Professional Development for Women and Minorities

(WOC 1712) The 2016 Women of Color in Technology Executive Roundtable Session

 

Our business community must confront the challenges of the shortage of women in STEM leadership positions in today’s workplace, and the entrance of vast numbers of millennial talent who will reshape the workforce, and the rules of the workplace.  The next generation of female leaders will contribute to be heard, and influence the dialog driving these changes. They will have particular impact on conversations addressing gender related workplace challenges and solutions. 

 

We must address the gender gap, and the overall lack of diversity in senior leadership.  How we do so must be an important component of our national and global talent strategies, and work in conjunction with systemic change efforts effecting our workforce.  But to get this right, first, organizations must better understand how to attract, develop, and retain female and other diverse talent from the millennial generation.  

 

We hope that our 2015 Women of Color in Technology Executive Roundtable is a livewire symposium.  Our interchange will examine the 21st Century challenges of women in today’s technology driven workplace and why it is seen as a man’s world. Moderated by Ted Childs, Workforce Diversity Catalyst for Change, and Raina Washington, Vice President, Culture, Diversity and EO Programs, Lockheed Martin, attendees will hear from women executives who have competed in high intensity, competitive, technology driven workplaces. We do not want a discussion about what women have not done, or cannot do. We have assembled a panel of accomplished executive women to discuss their career journeys and do the following: 

 

1. Engage in a candid dialogue about the challenges women face in today’s workplace, including at the executive level. 
2. Explore factors that limit women from breaking the glass ceiling.   
3. Identify best practices in diversity workforce change. 
4. Discuss ways to overcome challenges and stereotypes.

 

 

Learning Outcomes: 

• Increase awareness of the challenges that women may encounter on their career journey, and strategies to address those obstacles;  
• Discover techniques that encourage women to succeed on reaching the management level.  

 

(WOC 1710) A Perspective From Executives and Trailblazers (Presented by NASA)

(WOC 1711) Enterprise Capabilities: Redefining Ingenuity With Integrated Services and Solutions (Presented by SAIC)

 

Learning objective: The goal of this signature seminar is to highlight the countless opportunities to participate in the development of solutions that are changing the world in real and measureable ways in our technical, engineering, and enterprise IT core business areas including the required skills. The seminar will further explore all that SAIC has to offer to help individuals to enhance their visibility and excel in their career.  The presentation will highlight the opportunities, challenges, and learning that SAIC provide to move individuals forward in their STEM career and aspirations.     

 

(WOC 1709) Daring to be Different; Breaking the Glass Ceiling and Riding the Glass Escalator (Presented by Lockheed Martin Corporation)

 

Dr. Maya Angelou stated, “Achievement brings its own anticlimax.” Nowhere is this truer than in the lives of women of color, as they seek accomplishment and prominence in the face of adversity. In addition to the glass ceiling, which already is stopping women from climbing higher in success in the workplace, a parallel phenomenon called the "glass escalator" is also occurring. This can be defined as how more men are joining fields that were previously occupied mainly by women and within these job fields, the men are riding right past women and going straight to the top, similarly to if they were on an escalator and a woman was taking stairs. 

 

At the end of this seminar participants will be able to:

 

1. Better understand these phenomena
2. Identify techniques and strategies to successfully navigate these challenges

 

(WOC 1708) Executive Presence (Presented by Northrop Grumman Corporation)

 

We’ve all witnessed that moment when a leader walks into a room and instantly attracts attention. The air shifts. Heads turn. People gravitate towards them.  In short, they have a “WOW” factor.  The “WOW” factor is often called “Executive Presence.” Executive Presence is a blending of temperament, competencies, and skills that, when combined, send all the right signals.  Leaders know they must embody executive presence to get ahead, influence others, and drive results.

 

Do you want the WOW factor of Executive Presence?  Attend this workshop and gain a proven approach on how to obtain Executive Presence.  Get ready for your next promotion.

 

(WOC 1707) Savviness versus Sell-Out (Presented by Consumers Energy)

 

Are you unsure of how to “play the game” to win when it comes to corporate politics? It doesn’t matter whether or not you believe in office politics, they still exist. Learn how to master office politics in this intensive deep dive with savvy leaders who take a realistic approach to managing workplace politics. Enhance your understanding on how to navigate competing interests, scarce resources, ambiguity in authority, unclear rules and lack of information in the corporate environment. The main thing to remember when dealing with office politics is that you CAN still be “you” while adjusting your style to fit the situation.

