by Solange Lopes | May 11, 2017 | Career
Wear to Work: Scalloped Sheath Dress – Photo credit: shopstyle.com
Our Wear to Work feature showcases workwear pieces in various styles and price ranges. Please note this post contains affiliates links.
What I love most about summer workwear is the appeal of the polished summer dress. Like this Adrianna Papell crepe scalloped sheath dress from Nordstrom. The cut is chic and classic, while the scalloped edge adds a touch of unexpected charm. The short cap sleeves are perfect to don in warm weather, and the rest is just pure fashion gusto…including the delish $98 price point!
Talbots has a similar style in a feminine, sleeveless ponte sheath cut. I also like this color block version from Gilt.
Seen any piece you’d like us to feature? Email corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
In Style and Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | May 7, 2017 | Career, Find Your Purpose
A Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
As I turned the last page of “Year of Yes”, the best-selling book written by the creator of Scandal and Grey’s Anatomy, as well as the executive producer of How to Get Away with Murder, I heard myself uttering the word “Yes”! Actually, reading this book by one of the most extraordinary women ever, whose creative empire “Shondaland” is named after her, had me saying “yes” over, over and over again!
Who would have thought that the powerful Shonda Rhimes was an introvert? That despite her major successes and popular acclaim, she was actually avoiding public appearances? That interviews triggered panic attacks for her? That’s how the “Year of Yes” starts, with a powerful woman who, like so many of us, is afraid. Afraid of our own brilliance, afraid of our potential, afraid of our power.
When her sister Delores tells her during a Thanksgiving holiday that she always says “no” to amazing opportunities, Rhimes realizes that despite her many successes, she also was miserable inside. That’s when she committed to saying “yes” for an entire year to new opportunities showing up in her life. Which meant facing her debilitating social anxiety and say yes to being on “Jimmy Kimmel Live”, or giving her much acclaimed speech at her alma mater Dartmouth, and so many more things she would have politely declined before…
I remember thinking “Well, must be nice to saying yes to sharing a box at the Kennedy Center Honors with President and Michelle Obama”! Yet I recognized in her what I, and so many of us, do to ourselves. How, despite our biggest accomplishments, we fail to give ourselves the compassion, love and acceptance we so crave. While everyone else may be applauding us, congratulating us, or even hate on us, we keep ourselves busy ducking, hiding our greatness, and diminishing our successes. That’s when we don’t give credit to others, our teams, families, and friends for the hard work we continuously put in. I mean, how many of us would simply admit, out loud, that we’re badasses!
As an introvert myself, and definitely one who’s struggled with acknowledging my own worth, here are three lessons I got from “A Year of Yes” and why I think all women should read it at least once a year:
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Say “Yes” To Your Own Greatness
You’ve heard it before, “you have greatness within you”. You may just not have believed it. So you duck and hide when receiving a compliment. You do amazing stuff day in and day out, and give yourself zero credits for it. Actually, when you’re not giving others the credit for you accomplishments, you’re watching said credit be distributed to everyone else but you.
In her book, Rhimes pushes us instead to acknowledge our inner badasses. I love how she describes her struggle to simply say “thank you” when receiving a compliment. With no explanations or justifications. Simply saying “thank you” and smiling! I’ve actually been putting it into practice, and yes, it feels great…
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Say Yes to Winning as A Mom
When Rhimes starts talking about motherhood in her book, all I can say is “Yes, yes, and yes”! She clearly makes a strong point about motherhood not being this sacrificial experience in which we’re supposed to leave our identities, passions and talents at the door. We can still be strong , badass moms thriving and succeeding in our lives and careers. I love the part when she talks about replacing the sappy greeting cards celebrating moms for all their sacrifices, with celebratory testimonials of how badass women inspire their children to be their best.
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Say Yes to Real Relationships
Maya Angelou said it right: “ When people show you who they are, believe them”. We don’t realize how much the people around you can impact our growth, until we start growing. In her book, Rhimes discusses some of her toxic friends whom she had to distance herself with. As she started growing, embracing and saying yes to herself, they grew more resentful.
How many times have you faced breakthroughs and transitions in your life and realized that some of the people you thought were there for you, were actually not for you? I loved that Rhimes’ growth showed this doesn’t just happen to the rest of us. The healthier you become, the more you need to surround yourself with healthy people in your corner.
