Look Within
The Look Within track focuses on growth, confidence, and integrity in the face of adversity. Change starts from within, and underrepresented groups in STEM face unique challenges in both opportunity and promotion that takes strength to overcome. This track will address these concerns through engaging workshops and an afternoon panel.
Time and Date: 9:45–10:45 am on Saturday, May 4
Session Type: Workshop
Facilitator: Robyn Quinn
Back by popular demand, this workshop explains that branding isn’t just for companies anymore, and learning to leverage your personal brand is more important than ever. A review of your online and social media history is almost a mandatory check for employment now. Employers are not only looking to see if you have the skills to do the job, but how you will fit within the organization’s culture or add to it. People like to do business with people they know, and your social media is a peek into who you are. You already have an extensive digital footprint, so the question becomes, will you guide and cultivate your own brand or will it become a default profile? To help polish your professional online image, we will offer free LinkedIn headshots during this session.
Time and Date: 11:00 am–12:00 pm on Saturday, May 4
Session Type: Workshop
Facilitator: Holly Burton
Research shows that women are held to higher standards in their work leading up to promotions. While career progression requires high-quality work, the stringent standards women must meet to be considered for promotion can lead to perfectionist behavior. This very behavior is then often identified as showing lack of leadership acumen, creating a career-stalling catch-22 for ambitious women.
This workshop aims to give women a look at how their working lives are affected by the complex forces surrounding promotions, quality work, perfectionism, and risk. We'll cover:
- What perfectionism is and how it shows up in your work
- The relationship between risk, perfectionism, and gender
- How ambitious women subtly undermine their own career progress
- What's really at play when our careers stall—and what to do next
The goal of this workshop is to help you get at the deeper reasons for your career-limiting behaviors so you can keep your career moving forward.
Time and Date: 1:45–2:45 pm on Saturday, May 4
Session Type: Panel
Panelists: Susan Koch, Susan MacDougall, Sweta Rajan, Dr. Jane Roskams, and Anna Stukas (moderator)
Women in STEM are told to "lean in" and be more assertive to get what they want, but in practice this may not be the most effective way to get ahead. This panel session will explore the issues with how confident women are perceived in the workplace. Come learn how to effectively translate your confidence into results while remaining true to who you are.