PWCC Connections Newsletter
May 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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PWCC Instructional Programming:
Know Your Worth: A Discussion about Your Brand, Self-Promotion, and Money
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Tuesday, May 14, 2019
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
EvolveHer Studios
358 West Ontario
$25 PWCC Members/$35 Non-Members
Space is limited - Only a few tickets remain
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Some of the biggest obstacles we face as businesswomen come down to knowing our own value. We know we have a personal brand but don’t know how to promote it. We have had amazing successes but feel like we are bragging when we talk about them. We know we deserve the raise or should increase our service fees but aren’t confident in asking. Here is the simple truth – you’re worth the money and everyone deserves to know.
In alignment with PWCC’s mission to support, enrich, and inspire professional women, please join us for a discussion with our panel of experts as we talk about personal brand, self-promotion and yes, money! You will get insights, tips, and tools from four women who help folks develop professionally and personally in these areas daily.
The Panel
PWCC has assembled an exceptionally talented team of professionals who help individuals move to their next level, whether through a promotion, an expansion, increased business, or personal growth. Each panelist brings entrepreneurial insight as well as an astute understanding of current expectations in the corporate world. We are pleased to have the following PWCC members as our honored panelists:
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June Networking Luncheon:
"Modern Leadership" with Julie Howard, Chairman and CEO of Navigant
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Wednesday, June 12, 2019
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Union League Club of Chicago
65 West Jackson Blvd, Chicago
$40 PWCC Member| 60 Non-Members/Guests|$500 Table of 10
$0 Premier Members and Sponsors, but registration is requested.
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Amidst today’s rapid pace of change, the definition of what constitutes an impactful leader is inevitably shifting. Julie Howard, Chairman and CEO of Navigant, will share her personal evolution as a leader and the modern leadership characteristics that we should all aspire to.
Julie Howard is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Navigant (NYSE: NCI). As Chairman and CEO, Ms. Howard is responsible for the development and implementation of the Company’s long-term strategy and effective prioritization of resource allocation to realize long-term shareholder value.
Prior to becoming CEO in March 2012, Ms. Howard served as President beginning in 2006 and Chief Operating Officer beginning in 2003. As President and Chief Operating Officer she was responsible for the overall management of the Company’s operations including strategic planning, marketing, sales, human resources and the delivery of global consulting services.
Ms. Howard has 30 years of professional services experience, having served as a Consultant as well as holding several Corporate Management positions. Her tenure with Navigant, which began in 1998, has been marked by rapid growth.
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Honoring PWCC Members
PWCC will honor it's 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20-year members at the June luncheon. If you are a member celebrating an anniversary be sure to RSVP to be recognized at the closing luncheon of the 20th anniversary season.
The 2019-2020 Board of Directors will also be announced.
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Tips for Smarter Living: Standing Out in a Crowd
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I often joke that I’m invisible. While my husband always seems to leave a lasting impression, people sometime don’t remember meeting me. When this happens, I agonize over what I should do to stand out: should I dress more eclectic, maybe ditch the grey and black wardrobe? Do I need to be boisterous and loud? Should I smile more and check my worries at the door to be more present?
As I’ve thought about this, I realized that confidence and passion shine bright in a crowd. I need to practice letting my inner light shine, remembering these tips:
Know yourself.
Get feedback from others and learn as much as you can about how you come across. Only then you can accurately target how you appear in a crowd and what you need to work on. For me, my shyness may come across as rude or standoffish.
Listen from the heart.
Learn to truly listen and hear what's being said beyond the words. You will stand out in any situation if you become a person who listens from the heart.
Don't make everything about you.
Few things are more boring than a self-centered person. When you met someone make the conversation about her, not you. Be interested and engaged; ask questions and listen carefully.
Be kind to everyone.
Lots of people are only nice to those who can do something for them. Stand out by treating everyone as important and interesting.
“A star does not compete with other stars around it; it just shines.”
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Mentoring Tip: Making Your Mark & Living Your Legacy
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We are women who are actively pursuing our dreams, mentoring other women, and making a difference in our businesses and communities. We’re making out mark!
Ultimately, making your mark means making a contribution — to your company, to your professional field, to your coworkers, even to the world — by making the best use of your talents.