Have you read or re-read “A Year of Yes”? What did you think about it?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | May 7, 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!
- In good news this week, Forbes reports women make up nearly 40% of new directors on Fortune 100 Boards;
- You may have heard of the passing of the latest healthcare bill. Slate explains why according to this bill, being a woman in itself is a pre-existing condition;
- Did you bomb your first interview? Business Insider explains why asking for a second chance may actually help getting you the job;
- Black Enterprise lists the best Mother’s Day gifts for every mompreneur;
- Recruitingblogs.com lists 3 unique careers that allow you a more flexible schedule at home;
- The Glassdoor Blog lists 10 companies offering Student Loan Assistance and hiring now!
- Ready to stretch outside of your comfort zone? Ellevate Network lists 5 ways to manage fear when you stretch outside of your comfort zone;
- Entrepreneurs Alert! Have you registered for the 2017 Entrepreneurs Summit yet? Black Enterprise lists some small businesses you can connect with;
- Are you teaching your kids how to manage money? Ellevate Network confirms that teaching children financial literacy is the gift of a lifetime;
- Hello moms! Thought Catalog lists 13 reasons why you may need wine (#13 is right on point);
- Want to show Mom how much you care? Serious Eats lists some seriously delicious (and foll-proof) dinner recipes for Mom.
Cheers, to the week-end,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Apr 28, 2017 | Career
Welcome to our weekend chat feature! Got something you want to chat about? Post it in the comments below…
Weekend Chat: Jemalyn Striped One-Piece – Photo credit: shop style.com
Writing this makes me super excited, because summer’s just around the corner! Which means it’s time to start shopping for swimsuits.While the prospect of looking at those few extra winter pounds in the mirror may not always excite you, what’s really exciting is that now more than ever, we have options! I personally prefer more modest pieces that allow me to chill at the pool or beach and still have dessert, but that’s just me…
Like this Jemalyn striped one-piece swimsuit from Anthropologie! I love the practical simplicity of this one-piece, which lets you move freely (read: run after your kids), while still letting you flaunt what your mama gave you (and have dessert)… Perfect compromise!
Now tell me: which are your favorite swimsuits? Do you wear them to the beach, pool, or somewhere else?
Anything on your mind? Chat about it below.
Cheers to the weekend,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Apr 28, 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!
- Have you met our Woman of Impact this week? Check out my interview with Audrey Mann Cronin, co-founder of SayItMedia Inc and creator of the LikeSo app;
- In great news this week, the Daily Beast reports that in honor of the Formation album, Beyonce launched 4 scholarships for female students;
- Are you a new mom returning to work after baby? Ellevate Network shares some tips on how to survive the back-to-work postpartum blues;
- If you’re a naturalista (and even if you’re not), you may have heard about the Shea moisture drama this past week. Black Enterprise tells you more about it and the important lesson we should get from it;
- This past Thursday was Take Your Daughter to Work day, and The Corporate Sister lists 5 lessons to teach your daughter that day and every day;
- Were you a good student at school or are you raising a good student? Forbes reveals all those good grades may not lead to professional success;
- Got fired? Ellevate Network has tips on bouncing back;
- Want to raise really creative kids? Inc. tips you off on 3 things smart parents do;
- Mother’s Day is fast approaching. WhoWhatWear suggests the coolest gifts for every mom out there;
- Remember United’s incident with passenger Dr. David Dao? Well, Refinery29 reports that United will now pay you up to $10K for your seat;
- Ready for Cinco de Mayo? SeriousEats has 19 tasty taco recipes for you.
PS: Have you listened to the latest episode of my Working Girls Club podcast around “How to thrive as introverts at work”? Check it out on iTunes!
Cheers, to the week-end,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Apr 27, 2017 | Career
Audrey Mann Cronin, Co-Founder LikeSo app
I had the pleasure of virtually meeting Audrey Mann Cronin a few months ago, and was instantly taken by her story. Audrey is the co-founder, President and Chief Marketing Officer of SayItMedia Inc., which is at the origin of the LikeSo app, aka your personal speech coach.
Now if you’ve ever had a problem speaking up in public, this app is for you! It uses voice recognition technology to analyze your “speech fitness”, and help you increase the performance of your speeches, presentations, interview or auditions! As an introvert who’s struggled with speaking up at work, I wish this app had been available a while ago. SayLikeSo has been featured on some major news outlets, including CNN, CNBC, AOL and USA Today.
