[Live Event On-Demand] Relationships for the Win: Community and Giving As a Growth Driver

On January 12 – Women in Revenue led a keynote panel at Sendoso’s annual Elevate event in Las Vegas, NV about the importance of community and giving.

Our amazing panel included:
Lydia Floccini: CMO @ SurePoint Technologies
Michelle Palleschi: President & COO @ Sendoso
Lori Richardson: CEO & President @ Score More Sales

WIR’s Executive Director, Deanna Ransom, moderated the conversation, addressing how the world is now driven by authentic relationships which are nurtured whether business or personal. For business, and especially women in business, community matters and can make a tremendous difference in terms of growth both personally and for the business.

This is why forging the right relationships and creating a virtuous circle of caring, connectedness and compassion through community and giving is a tremendous growth driver for business and individuals.

Listen to the recording of this session HERE and learn about:
– Why community and giving matter now more than ever
– Why community and giving means even more for women in business
– Ways to create personal engagements in a digital world
– Why businesses should focus on community partnership, giving and empowering women in revenue roles for growth

WIR TV January 2023: Mentorship

Many professionals across a range of industries consider mentoring a critical part of their career success. Yet, studies have shown that historically, a surprisingly small amount of women have taken advantage of the many benefits of mentorship. 

Fortunately, we’re seeing that change — especially after the challenges and changes that have happened across the globe over the last few years.

Those interested in seeking out the guidance of a mentor may still be wondering how to approach someone about it. Others may not realize they themselves can become mentors — and this relationship can be beneficial to their own success.

Check out our WIR TV episode, “Why Mentorship Is Critical to Success,” as we hear from  Nicola Cronin, Head of Engagement at Guider AI; Lisa Ames, CMO at Norwest Venture Partners; Lisa HoLung, Media Director at April Six and Jill Melchionda, WIR Board Member, on the many advantages of mentorships. 

Their conversation covers:

  • How mentorship is more than just offering advice and having conversations about your life experiences.
  • Why being a mentor empowers others to discover their strengths, work with their weaknesses, and set new goals!
  • How mentorship can equip mentees with the tools and confidence needed to advocate for themselves at work. 
  • What it takes to be a mentor and the importance of “reverse mentoring”.

Watch the full recording here!

[Live Event On-Demand] A Year in Review

Each year comes with its own challenges, but 2022 might be one of the most tumultuous in recent memory. The events in years prior preceding were rare, as our world was impacted by a global pandemic and sociopolitical unrest. The aftershock affected many in their careers and family life, saying nothing of the mental and emotional toll taken.

Our Women in Revenue Q4 event allowed our members to come together with a panel of experts to weigh in on our shared challenges over the past year. Burnout was a common theme, particularly for women balancing their professional goals with keeping up with family responsibilities. Concerns around inflation and a potential recession were top of mind as well, considering 66 percent of Americans feel a major recession could be coming within the next year.

Employees and customers alike are being asked to do more with less. This has increased the importance of agility, as staffing challenges and layoffs impact a range of industries. From economic concerns to daily stresses, there’s no doubt that the past 12 months or so have been a struggle for many.

At the same time, we’re poised to see positive changes in the year ahead: more women are entering leadership positions and inflation is expected to cool down. The number of women holding leadership roles in Fortune 500 companies has reached an all-time high, and our event speakers predict greater recognition of and investment in professionals holding customer-centric positions that have become more closely tied to revenue than ever. 

Watch our Q4 2022 event recording for:

  • Interactive, role-specific breakout sessions to discuss perspectives on 2022 and predictions for 2023 
  • Reflections from the VC and analyst community examining how tech has weathered the storm 
  • Advice and tips on what to expect next year and why we should remain hopeful

And check out our fantastic lineup of speakers:

WATCH NOW!

WIR TV January 2022: Gaslighting

‘Gaslighting’ was the word of the year for 2022, according to Merriam-Webster. The term refers to the subtle psychological manipulation of an individual in an attempt to make that person feel confused or doubt themselves.