So, how do you advise a woman aspiring to make a mark?
Start by helping her define the legacy and thinking big about the impact she can and wants to leave behind. Here are some questions that are sure to help kick off the process:
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What contribution do you want to leave behind?
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How do you want to make a difference?
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Where do you find meaning in your life and in your work?
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When do you feel more like human being as opposed to human doing?
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What is the difference for you between making a living and making a difference?
As you help her answer these and similar soul-searching questions, remember that we are much bigger than what we do. What is that bigger, deeper, and more profound thing that defines her? Help her THINK BIG and envision what it looks like, tastes like, and feels like have lived her legacy.
After she clarifies her BIG vision, you can set to help her clear the path and make time for the things that matter most. Her plan may not be clear at first, but the clarity of vision alone will move her forward.
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PWCC Blog: Build Your Personal Brand
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E
ver notice how a room full of amazingly different women can begin to feel crowded with variations on a single theme? With few exceptions, there are a few styles of clothing, a few hairstyles, and a lot of talking about the same few topics.
And yet your job is to stand out and make an impression! You want to build your personal brand and being unique is the fastest way to do so.
So, aside from wearing Rei Kawakubo and dying your hair deep purple, become yourself by engaging in authentic behavior.
Help people:
when someone emails you a question, answer it. When someone calls your for advice, give it. Make a lunch or dinner date with someone you find interesting – or with someone you can mentor.
Be a generous thought leader:
share your expertise, especially with organizations that could not afford to hire you! Speak at conferences, present at monthly meetings, chair a non-profit’s committee. Give your knowledge generously and people will notice and remember.
Offer your clients a small extra:
introduce them to a fellow professional who may be helpful. Offer to take a look at a project that’s not going well for them and make a few suggestions. Become known as the one who gives a little more than is asked for.
Find your voice and use it:
Chris Ducker
tell us “Be yourself because everyone else is taken.” Use the confidence you have in your expertise to lead. Not in a pushy, look-at-me way, but in a way that speaks to your skills and eagerness to share them.
It may be easier than purple hair.
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Do you ever feel different or like you don’t quite fit in with what everyone else is doing? That can be a good thing! People change the world, make a difference, or succeed by thinking and doing things differently and embracing their uniqueness.
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Being your authentic self is not that hard but it takes courage!
Worrying about and focusing on your every word, expression, and action is stressful and takes away from you being able to let your authentic self shine. Instead of questioning your every move, use that energy to focus on being the best version of yourself. Seek out those who recognize your unique talents and gifts. Being around those who appreciate your differences and support them will lead to success, both personally and professionally.
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Being unique is fascinating!
When you are interesting and comfortable in embracing the things that make you unique, people will be able to sense your authenticity and will be naturally drawn to you. Those who are unique have so much to offer: fresh ideas, new perspectives, and different experiences.
Have the courage to be your authentic, unique self, no matter what! Those who are lucky enough to be around you will thank you for it.
Submitted by: Michelle Collett,
Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago , m
ichelle@industrialcouncil.com
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Distinguishing Yourself as a Candidate
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Your job search will put you in direct competition with a hundred other candidates who have submitted their resumes and brilliant cover letters, connected with someone via LinkedIn, and stalking the hiring manager, just as you are. So why is it that you are so keen to “fit the bill” and not step a foot out of place? The key to success in a job search is standing out.
What is unique about you? Interviewers are likely to see several candidates that have the right level of skills and experience or skills. What helps you execute these skills better?
Talk about the characteristics friends, colleagues, and others use when they describe you. These qualities – flexible, friendly, dependable, decisive, reliable, high-energy, patient, positive attitude, humorous – are a part of your personal brand and can be the clincher when it comes to a hiring manager deciding between candidates.
Give your look a personal twist. Everyone has skills and experience but not everyone has a unique, memorable style. Sure your go-to navy, black, or grey pants or skirt worn with a tailored jacket shows that you should be taken seriously, but add a colorful blouse or a scarf with a vivid print and you will be memorable.
Add tasteful accessories that draw attention or start a conversation. You will be surprised how much more memorable you will be with a subtle bit of bling.
Never underestimate the power of a thank you note. You are demonstrating some of your best traits and keeping your name at the forefront interviewer’s mind.
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Thank the interviewer for her time.