 

“Early in my career I despised the thought of having to dance through corporate politics.  I thought I’m just not good at it and I’m not selling out just to get ahead.  Little did I know back then how completely misguided I was until I began practicing true relationship building and removed “office politics” from my vocabulary.  Building professional relationships is an art, a fine art mind you, every leader should understand.  Like every rare and expensive art piece.. it takes skill, practice, and time.” – Charles Crews VP Consumers Energy

(WOC 1611) College Study Hall- Access Mentors, Build Resumes, Get Academic Support and Guidance

 

Learning Objective: Discuss techniques for developing your career plan

 

There seems to be an endless stream of things to do and not enough time to do it. The pressures to succeed and compete for opportunities are greater than ever.  No worthy accomplishment is realized without sacrifice. Take this time to work on your plan. Students can talk to mentors about their specific needs. Or you may need to build or revise your resume. In this session, you can get advice about graduate school or talk to someone about academic challenges.  Take advantage of the opportunity to leave the conference with a solid plan for achieving your goals and a few key things checked off of your list.  

 

At the end of this seminar, participants will be able to:

 

1. Talk to potential mentors or coaches
2. Work on resume building strategies
3. Access support for navigating academic pressures, schedules, and choices
4. Explore plans and “to do” items for the graduate school application process
5. Share personal school and career game plan

 

(WOC 1615) Want an upgrade? Winning Resumes and Lasting Impressions 

 

First Impressions open doors!! Do you look and act like a winner? Are you prepared to compete and get noticed? The first step to success is making sure your resume, words, and image reflect your true value. You will have an edge if you understand what employers are looking for in potential candidates. In this seminar, human resource professionals will help you build a resume, polish your image, and say the right things.  Get ready to take action and win! 

 

At the end of this seminar, participants will be able to:

 

1. Build or upgrade a winning resume 
2. List dos and don’ts  of  interviewing
3. Use Critical Networking techniques
4. Identify specific questions to ask potential employers

 

(WOC 1505) Women in Tech: More than Just a Pipeline Issue

 

Learning Objective: Examine the factors for low numbers of women in the tech field and how to retain women tech professionals

 

Research has shown that most women leave the tech workforce after an average of 7 years. This is a huge, unnecessary loss of talent in a field facing a short of talent. Since the tech field is a major driver of the U.S. economy, this shortage impacts everyone. Some tech companies are struggling to hire and retain employees. When men and women with the same qualifications apply for the same job, studies have shown that they are evaluated differently. These biases may occur unconsciously and without intention or malice. This seminar will address the issue of how to address the gap. 

 

At the end of this seminar, participants will be able to: 

 

1. Examine the causes behind the lack of women in the tech field.
2. Discuss the natural bias that exists in our workforce culture. 
3. Explore ways to change the workforce bias.

(WOC 1504) Leadership and Excellence in Diversity: Sustaining the Diversity Momentum in Changing Times 

 

Learning Objective: Diversity leaders create a brand and image that supports and reflects competence and business value.

 

What does it mean to be a diversity leader? Over the past several years, diversity has been a hot topic. However, as times change, and business challenges increase, the term has become a stale reference to check off a list of politically correct requirements. As leaders in diversity, we are challenged to educate, energize, and excite our organization around diversity initiatives. These initiatives build the foundation of creativity, innovation, and transformative results. Diversity and Inclusion leaders are key players on the executive leadership team with the specific responsibility for ensuring that human resources are honored, embraced, and ready to contribute great value. Diversity and Inclusion leaders are trusted advisors that fundamentally create strategies that result in corporate cultural transformations to effectively support the mission and vision of the organization. To continue to be successful and safeguard the great work and efforts of those before you, you must create a brand and image that reflects high integrity and strong leadership capacity. This workshop will arm you with the skills you need to change your leadership image and effectively function as a vital part of the leadership vision.

 

At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

 

1. Explore key diversity and inclusion leadership and management skills
2. Understand strategies for building the right brand and image
3. Examine what it means to transform organizational culture
4. Create a plan for excellence in diversity and inclusion leadership
5. Explore business challenges that impact diversity and inclusion leaders