Blog

While many aspects of life have started to return to some kind of “normal” following 16+ months of disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic, there are others, like travel, workplaces, and family dynamics, that are forever changed.   Like many working parents, when I look back on the past year and a half, my memories and emotionsRead more

Even as Derek Chauvin was found guilty by a jury this April, the trial of the former police officer charged with the murder of George Floyd reopened the deep emotional wounds felt following Floyd’s death last summer. And in the wake of increased violence against Asian Americans, the nation faces more thorny issues centered around systemic racism, inequality andRead more

It was not long after the launch of ARA, an organization which aspires to attract, retain and advance women in technology and leadership, that my co-founders and I were introduced to Chicago Tech Academy High School.  From facilitating a virtual power lunch with their Young Women’s Leadership Society, to welcoming an intern from the Academy, weRead more

Meeting i.c.stars President and Co-Founder Sandee Kastrul has been a huge blessing in my life. Not only is Sandee a friend and mentor, she is pure inspiration. I am in awe each and every time I am in her company – virtually or otherwise. It is fitting, therefore, to highlight the amazing program she has builtRead more

Community matters. Meaningful connections are magical. Mentorship creates opportunity for growth and learning for everyone involved. Relationships are the foundation for everything.  I believe in these statements. They are my truths. And, despite all that 2020 has served us in terms of local, national, and world news – from the global pandemic, to racial injustice,Read more

Building upon ARA’s June 2020 “Allyship in Action” Webinar, the organization is producing a five-part series, “Allyship, Advocacy and Taking Action,” in partnership with three visionary organizations: i.c.stars, Chicago Tech Academy and Black Women in Science and Engineering (BWISE). This continuing series is designed to help ARA members learn how to become better allies to marginalizedRead more

Last year on International Women’s Day (IWD), I wrote about the gratitude I have for all of those who have forged for gender equality before us, as well as those who continue to keep fighting the good fight. That gratitude is unchanged as IWD approaches this Sunday. If anything, I’m moreappreciative of each and every personRead more

When employees know their skills are in demand, it’s hard to keep them around by dangling raises and career advancement opportunities. Tech executives should consider an employee-first approach of creating a culture that is equitable, inclusive, and diverse.

On Wednesday, August 27, I was honored to be a part of an OCC Women’s Leadership panel featuring OCC’s Dana Earles, FVP, Treasurer, and Sheila Saegh Henretta, FVP, Deputy General Counsel, along with myself and Julia Bristow Briggs, Principle and Consultant of Smart to the Top. It was the third of a four-part panel seriesRead more

Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) programs are common in today’s workplaces as companies strive to connect with an increasingly diverse customer base. Whether operating globally or servicing a local clientele, business leaders recognize that customer demographics are changing and reaching them requires employees who bring different perspectives. But, is incorporating diversity and inclusion strategies into theRead more

The economy keeps humming along, and with it, the labor market shows momentum month after month. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ January 2019 jobs report, for example, showed that employers added a total of 304,000 jobs, much higher than the originally forecasted 165,000. To keep up with this relentless pace, companies of all shapesRead more

If you’ve laughed at the big or small screen in the last several years, it’s likely you’ve come across one of …

Though I have been recruiting and delivering talent solutions for the tech sector for some time now, the core questions I hear from clients are remarkably consistent. One of the first questions I usually hear is “How can you help a business attract and hire diverse candidates?” Four years ago, after getting that question hundredsRead more

Gender equality deserves continued attention as there is much work to still be done.

In all likelihood, you’ve heard the saying “actions speak louder than words.” My parents raised me on this motto, and it’s a gift that has shaped both the person and the professional I am today. One of the best examples of its life-shaping influence on me is my response to the challenge of increasing genderRead more

The enduring notion in some areas of the recruitment industry that it’s good business to treat contract-based employees as commodities has always been a problem for me. Actually, it’s not really a problem. I think it’s absurd, and it stands in stark contrast to the importance and incalculable value of diversity in employment today. As IRead more

Some jobs require “nerves of steel.” Jobs that place you on the front lines of life and death—surgeons, fighter pilots, mountain rescue workers, firefighters, police officers, etc.—are not for the faint of heart. In fact, the calm bravery needed for such jobs sometimes made me a bit cynical of the term “managerial courage.” Courage toRead more