Upcoming Events

If you are in need of an event scholarship or would like to donate to our scholarship program, please visit our scholarship page.

2020-2021 Annual Theme: Building Community, Resilience, and Impact

2020 has been a year full of unprecedented events, and WEST’s 2020-2021
annual theme of Building Community, Resilience, and Impact will help you
navigate these times. WEST is committed to supporting the community by
organizing events that bring members together to tackle challenges in the
workplace that impact personal growth, career development and beyond.
Through virtual workshops, panel discussions, networking events, and more,
you will be empowered to overcome obstacles and rise to the occasion.

apr29

Impacting Investing
April 29, 2021 5:30 - 6:30 PM EST

More and more individuals are seeking the peace of mind associated with having an investment portfolio aligned with their values. This discussion will explore how investing with an impact lens, i.e. considering environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, enables everyone to spot companies with a strong capacity for long term value creation.

Location: Zoom

Cost: Members: $0; Non-Members: $5

MAY05

Career Possibilities: Business Development, Lawyers - Patent, Contract
May 5, 2021 4:00-5:30 PM EST

In the world of business, careers are no longer linear or predictable. This panel series is designed to help you think about your career path and the different options that are open to you. This panel discussion is the sixth in our new panel series called "Career Possibilities". We will look at careers in Business Development, Contracts, and Patent law. This 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 discussion will be moderated by Nicole Daley, Counsel, Life Sciences Practice at Goodwin.

Panelists include:

Cambria Alpha-Cobb, Director, Intellectual Property Counsel at Akouos, Inc
Thanh Erion, Director, Intellectual Property at ImmunoGen, Inc.
Angelyn Larkin, Associate, Lando and Anastasi
Michael McDonald, VP, Chief Intellectual Property Counsel, bluebird bio
Bharat Reddy, Head of BD, Catamaran Bio
Ann Schlesinger, Director, External Science & Partnering, Novartis

Location: Zoom

Cost: Members, Students, Postdocs: $5; Non-Members: $15

MAY12

Communicating for Interpersonal Effectiveness
May 12, 2021 12:00-1:30 PM EST

Focusing time on personal development to become more self-aware can offer benefits that help individuals and teams become more effective, at work and in broader contexts. Working to uncover aspects of yourself that you may not be fully aware of can support your development journey, and can have positive impacts on those around you. Through this 90 minute interactive workshop, you will experience the impact that understanding your own preferences and style can have on you as an individual, and on others, as you learn how to adapt your style to make deeper connections.

In this workshop you will:

Discover more about yourself and the value you bring to relationships
Learn to recognize and appreciate differences in others
Understand how to approach conversations with an open, positive perspective
Learn how to connect more effectively with others by adapting your style

Location: Zoom

Cost: Members: $5; Non-Members: $15

MAY18

Building Your Personal Advisory Board
May 18, 2021 12:00-1:15 PM EST

Are you looking to take on a new leadership role or make a career transition? Are you ready to advance your career trajectory with clarity, confidence and a support system dedicated to helping you succeed? In order to achieve this next level of success you want to ensure that you have mentors and coaches on your team to guide, motivate and challenge you. As our society continues to become increasingly global, diverse and competitive you simply cannot maximize your full potential without a team of advisors. Having a personal board of directors that you trust provides you with a core group of people who will validate your greatness and push you beyond your limits. During this session we will learn about the 7 people you need on your advisory board; how to identify them and how to leverage them.

Location: Zoom

Cost: Members: $5; Non-Members: $15

June03

The Anxious Go-Getter: Keep The Achievement, Lose The Anxiety
June 3, 2021 4:00-5:30 PM EST

Imagine a life where you remain as successful, productive, and appreciated, without that ever-exhausting weight of anxiety accompanying you behind the scenes every step of the way. To those with high functioning anxiety, these ideas may seem like only distant dreams.

In this talk, Courtney, an anxious go-getter herself, will show you how all of this is possible for YOU. She will walk you through an effective, step-by-step process of cultivating a new, more constructive relationship with anxiety… a relationship built upon acceptance and compassion, rather than fear and perfectionism.

Join us to learn to achieve the same level of success in your life, with a fraction of the anxiety!

Location: Zoom

Cost: Members: $5; Non-Members: $15

June08

In It Together - Sharing impactful stories and supporting each other
June 8, 2021 4:00-5:30 PM EST

Join us for a fun and interactive session of peer-to-peer storytelling presented in a unique game-show style format. Participants will have an opportunity to share short anecdotes relating to a variety of topics including overcoming challenges, celebrating proud moments, and balancing work and life. This will be followed by optional breakout rooms to encourage further conversation and networking in small groups. Attendance is limited to 15 – sign up now, you won’t want to miss it!

Location: Zoom

Cost: Members: $5; Non-Members: $15

June10

Spring Networking Event
June 10, 2021 5:30-7:00 PM EST

Are you feeling cooped up by working from home every day, and longing for some social interaction? Looking to keep building your community and resilience to make it into the post-covid world? Then come join us for our Spring Networking Event. Participate in facilitated networking activities designed to engage you with the wonderful women in the WEST community. We'll be gathering on a new service called Gather.town, a virtual space where we can network and bump into each other like in the pre-pandemic world. There will be group breakout sessions by field, by hobby, and an ability to share resources that help build your network and continue to grow your career. Join us, both during the gathering and afterwards, in sharing ways we can stay connected, support each other, and stay focused on the things we can control in our work and in our lives. The evening before the event you will be given access to the Gather.town room, so you can test your A/V, make an avatar, and be ready to network on June 10th.

Location: Zoom

Cost: Members: $0; Non-Members: $5

July20

Conquer Imposter Syndrome to Advance Your Career
July 20, 2021 6:00-7:00 PM EST

Do you hesitate to speak up because you worry that you’ll sound foolish?
Do you question whether you have what it takes to successfully perform your role?
Do you worry that the people around you are so much better qualified than you are?

If so, you likely struggle with Impostor Syndrome, a term for the feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy many professionals face, particularly as we advance our careers. In this session, you'll learn common triggers of Impostor Syndrome, including feeling different from the dominant culture around you. This is why Impostor Syndrome is so pervasive among women in traditionally male-dominated fields. You’ll also learn strategies to build your confidence and manage these disruptive feelings so that you can effectively achieve your professional goals.

Location: Zoom

Cost: Members: $0; Non-Members: $10

Click here to learn more about our workshop leaders