In work settings, gaslighting can be used to diminish an employee’s accomplishments by redirecting credit for their work or excluding them from important and relevant meetings and conversations.

One poll shows 58% of workers have experienced this type of gaslighting at work, which can easily drive stellar employees to quit their jobs. 

Watch our WIR TV episode, ‘How Gaslighting Is Hurting Women, Equity and Belonging At Work,’ to hear from Dr. Beth Kaplan, Belonging Researcher and Champion, and Claudia Gonzalez, Business Development & Digital Marketing Manager at CoinCloud, who dig into the harmful effects of this manipulation tactic on people and corporate cultures — particularly women and women of color.

Key points in this episode include:

  • How to identify gaslighting behaviors in the workplace
  • What to do when you are being gaslit 
  • Where to seek support outside of your organization

WATCH NOW!

The Power of Community

If there is one thing the COVID-19 pandemic showed the world, it’s that while solitude may be enjoyable — and sometimes even necessary — we still need to connect with others. And it’s about a lot more than simply having people to interact with. 

Having a good community means being around like-minded individuals who get you. A place where you can bring your genuine self to the table. No need to scale back for fear of being labeled as too much, or too loud, or too outspoken. The point is to feel free to be yourself. While this may sound a bit idealistic, once you find it, it’s pretty empowering. How so? Let’s count the ways. 

Benefits of Being Part of a Community 

There are several reasons why being a part of a community is beneficial. While individual needs may vary, there are some common denominators across the board:

  1. Sense of Belonging
    Feeling like you belong within a group of people is essential for good mental health. This is because having a support network can help you feel motivated when things are going well, and less alone when undergoing difficult times. As a result, you feel connected and are better able to manage stress. 
  1. Mentorship
    While some individuals may seem like they’re infinite sources of wisdom, the truth is that everything they’ve learned has been a product of their life experiences — including their relationships with others. These experiences make them invaluable resources for advice, constructive criticism, and sharing of knowledge; all of which is crucial to help them — and you — grow as individuals and as professionals. 
  1. Support
    There are many ways to support one another. This can be done through encouragement to pursue a goal, guidance as we go through new experiences, and maybe even financial — especially at a time of sudden layoffs. As much as we all strive to be  independent and self-sufficient, life comes with many surprises. Having a reliable support system is essential to navigate them successfully. For example, you could connect people on LinkedIn to help someone find a new job, or be part of a group that pitches in to assist a friend facing a hardship. Members of a community can also serve as each other’s allies, whether they hear of an opportunity, or to link arms in the quest for social justice. 
  1. Access to Resources
    One of the biggest benefits of having a community is that everyone is good at something. Let’s say you all work in tech. Someone may be well-versed on database management, while someone else’s strong suit may be network security. When people work together, all bases are covered, and everyone benefits. 
  1. Professional Growth
    Having a professional network also helps you extend your reach for your business, as you refer contacts and business to each other. And since these referrals are done by people who know you, the likelihood of prospects being a good fit is greater. At the end of the day, word of mouth is one of the most effective forms of marketing.

How To Find a Community That’s Right For You 

While all of these benefits sound ideal, you may be stumped as to how to find the right group of people. It seems simple to look for, say, people within your industry, but it’s imperative to dig deeper. What are non-negotiables for you? Some factors to consider include: 

  • Integrity
  • True authentic commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Experience with innovation 
  • Giving back to the community
  • Leadership
  • Accountability 

The next step is to narrow down your options by exploring your interests. Are you looking to forge a community around one of your hobbies? Find people with whom you can discuss work woes and accomplishments? If it’s the former, look for groups with common interests, such as running groups or book clubs. If it’s the latter, opt for networking events — whether it’s ones created to amplify women’s voices, offer mentorship, and/or foster diversity. 

