think about your career path and the different options that are open to you. The panel will have an informational interview type feel with panelists sharing their career paths, a look at what their job entails, transferrable skills for those looking to make a change, tips for uncovering opportunities, advice for others, and how to make brave leaps. The panel will be moderated by Clive Patience, Executive Vice President at Agios Pharmaceuticals and WEST Board Member. Panelists:
Thanks to our Sponsor: Gilead Sciences WoW - WEST on Wednesdays Networking with Johnson & Johnson Innovation Center Ready to get back to in-person networking? Join us for appetizers, drinks, and some fun networking with your fellow STEM professionals. This WoW event will feature women leaders from Johnson & Johnson sharing their career journeys and a couple facilitated networking activities. This networking event is hosted by J&J in honor of the 10th year anniversary of Boston Innovation Center and expanded J&J footprint in Boston/Cambridge. Thanks to our Sponsor: Johnson & Johnson Innovation Nurturing Confidence: The Path Through Courage “I wish I had more confidence to share my ideas freely at the workplace”, “I want my colleagues to see me as someone capable and confident”, “I don’t want to take up the next promotion because I don’t feel confident to be in the limelight”, “Everyone is such an expert in their field that I always feel like I know so little”, Do some of these statements sound familiar to you? If yes, you are not alone in this. Despite having stellar achievements and success (in personal and professional life), many people find confidence hard to come by. Confidence is a quality that everyone aspires to, and few exuberate. Often, we assume confidence is something that people just have naturally, or they don’t. That assumption is not true. Sure, some people are naturally more confident than others, just like some people are naturally more athletic, resilient, etc. than others. However, confidence is an ability that can be nurtured and grown, irrespective of your natural/current propensity to it. While there are tons of articles, videos and books on confidence, the process of how to nurture and grow one’s confidence feels vague. In this coaching style workshop, Pallavi Srivastava's goal is to bring more clarity to this process so that you can take clear action towards it. In this hands-on workshop, you will have time to explore and reflect on confidence through the lens of courage and authenticity. You will experience first-hand how you can tap into these aspects to nurture and grow your confidence. You will also have the opportunity to practice and apply what you learn through interactive exercises and group work. Location: Zoom Life-Work Balance? It's a Myth! Let's play Work-Life Jenga and prioritize what is important to you by exploring your values In this hands-on workshop, you will have the chance to reflect on how you are spending your time, to notice what you are making time for, and what is left out. We will provide you time for solo-reflection to consider what you'd like more of in your life--whether it is more time to invest in your personal relationships, professional development, health, or self-care. You will then move into small group discussions, led by professional facilitators, where you can share ideas on how to make your lives less stressful and more meaningful. You will leave with a better sense of the steps you can take tomorrow to design a life that aligns with what is most important to you. Our goal is for you to leave with a renewed sense of energy and excitement about realistic ways you can design a life that is more fulfilling, and less stressful. We will provide you the tools to help you make the decisions that work best for you. The answers are not the same for each of us. We generally don't make the time to ask ourselves these questions. This workshop will be a great way to start your year! Consider it a gift of time for yourself, where you can also support other members of the WEST community, to help them bring more delight into their lives as well. This workshop is inspired by an article written by social justice advocate Stacey Abrams. She reflects on what it takes to fit in all the pieces of our lives without feeling like we'll topple over from the effort of trying to balance everything. Abrams "rejects" the idea of work-life balance. Balance is impossible! Consider how every day something may happen to upset your carefully balanced plan. It might be your child coming down with the flu or an unexpected opportunity to expand your role at work. Abrams believes instead, on discovering what matters most to you, and then creating a plan that aligns with your priorities. Location: Zoom WoW - WEST on Wednesdays Networking Ready to get back to in-person networking? Join us for appetizers, drinks, and some fun networking with your fellow STEM professionals. This networking event is hosted by Suffolk University. Thanks to our Sponsor: Suffolk University The Journey Starts Now: Q&A Session with Women in STEM and What You Can Do Starting in High School Join us to hear from women in STEM who are excelling in their careers. From being directors to being professors in bioengineering, these women have done incredible things for science, but they were all young high schoolers at one point in their life. What did they do to get from there to where they are now? That's what they will be talking about in the Q&A-style panel. These women are resilient, bold, courageous, and accomplished. Hearing from them will be a truly informative and exciting experience and who knows - maybe one day you will be in their position, serving as a mentor to high schoolers and being an inspiration to the next generation. The panel discussion will be moderated by Suhanee Mitragotri, Harvard College, Class of 2025. Panelists include:
Location: Zoom 2022 Transforming Limiting Beliefs into Empowering Discomfort By the age of seven, our belief system is formed. As adults, we are often unaware of how these childhood beliefs influence our behaviors and decisions. To reshape beliefs that no longer serve us, limit us, we must act and seek out new experiences and embrace empowering discomfort. By the end of the session, you will understand how to:
Location: Zoom Holiday Cocktail Party & WoW Networking WEST and Cooley invite you to a Holiday Cocktail Party for an evening of networking and festive food and drinks. Please join us to celebrate the holidays, connect with members, exchange ideas, learn about job openings and more. This event is free for members thanks to Cooley’s generous sponsorship. Thanks to our Sponsor: Cooley LLP Career Possibilities & Speed Networking: Lab & Facilities Operations including IT & EHS In the world of business, careers are no longer linear or predictable. What was once a clearly sign-posted path as you progressed through milestones, a career road map is now circuitous presenting new challenges and opportunities at every bend. Life-long careers in one sector or one company are becoming a rarity as new technologies and shifting social norms disrupt traditional careers. Both employers and employees are seeking more diversity of experience, lifestyle flexibility and alternative paths. This panel is designed to help you think about your career path and the different options that are open to you. The panel will have an informational interview type feel with panelists sharing their career paths, a look at what their job entails, transferrable skills for those looking to make a change, tips for uncovering opportunities, advice for others, and how to make brave leaps. The panel will be moderated by Jennifer Reilly, WEST Board Member and President & COO at Safety Partners, Inc. Panelists Include: Thanks to our Series Sponsor: Gilead Sciences Leadership Strategies to Advance Your Career in Science Sandra Glucksmann, President & CEO at Cedilla Therapeutics, will share stories of her career challenges and successes. She will discuss how to best apply your scientific and analytical abilities to develop influence and negotiation skills. Sandra will share her learning experiences as she transitioned from bench scientist to manager, and from manager to executive in both small and large company settings. She will touch on the following topics:
Location: Pfizer, 1 Portland Street Cambridge, MA 02139 WoW - WEST on Wednesdays Networking Ready to get back to in-person networking? Join us for appetizers, drinks, and some fun networking with your fellow STEM professionals. Agios requires guests to be fully vaccinated, or if not, obtain a negative test the day of the event. If not vaccinated, they ask that masks be worn with the exception of while eating or drinking. Thanks to our Sponsor: Agios Pharmaceuticals Critical Conversations on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion In this very interactive session, attendees will look at Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and apply what they learn to work together in a cohesive environment using proven communication and connection strategies. Throughout the session, attendees participate in role-playing using real-life examples to help us recognize our own unconscious bias and how it impacts the organization. These examples will help us consider "How that situation made us feel?", "what you thought about while the situation was happening," and "what did you learn about yourself and others?". We will talk about microaggressions and macroaggressions and their impacts on the work environment. You will gain best practices to remove misconceptions and stereotypes and engage in dialogue that will be the catalyst for change and acceptance in this high-octane social unrest environment. You will receive practical tips that will help you handle situations positively and productively. Learning Points:
Location: Zoom How to Cultivate a Winning Mindset as an Introvert If you identify as an introvert in our society, it is so easy to remain stuck trying to "fit" in a supposedly extroverted world. What if there was a different approach that allows you to design a life that feels more authentic to you? In this workshop, we will:
Location: Zoom Drop- In Networking Ready to get back to in-person networking? Join us for a great time networking with other local STEM professionals. We hope to see you there! The registration fees will cover the cost of group appetizers for the tables. Location: 730 Tavern, 730 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139 Career Possibilities & Speed Networking In the world of business, careers are no longer linear or predictable. What was once a clearly sign-posted path as you progressed through milestones, a career road map is now circuitous presenting new challenges and opportunities at every bend. Life-long careers in one sector or one company are becoming a rarity as new technologies and shifting social norms disrupt traditional careers. Both employers and employees are seeking more diversity of experience, lifestyle flexibility and alternative paths. This panel is designed to help you think about your career path and the different options that are open to you. The panel will have an informational interview type feel with panelists sharing their career paths, a look at what their job entails, transferrable skills for those looking to make a change, tips for uncovering opportunities, advice for others, and how to make brave leaps. The panel will be moderated by Rekha Paleyanda at Takeda. Panelists Include: Thanks to our series Sponsor: Gilead Sciences