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Mention a highlight of your conversation.
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Reiterate your interest in the position.
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Ask about the next step in the interview process.
Again, be different. Try sending a handwritten note. Use quality paper and include a genuine message.
Good old fashioned manners will set you apart in today’s fast-paced, impersonal digital environment.
As you prepare for your next interview, have a good think about your own personal sense of style, character traits, and the value you place on connecting with others. Then be true to yourself when you represent yourself to a potential new employer. After all, your unique differences could be the deciding factor that lands you that dream job.
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Networking Tip: Networking to Stand Out
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As PWCC members, we are all familiar with making connections through networking. But how do you stand out amongst all the other people armed with elevator pitches and flashy business cards?
It’s important to remember that networking isn’t about meeting everyone in the room or quickly exchanging business cards with lots of people who won’t remember you (and you won’t remember them!) Successful networking is ultimately about forming real relationships. . . .and that takes time and commitment.
Next time you head out to a conference or networking event, consider these tips to stand out in a genuine way that will work for you. . .
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Remember it’s a long game
It takes time to build real relationships, so don’t be overanxious and feel you have to form lots of connections at every networking event. Instead, focus on a few people who you really are interested in getting to know on a personal level. As relationships develop, they become more mutually beneficial. You will be in a better position to help your connection in a meaningful way and vice versa.
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Have genuine conversations, not sales pitches
While it is great to have a pithy, engaging way of describing what you do and what you are looking for from a contact, remember, it’s not all about you! Think about conversations and people you enjoy: you have to agree that they aren’t ones where people are trying to ‘sell’ themselves to you. Instead try connecting over shared interests, common ground, and interesting news and information outside of your ‘ask’. Remember to listen more than talk, and you will find you are not only enjoying yourself more, but also really getting to know the other person as more than a potential business prospect.
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Be positive, interesting, and fun!
Don’t be one of those people we all see at conferences, sitting in a corner looking at their phone. Find some people you enjoy talking with and start a lively conversation about a current event or theme you have noticed at the event. You will find more people will be drawn into a lively open conversation than a serious ‘what my business can do for you’ soliloquy. People will look back on their conversation with you positively and want to seek you out at the next event, and before you know it, you will have grown a new relationship.
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Follow up with a ‘give,’ not an ask
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If you do make a meaningful connection with someone (vs just receiving their business card), remember to reach out within a week or so. When you do, remind them of your conversation and provide them with something that might be helpful or interesting based (like a recommended vendor, a link to an interesting article, or book recommendation.)
Submitted by: Fiona Ray, Ready About Insights, fionaray@readyaboutinsights.com
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Thank you for a fabulous 20th Anniversary Season!
Save the date of June 21st for our Inaugural Golf Outing, Friday, May 21, 2019 at Sydney Marovitz Golf Course. Details will be available soon.
We have an incredible line-up of speakers and events for the 2019-2020 membership year and you won't want to miss a single event. So if you haven't renewed, make sure you do today!
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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, June 12, 2019 at 11:00 a.m.!
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Please join PWCC in welcoming these new members who joined during April 2019:
Beth Argus, Trunk Club
Jenny Chung, BDF LLC
Susan Garvey, Columbia Wanger Asset Management
Dina Kljuno, 4 Star Restaurant Group
Marcia McMahon, Bridge Lane Coaching
Lauren Mimms-Bockmier, Action for Healthy Kids
Abby Morrison, BMO Harris Bank, N.A.
Maggie Neuder, Union Tank Car Company
Kristen Portland, The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa
and Associated Disorders (ANAD)
Athena Saldanha, Slalom Consulting
Hilary Thornton, HT Solutions
Emily Yao, 360 Destination Group
and to our newest Corporate Sponsor:
Lidija Gjorgjievska,
Charles Schwab
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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In Tribute: Sheri Kamikow
We are saddened to announce the passing of long-time PWCC member and former Board of Director,
Sheri Kamikow
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Sheri was a PWCC member from 2008 and served on the PWCC Board of Directors from 2011 – 2018.
She served as Co-Chair of the Media Relations Committee, Special Events Committee and the Membership Committee. She also supported the Club as an Individual Sponsor.
Sheri, you will be missed. Rest in peace.
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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, June 7th
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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