At Women in Revenue, we recognize the value and power of community, and we proudly support women in revenue-generating roles. Read about what we offer, and browse through our resources and events. You may just have found the kinship you’ve been looking for.

[Dreamforce Panel] A Dynamic Duo of Two Ships: Mentorship & Allyship

During Dreamforce 2022, Women in Revenue joined forces with Demandbase for a fun and enlightening evening event at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Hundreds of people converged on this iconic location to meet with like-minded revenue leaders and delight in contemporary art galleries, craft cocktails and insightful conversations.

In addition to the networking, Women in Revenue pulled together a panel session with top executives and allies to discuss the importance of mentorship and allyship to power forward with a stronger sense of confidence and support…

A Dynamic Due of Two Ships: Mentorship and Allyship

Whether you think the glass ceiling is broken or not, one thing remains certain – women supporting women and allies supporting women makes all the difference to our individual and collective success. In a world where the right relationships can determine your access, inclusion, belonging and promotion the “ships” of Mentorship and Allyship are the vessels that will carry you over the life of your career and are even more vital for women and other underrepresented groups.

The person in your ear and corner along with the power of an ally in the room using their power for you when you aren’t even present is key to every woman navigating the ladder! Just knowing she’s not alone as she works her way up is rocket fuel for forward momentum.

Hear from from WIR’s Executive Director, Deanna Ransom as well as Lydia Flocchini – CMO @ SurePoint Technologies, James Gilbert – CMO @ Flip, Deb Rapson – SVP of Sales @ Leadspace, and Edward Avila – Vice President, Talent Acquisition @ Alation as they discuss:

  • Understanding and unlocking the power of a mentor 
  • The role and responsibilities of an ally
  • The difference between a sponsor and an ally
  • Why the right mentor and ally really matter
  • How mentorship and allyship work together for greater success
  • Top insights for recognizing and selecting the right mentor and ally

Here’s a link to watch a video of the panel.
Here’s a link to see the storyboard of the session that was created live onsite

WIR TV November 2022: Power Moms

Let’s face it: Burnout is real. It’s everywhere. Working mothers are feeling it, especially in recent years as the COVID-19 pandemic blurred the line between office responsibilities and family duties at home.

Approximately 9.8 million working mothers in the U.S. are suffering from workplace burnout. A reported one million working mothers stopped working altogether during the pandemic. Filling or choosing between these roles isn’t new, but the challenges of current events have made that decision even more difficult.

Women Can Have It All… Just Not Always At The Same Time

Balancing a career with having children is a tale as old as time, especially for women who have to work twice as hard to prove they can be successful as both a parent and a professional. For decades, women have been faced with the decision to choose family or a career, or they can ‘have it all’ but are met with roadblocks, struggles and challenges unique to their position in society.

WIR teamed up with Joann Lublin, author of ‘Power Moms’ and The Wall Street Journal‘s first career advice columnist, and Damaris Santiago, VP of Marketing at Skan, to explore their important insights on this topic.

Watch the episode for advice and expert perspectives on this important topic, moderated by Hana Jacover, Chief Hype Officer and Coach at Hype House Coaching.

How Native American History Makes Your Life Richer

In western civilizations, women’s rights have gone from non-existent to being achieved incrementally thanks to the plights of those who came before us. But knowing this is part of the whitewashed version of history. Let’s talk about Native American History within this context. 

Before the Americas were colonized by Europeans, these continents and islands already had many tribes, languages, and cultures. And while these varied from region to region, they all had something in common: Native women always had property rights.1 Women could also be shamans, warriors, and be active in political life. 

So, instead of continuing to think of the early days of this part of the world through a romanticized (and inaccurate) lens, let’s take a closer look at what it means to celebrate the native peoples of the Americas — and why November has been designated as Native American Heritage Month. 

