PWCC Connections Newsletter
April 2019
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Mission
PWCC provides networking connections that support, enrich and inspire women to advance professionally and personally.
Goals
PWCC brings professional women together in a variety of networking venues to share knowledge, experiences, and resources with other women. Members have access to:
* Facilitated networking opportunities at monthly speaker luncheons
* Special member-only events
* Committee activities
* Board participation
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April Networking Luncheon:
Grow Your Contacts: Spring Progressive Luncheon
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Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Union League Club of Chicago
65 West Jackson Blvd.
11:30 am-1:30 pm
$40 members | $70 non-members
Sponsors and Premier Members no charge, but RSVP is requested.
To avoid a $10 increase, register by 5:00 p.m. on
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Back again by popular demand! Get connected with other professional women during this fast-paced and exciting program, which features a three-course meal during which attendees switch tables after each course. It is structured so that each participant will have an opportunity to introduce herself and describe her business, taking the stress and guesswork out of networking.
This fun and lively event is a great way to meet new people and make new business contacts. Don’t forget to bring at least 40 business cards and marketing materials to pass out.
A sell-out crowd is expected so reserve your spot early.
Walk-in registrations will not be accepted!
Please note: This luncheon will begin promptly at 11:30 a.m.
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Members' Only Event
Ravioli and Rosé - Cooking Class at Whole Foods Café
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
Whole Foods Cooking School, Lincoln Park
1550 N Kingsbury St.
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
$50 (PWCC Members Only)
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Tips for Smarter Living: Network Like You Mean It!
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Networking means connecting with like-minded people.
Actually, you network all day long without realizing it: you network with your neighbors, with your children’s teachers, with your own friends, but you don’t call it “networking” because you’re simply having conversations with people who share your interests.
Try bringing this same concept of building relationships by connecting with other human beings into the concept of networking for your career, and watch how your connections grow!
Notice people’s discomfort:
Do you ever go to an event or a conference and just look around the room? What do you see? While you probably see lots of people talking to each other, you will also probably see several people sitting at tables looking through the event guide or talking on their phones. These people are probably nervous about talking to new people, so they are avoiding doing so by looking busy. You can help these people by introducing yourself to break the ice and make life a little easier for them, a sure way to make a new friend.
Prepare an icebreaker:
Before walking into an event, check out the latest news feeds for an easy “Did you hear…?” conversation starter. Ask something simple like “What was the highlight of your day?” and then move on to slightly more meaty questions like, “What was your dream job when you were growing up? Did any part of that dream come true?”
Skip the temptation to launch right into your elevator pitch:
Selling yourself right away can be weird and awkward while getting to know someone new can be a natural thing. If you let other people open up and talk about themselves, you become memorable—a safe person, a friend. Introduce yourself and ask about them first!
Tell a good story:
Our brains light up the moment we hear a personal story When it’s your turn to share something about yourself, don’t simply rattle off a few facts as if you were reading from your resume. Tell a brief story about a funny or curious thing that recently happened to you. People will walk away remembering you!
Follow up soon, while they still remember you! S
end a quick email to say “It was great to meet you at [name of event] on [date]” or “I had a great time chatting with you about [something you talked about]” or “Your LinkedIn profile says you’re currently working on [responsibility in current job/organization or side project] which interests me because [reason why it relates to you].” Always include an invitation to meet for coffee or a drink after work.
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Mentoring Tip:
Help Your Mentee Crush the next Networking Event with these Simple Tips
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Coach Her to Commit Herself to Helping Others
You ask any pro and they tell you that networking is more about giving then getting!
- Tip: Coach her to connect with people, then after the event, email 1 or 2 people she met at the event with a tip, advice, resource, or some other way to help, based on what she learned about them.
Make An Introduction or Two for Her
- Tip: Meet your mentee at the event and introduce her to a couple of people she may like or benefit from meeting. Extend your personal network to her. Be a connector!
Help Her Leverage the Power of Focusing on Others
People love to talk about themselves. If your mentee is shy, this works to her advantage. The best conversationalists often don’t talk much at all.
- Tip: Ask questions, how interest in them, and listen intently to learn.
Remind her of the 80/20 Rule of Following up
People spend too much time trying to meet new people and little time following up with the right people they meet.
- Tip: Coach her to be sure to follow-up with 20% of the people she meets and work towards building stronger connections.