But without further ado, here’s Audrey, who graciously accepted to answer a few questions for TCS:
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Tell us a bit about you and what you do!
Hi Corporate Sisters! I am a passionate women’s advocate, writer, speaker and longtime communications consultant, so the way people speak is always on my radar. We all want to speak to impress, but lax verbal habits can undermine our skills and impact our success. I am on a mission to help us all be better, more confident speakers, and without all of those “likes” and “sos.” I have worked for 25 years in the technology industry and I thought, there should be an app for that! In December of 2015, I started a new venture, Say It Media, Inc. and in March of 2016, I launched LikeSo: Your Personal Speech Coach.
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What led you to create LikeSo, and what would you say are the greatest benefits?
I was inspired to create LikeSo after a confluence of conversations took place during one defining week in May of 2014. First, my poised and well-spoken teenage daughter started injecting her sentences with “like,” “ya know,” and “totally!” Later that week, a colleague told me that he had two brilliant co-workers, but that he cringed when he heard them speak on the phone and in meetings because of their use of fillers, uptalk and other verbal habits. And then – the crowning blow… My doctor, a top surgeon in her field, said that she had experienced these uninspiring verbal habits, even in the operating room. We all should speak confidently, powerfully and persuasively – in a way that compels others to listen. Something had to be done, and LikeSo was born.
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Describe what a typical workday looks like for you.
I start out the day taking 15-30 minutes to check in on my email and social media channels. Along with LikeSoApp on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram, I also run the community, Our Digital Daughters, which is a deep dive into raising our girls in this new digital culture. I then re-visit my “to do” list to prioritize the day. If it is like most days, something has happened while I was sleeping that forces me to adjust my schedule! Typically I have a bunch of calls and/or meetings with colleagues, potential new partners, professors, speech professionals, women’s advocates, etc. I also may be writing a post for my blogs. In my life as mom, I have two energetic and inspiring teenagers and a lovely golden retriever, so interruptions are often, and almost always, welcome!
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What do you love most about your work?
I learn every day and meet so many inspiring and talented people. The entrepreneurial life is exhilarating, topsy-turvy, a bit scary, and a fantastic ride – like the best roller coaster!
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How do the goals of your business and product affect your day-to-day job, as well as your career and life goals in general?
I want to make a difference and Say It Media has given me a platform and a mission. I am a passionate advocate for girls and women and get deep satisfaction helping women take on the obstacles of our male-centric world and find their own authentic voice. I also have a background in theatre and music, and love working with acting coaches and casting directors to integrate LikeSo into the entertainment field. For my own family, I hope I am setting an example for my children that if you work hard and stay positive, you can achieve success. When I look back, I do think that my life and work experiences and aspirations all led me to this current career…or maybe it was destiny?:-)
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What’s the most challenging part of your work and how do you not let yourself get burnt out?
Yes, heading up a startup is challenging and exhausting. There is a lot of juggling, a lot of strategic thinking (and rethinking), a lot of networking and a lot of listening and learning. You truly have to believe in your mission. Sometimes I do feel that my work is getting the better of me, but then I get a good night’s sleep and wake up ready to go!
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What advice would you give other women who may want to follow in your footsteps?
If you are passionate about something that gives you deep satisfaction, first gather some relevant experience, and then jump on!
You can find more information about SayItMedia and the LikeSoApp at the below links:
Thanks so much for sharing with us your wonderful journey and most importantly the amazing LikeSo app!
To your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Apr 26, 2017 | Career
Wear to Work: Crop Suit Jacket – Photo credit: Shopstyle.com
Our Wear to Work feature showcases workwear pieces in various styles and price ranges. Please note this post contains affiliates links.
Fresh white suiting is back in season! Hence this fitted Classiques Entier crepe jacket from Nordstrom, adorned with cool and feminine bell sleeves. I love the original style of this fitted jacket modernized with bound seams. It’s $329 at Nordstrom.
In the same style, I also like this knit tweed bell sleeve jacket from Loft, as well as this Thalia Sodu bell-sleeve number from Macy’s.
Seen any piece you’d like us to feature? Email corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
In Style and Success,
The Corporate Sis.