Origins of Native American Heritage Month

Acknowledgment of the first peoples of this nation started with the efforts of Native American Red Fox James,2 who rode on horseback from state to state in 1914, seeking to create interest in establishing a national holiday commemorating American Natives. The torch was carried on by Seneca archeologist, Dr. Arthur C. Parker,3 who witnessed how the US government stripped Natives of their land and community through legislation.4  

Thanks to his advocacy, in 1916, New York declared an American Indian Day. In 1976, Congress designated the last week of November as Native American Awareness Week. And in 1990, President George H.W. Bush designated the entire month of November as National American Indian Heritage Month. This month was chosen since it’s the end of many Native tribes’ harvest season.

Why Celebrate Native American Heritage Month

In an age when politicians are turning back the clock on women’s rights, it becomes even more important to see Natives practices as inspiration in the fight for equity. 

Indigenous women had complete control of their lives.5 They lived in cultures where gender biases did not exist. They maintained independence, regardless of marital status. This way of life encouraged suffragists: In 1848, Lucrecia Mott visited Seneca and saw these equal rights and responsibilities. This occurred the same summer that she was denied entry to the World’s Anti-Slavery Convention in London. And it was after these experiences that she participated in the Seneca Falls Convention — the precursor to achieving white women’s right to vote in the US. 

Even after European settlers arrived and systemically stripped them of rights, Native American women have continued to thrive and contribute to the richness and advancement of the United States. These contributions have positively impacted many of the fundamental aspects of life:

  • Technology. Product Designer at Facebook, Pomo Native American Danielle Forward,6 has been a pioneer in interaction design (IxD), which anticipates how a user may interact with a system to provide an optimal user experience. And CEO of the First Nations Technology Council, Denise Williams,7 works to ensure that tech companies and governments provide education and access to Native Tribes.
  • Food. It’s crucial to acknowledge that Native tribes are responsible for something even more fundamental to humans around the world: About ⅗ of the world’s crops were first cultivated by Natives.8 Corn, beans, chocolate, and tomatoes exist thanks to them — even before they became staples in many European dishes.
  • Clean energy. It’s not news that the planet needs more sustainable ways of providing energy. Environmental pollution and global warming need to be addressed immediately. And Native tribes are leading the way in implementing wind, water, and solar energy.9 When you remove special interests out of the equation, society at large (and the planet) benefits greatly. This also promotes energy independence at a time when it’s more important than ever.

The more we read about Native American cultures, the more it becomes evident that the country — and the world — owes a lot to them. As such, it then becomes our duty to collectively do better to understand and support them. 

You can do your part by reading Native American stories, actively look for ways to support them,10 and being mindful about respect. And if you liked this blog, check out our resources for more information on how we celebrate and foster diversity.

1: https://cpilj.law.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2515/2018/10/6.2-Before-and-After-the-White-Man-Indian-Women-Property-Progress-and-Power-by-Kathleen-A.-Ward.pdf
2: https://transportationhistory.org/2020/11/09/national-native-american-heritage-month-red-fox-james-advocate-for-native-american-rights/
3: http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/research-collections/ethnography/collections/research-and-collections-arthur-c-parker
4: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/dawes-act.htm
5: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/how-native-american-women-inspired-the-women-s-rights-movement.htm#:~:text=Indigenous%20women%20of%20numerous%20Native,free%20from%20gender%2Dbased%20violence
6: https://www.joinnativesrising.com/danielle-forward/
7: https://technologycouncil.ca/denise-williams/
8: https://www.history.com/news/native-american-foods-crops
9: https://crosscut.com/environment/2022/04/how-tribes-are-harnessing-renewable-resources-energy-and-jobs
10: https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/indigenous-peoples-day-native-americans-action/

Why We Should All Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

There are 35 countries in the Americas — 33 of them Latin American (and a US jurisdiction, Puerto Rico, that’s also part of the Latinx community). Therefore, it’s hardly surprising that the United States is enriched with a wide array of these cultures: Cuban, Peruvian, and Mexican, just to name a few. While accents, traditions, and contributions span many varieties, it’s undeniable that they’re all an integral part of what makes the United States the melting pot that it is. 