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PWCC Blog: Getting to Success
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Regardless of gender, everyone wants to be and feel successful. But do men and women have to work differently to achieve success?
Much has been written about the networking men do: on the golf links, on the basketball court. A recent article suggested that women should engage in
beer bonding
to advance their careers. The logic seems to be that engaging in the same networking activities as men will increase women’s exposure to work opportunities.
Everyone agrees that networking is key but there are some roadblocks women experience more frequently that may prevent the kind of back-and-back networking that is the most successful.
So the first step to gaining a sense of self-success may be to overcome these common doubts that women experience:
The Imposter
While millions of people experience self-doubt – including athletes, celebrities, CEOs – women are uniquely vulnerable to this very strong roadblock to success. A lack of confidence makes it hard to feel secure in your work and in your ideas.
The Perfectionist
Women universally report feeling the need to do everything flawlessly. Whether it’s our appearance, our children, our homes, or our jobs, our common need to complete our tasks and shoulder our responsibilities more thoroughly is exhausting, mentally and physically. And sometimes this drive to perfection inhibits our ability to delegate tasks to others, so we wind up self-imposing the weight of everything onto our own shoulders.
Submitted by:
Carol Jambor-Smith, Ph.D
., Jambor-Smith Communications,
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Networking for Job Seekers
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At the end of a recent phone interview, I thanked the hiring manager for taking the time to speak with me. To my happy surprise, she said, “Well, I had enough people insisting that it would be worth my time!” She continued, saying that if one more person had reached out to her about me, she would have sought a restraining order.
Networking does work!
We all know that networking can feel a lot like a game of “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” IRL as we drill down layer after layer, connecting dot after dot, seeking a connection to a specific person.
When a colleague who I knows I am job-seeking sent me a listing for a position at company H, I immediately went to both its website and to its LinkedIn page to do some digging. Company H’s LinkedIn Jobs posting included the name and email of the recruiter. After completing company H’s online application I sent my resume and a cover letter directly to the recruiter via LinkedIn. Degree number one.
Then I began connecting some dots.
Company H’s LinkedIn jobs posting listed several job titles, including that of the person to whom the position would report, so I searched that title within company H on LinkedIn. BINGO! The one person I know connected to Company H is connected to the person with that title. I quickly sent an email to my former colleague, while no longer worked for company H was happy to reach out to the hiring manager on my behalf. Degree number two.
It also occurred to me that a vendor I work with also works with company H. So I fired off another email, asking if she would speak to her contact at company H about the position. She happily agreed to do so. Degree number three.
Within three business days of receiving the posting, I was contacted by Company H’s HR department, asking my availability to speak with the hiring manager. Degree number four.
That’s four degrees with a direct line to the hiring manager!
LinkedIn offers the perfect platform for reaching out and connecting with gatekeepers who hold the key to thousands of job opportunities. You can search by company, title, or any number of factors to find the connection who can help you land an interview or a job.
Once you locate these gatekeepers, it’s perfectly fine to reach out to them. LinkedIn is the ideal medium for connecting with professionals who work at your target company without ever meeting them in person.
When you make a connection, begin using your networking skills. Ask good questions – what’s it like working for the company? What projects is your contact especially involved with or excited by? If you’ve done enough research, you should be able to reference work your contact has done, engaging by expressing interest in her and her work – not by immediately asking for a job or information about a job.
Remember: the networking golden rule is first build a relationship.
Is there a specific open position you are interested in? Ask questions about the job and about the company. Don’t send your resume until you’re asked to do so, but keep moving the conversation forward until you land that first interview.
While I hope that I will be able to say that I am no longer job searching, having won the game of “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” with Company H, I continue to mine LinkedIn for connections that will move me to my next opportunity.
Submitted by:
Abby Rath
, AONeil07@gmail.com, Storyteller, word nerd, and Oxford comma devotee specializing in brand marketing, customer experience measurement and analysis, and strategic communications
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Successfully Conquering Self-Doubt
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Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.
∞William Shakespeare
At some point, all of us have come to know self-doubt, that persuasive inner critic that can hold us back. Even Shakespeare knew that our doubt can prevent us from taking action and moving toward our true goals.
While self-reflection and a bit of doubt can be a good thing, helping us to think through the risks before we leap, it can also overpower us, causing us to procrastinate, lose time, and miss opportunities.