Location: Zoom Cost: Free More Information: https://www.westorg.org/2022-10-18-career-possibilities-legal Overcoming Overwhelm: A 3-Step Model to Bouncing Back With so much going on in our lives and in the world around us, it can be a challenge to know how to respond when everything seems too much. Decades of research on stress and resilience reveal simple approaches that have been repeatedly proven to improve coping, wellbeing and overall life satisfaction. These tactics can help us move from high emotion to thoughtful action more quickly and make space for us to “reflect, reimagine, and emerge stronger.” In this session led by Allessandria Polizzi, we will provide a short primer on what happens when we feel overwhelmed and teach participants our 3-step resiliency model for bouncing back, including 1. The science behind stress reactions As a result, you will have new tools you can turn to quickly no matter what challenges you face. Location: Zoom The Power of Inclusive Conversations Inclusive conversations are one of the most powerful tools individuals and organizations can leverage to create cultures of psychological safety and inclusion. The goal of this interactive program is to equip attendees with the necessary understanding and experience to successfully engage in this kind of dialogue. Using a framework, attendees learn how to assess when inclusive conversations are needed and how to approach them. Participants explore the factors that influence the success or failure of inclusive conversations, including culture, power dynamics and conflict styles. They also observe and critique conversation demonstrations, and they have time to practice their own conversations with real-life scenarios. While this topic can seem daunting, Trish Foster's empathetic, human approach diminishes fear and increases comfort in approaching inclusive conversations. Attendees leave the workshop with 1) a framework for inclusive conversation and 2) the confidence to initiate and receive such conversations to nurture trust, inclusion, and psychological safety. Location: Zoom WoW - WEST on Wednesdays Networking- SOLD OUT Ready to get back to in-person networking? Join us for appetizers, drinks, and some fun networking.
Thanks to Moderna for providing food and drinks. Speaking Up & Be Heard: How to Speak Up at Work Without Fear of Being Judged Have you considered how your fear of being judged for speaking up is negatively impacting your career? The 2019 McKinsey Women in the Workplace report, which surveyed 329 companies & more than 68,000 employees, found that 50% of the surveyed women experienced being interrupted or spoken over, and 38% had others take credit for their ideas. Whether you’re speaking up in a virtual meeting, presenting an idea to your boss or giving a presentation to your team, speaking confidently is the only way to truly be heard & achieve the goals you wish to accomplish in your career. Yet, it can be scary. All eyes are on you and only you. You want to make sure you don’t say the wrong thing or offend anybody but at the same time, you don’t want to sit in silence because you’re afraid to speak up and then later kick yourself for not sharing what’s on your mind. So, as a professional woman in your field, how do you speak up with CONFIDENCE without the fear of being judged by your superiors or your peers? When you join me in my virtual workshop, you will receive methods that I’ve shared in training over 20,000 career professionals in 30 cities internationally, to speak up & be heard so that you can receive the visibility that you deserve. In this virtual workshop, you will learn:
Location: Zoom Making the Most of Your Next Transition Are you ready to make a move? Is there something more you would like to explore? Join author and seasoned business executive Linda Rossetti for an interactive discussion about making the most of your next transition. Linda has spent the last decade researching how adults make personal and professional changes. She will share highlights from her research on the key success factors for making meaningful changes in our lives. She will also lead us through a series of exercises designed to help you clarify your next moves. Don't miss it! Location: Zoom WEST Dynamic Pod Mentoring To help mentees achieve a personal or career goal by using small mentoring groups (pods) to obtain diverse perspectives that will provide an enriching experience for mentees and enable execution on goals through focused actions. This multi-week program will use a rating system during the application process to match Mentees with groups and mentors that will help promote growth toward individual goals. Mentees should have a development goal to tackle and appreciate multi-dimensional feedback and Mentors should have a passion to share their experiences and develop others. More Information: https://www.westorg.org/2022-mentoring-program What Is Your Leadership Style? July 26, 2022, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM ET While many of us intellectually recognize that there are different leadership styles in the workplace, in times of stress or uncertainty, we risk making emotionally-based assumptions about others’ motivations, behaviors and styles that undermine our relationships and productivity. In this interactive session lead by Kim Meninger, we’ll explore the Deloitte Business Chemistry Profiles model to better understand your leadership style as well as the styles of those around you. You will also learn how to best engage with different styles to maximize your relationships and overall business outcomes. More Information: https://www.westorg.org/2022-07-26-leadership-style
Other Past Events 2024-2025 |