While it’s commonplace for all of these cultures to be grouped into one single label (Hispanic), it’s impossible to capture all of the variations with that one word. Some were born here. Others emigrated. The common denominators include the Spanish language, Spanglish, and/or a fierce sense of identity. 

As part of Hispanic heritage month, we pay homage to this mosaic by showcasing how it enriches all of us. 

Origins of Hispanic heritage month

Hispanic heritage month — celebrated from mid-September through mid-October — has been commemorated in the United States since 1968 under President Lyndon B. Johnson. It starts mid-month because it coincides with the independence days of several Latin American countries. 

But before it was recognized nationally, it was first introduced as a bill for Hispanic Heritage Week by California legislators Edward Roybal and Henry Gonzáles, after decades of Latinx activists demanding fair access to education and government services. 

Why celebrate Hispanic heritage month? 

There are many reasons to celebrate Hispanic heritage. From a superficial level, who’ll say no to great food, drinks, and music? And from a deeper perspective, it reminds us all of the impact of the Hispanic population in the United States: 

And let’s not forget the things that add so much to our daily lives:

Technology

If you love your Google Assistant, you’ll want to know about Venezuelan Senior Director of Product Management at Google, Lilian Rincón. Although she didn’t know any English while in elementary school when she first moved to the US, she did excel at math, which led her to her career in computer science. And you can be grateful for safe drinking water thanks to Guatemalan scientist África Flores. As regional coordinator of NASA’s SERVIR program, she helped ensure satellite data to assess the health of water quality. 

Healthcare

Antonia Novello grew up with a congenital digestive condition, for which she could not receive adequate treatment, because her family couldn’t afford it. She was able to get surgery at age 18, then decided to become a doctor to ensure that other children, women, and minorities had access to quality care — a cause she championed when she became the first Hispanic U.S Surgeon General. By the same token, Puerto Rican physician Helen Rodríguez Trías was instrumental in abolishing forced sterilization of women on the island. And Panamanian nurse Ildaura Murillo-Rohde founded the National Association of Hispanic Nurses to promote quality care for Latinx communities, as well as help Latinas obtain educational grants.

Inventions

One of the most practical modern devices is the e-reader. They fit everywhere, and make it possible to carry an entire library wherever you go. And the person who invented its first iteration was Spanish teacher Ángela Ruiz Robles, who was seeking to make life easier for her students as they walked from class to class. Like the freedom that birth control pills bring to your life? Be grateful that chemist Luis Miramontes made the first molecule that became one of the first active ingredients in oral contraceptives. 

All of these contributions are just the tip of the iceberg – yet they showcase how we all benefit from Hispanic contributions to our country. 
To celebrate, consider reading books or listening to podcasts about Latinx insights, history, experiences, and pop culture. And if you liked this blog, check out our resource library for more information on how we celebrate diversity across all mediums.

WIR TV October 2022: Confidence

According to Forbes, women were rated as more effective than their male colleagues in critical areas such as taking the initiative, driving for results, bold leadership and building relationships.

However, in self-ratings, women are harder on themselves, suggesting their confidence lags behind their actual performance. Confidence comes from being secure in your own experiences and knowledge. Empathy is about the ability to understand and relate to others.

Check out or WIR TV episode on “Showing Up With Confidence and Leading With Empathy” where we speak to Latané Conant, author and CMO of 6sense and Sha-Kim Wilson, Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships at Catchafire on why and how women must develop and deliver certain soft skills as leaders. This conversation dives into:

  • Cultivating your inner champion to demonstrate your confidence and get rid of imposter syndrome
  • Tackling difficult conversations
  • Letting go of the need to be perfect
  • Lean into values like empathy
  • Embrace the art of self-promotion

Sign-up for our newsletter