Getting past a fear of failure can be a long and difficult journey. So how can we break through and take decisive action vs playing it ‘safe’? Below are some ideas to try out next time you find yourself doubting your ability to succeed.
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Talk to a mentor.
Seeing your doubts and fears through someone else’s eyes can help bring them into perspective. Guidance and advice from someone you trust and admire can go far in tackling self-doubt. What might have felt insurmountable may suddenly seem very achievable as you talk through it with a supportive resource.
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Take one small step.
Sometimes we feel doubt because our end goal seems too big and complicated to ever accomplish. A great way to build your confidence is by starting small. Let’s say your goal is to develop a presentation for your industry’s biggest and most respected global conference. It might seem too daunting to even begin. But what if, instead, you began with just one blog post or one email to a member of the conference committee? Accomplishing these little steps will help spur you toward further action and before you know it, you are well on your way to your ultimate objective.
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Surround yourself with positive energy.
Spend time with people who are confident and joyous and want to see you succeed. Read about and listen to others’ success stories, both big and small. Encourage and help other people who are working to achieve a goal. All these positive vibes can help give you the motivation to get outside of your comfort zone.
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Investigate and challenge your doubts.
Take a step back and think about what is holding you back. Question each doubt you have and think about its source. Are you holding on to past setbacks or painful experiences? What would it take to get past them? Or are you believing falsehoods about yourself? What if you are ready to manage a department? What if you do have the talent and aptitude to start your own business? Rather than letting your doubts stop you from achieving what you want,
doubt your doubts!
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Networking Tip: Shared Goals Make Genuine Connections
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Successful networking occurs when everyone has the shared goal to make genuine connections and be helpful to others. The keys to this successful networking are being intentional, generous, and persistent when making connections.
Be intentional
- Every person has value to add and connections to offer! Before networking, be sure about what you have to offer others and have in mind what you’re hoping to gain. Never assume that one person is a more “valuable” network connection than another: everyone that you meet, regardless of job title or industry, may have connections or knowledge to share. Make sure to work on finding the value in each person that you encounter.
Be generous
- Offer to help before you ask for help! Networking is most successful when you are being your most authentic self and genuinely want to help someone. Always ask, “How can I help you?” and end conversations with a reminder to reach out via email or LinkedIn to continue the connection.
Be persistent
- Follow up and follow through! If you tell someone that you’re going to follow up with her do so. If you’ve thought of a connection you can make to benefit someone, take the minute to make those introductions happen.
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Our 2018/2019 Luncheon Events Schedule is available
here
. Mark your calendars and save the dates for these great events. Remember: non-members may only attend one progressive luncheon and one speaker luncheon in any membership year (September - June). So
become a PWCC member
now!
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Connections & Conversations
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All First Timers, Experienced Members and Guests are Welcome.
Join us at 11am, prior to every luncheon at the Union League Club, to learn about the Professional Women's Club of Chicago and membership engagement. Ask questions, participate in discussions about PWCC, and network during this brief, 30-minute meeting.
Our next Connections & Conversations Event is
Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at 11:00 a.m.!
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Please join PWCC in welcoming these new members who joined during March 2019:
Nancy Ackerman, Jameson Sotheby's International Realty
Marjorie Allabastro, Baird & Warner Real Estate
Heather Bennett, Creative Brand Coach
Dana Cahan, MAC Management Co. Inc
Barbara Chaklos, Lilac Consulting
Susie Chau, Carpe Diem Traveler
Lilia Diaz, Associated Bank
Anne Howaniec, First Midwest Bank
Ashley LaValley, Lee Sheikh Megley & Haan LLC
Becky Mormann, Kaiser Tiger
Kira Moscowitz, Baird&Warner
Watchen Nyanue, WNBA Chicago Sky
Lindsey Valentine, The Langham, Chicago Hotel
New Members:
Be sure to look for our New Member Ambassadors with their Red Ribbons affixed to their nametags at our next luncheon. The Ambassadors are keen to help you feel welcome,
comfortable, and introduce you to opportunities available within PWCC.
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All reservations for the monthly luncheons are requested no later than 5:00 p.m. the Friday before the luncheon. Anyone reserving after
Friday, April 5th
at 5:00 p.m. is subject to a $10 late charge and seating availability.
Please help PWCC and the Union League Club make the monthly luncheon experience a great one and reserve on time and observe their
dress code policy
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