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Leadership & Management Skills

Illustrated image of a woman climbing the corporate ladder.

Advice to New Managers

Aug 30, 2023

It is exciting to get promoted to a leadership role with management responsibilities! However, most new managers are not trained or groomed for that role, some figure things out with many bumps and bruises (to the ego) along the way, while others never quite get the hang of it to become good, strong managers. Here are 7 tips for new managers!

Illustrated image of a man high on the ladder holding his bag of money, with a woman of color standing at the bottom, where there is a broken rung.

Tactics to Fix the Broken Rung

Jun 08, 2023

There are a whole host of reasons for the leadership gender gap. However, it begins with the first opportunity to move into a leadership position, “For every 100 men who are promoted from entry level to manager, only 87 women are promoted, and only 82 women of color are promoted.” This has become known as the “broken rung,” referring to that corporate ladder. This puts women behind from the very start, which then makes it really challenging to move ahead into more senior leadership positions.

Graphic in Black and White with green and red accents spelling out Black History Month

Black History Month: Celebrating Young Leaders

Feb 28, 2023

As we wind down Black History Month, I wanted to celebrate some incredible up and coming young Black leaders. We often focus on historical leaders, which mightily deserve our attention and recognition for their innovation, sacrifice, leadership, scientific contributions, pioneering endeavors, strength, and advocacy. We asked our graduate students to help us celebrate Black History Month by writing names of Black authors, leaders, politicians, inventors, heroes, athletes, etc. on our board. No surprise names such as Barak Obama, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, and Jackie Robinson appeared. There are also some lesser known (but noteworthy) names such as Terrance Hobbs (guitarist), Charlie Mitchell (NYC’s first Black Michelin Young Chef), and Esteban Hotesse (WWII hero). Some of these people are historical figures who are no longer with us, others are older, well-established folks who continue to have influence. I wanted to celebrate younger newer Black voices, leaders, innovators, and advocates – they are the future

Illustrated image of computer screens showing a person in multiple meetings

The Impact of Too Many Meetings

Feb 21, 2023

There have been many articles published on employee burnout and Zoom fatigue, but one important element folks don’t seem to be discussing is the lack of time available to get things done because there are just too many meetings. This has really sparked my interest. As I look at my own calendar with very few openings during the day, and as colleagues talk about not being able to get work done other than in the evening or over the weekend, it is clear - we need to do something about the excessive number of meetings. The statistics are a bit staggering: 83% of employees spend as much as a third of their week in meetings, 47% report these meetings are a waste of time, and 45% feel overwhelmed by the number of meetings they are asked to attend.

A grid composed of 9 squares with nothing in them.

The Skills Matrix

Oct 03, 2022

When you get ready to apply for a new position, typically it begins with reviewing your resume or CV to ensure it is up-to-date. But to be truly ready for a job hunt that involves taking the next step up the ladder, you should begin at least a year in advance. Why? No one has every skill or required experience listed in a job description – nor should they. And as a reminder, women typically only apply for jobs where they have 100% or darn close to 100% of the requirements while men will apply holding far less. You should consider a position for which you have between 60% and 70% of the requirements, which may mean you have to build upon your skills and experience to be ready to apply for that next great position.

Rainbow colored words stating "Make Things Happen" with a set of cogs behind the words and a silhouette of a person as if they are talking.

Bored at work? Then take initiative

Sep 07, 2022

While many employees are feeling a bit overwhelmed managing their position and responsibilities of other positions that have not been filled for either budget reasons or the inability to hire a qualified candidate, that is not the case for some. Over the past few months, I have heard more and more folks, especially those new to the workforce, comment about being bored or not having enough work to do. If you do not have enough work to fill your time, you have an amazing opportunity knocking on your door – don’t waste it.

White background with the word "Burnout" in black bold font with a hole burning through it.

4 ways to beat burnout

Aug 03, 2022

One can’t help but see post after post on LinkedIn about feeling the burn and I’m not talking Bernie Sanders. More and more employees, as well as students, are feeling burned out. And, in all honesty, why wouldn’t we all feel burned out. We have been tugged, pulled, and pushed for 30 months or over 900 days due to COVID. Then add in George Floyd, how could one not feel exhausted after watching the life literally be pushed out of him? And he was not the only one! There were the impeachment hearings, the election, hybrid work, which turned more into 24/7 work, and now there is Monkey Pox and if you get sick, some unspoken expectation has emerged that you just work from home. Finally, the heat - anyone who still denies our planet is heating up due to climate change, must be living 30 feet underground.

Silhouette of scales - equally balanced, one holding a man, the other a woman

Women in the Workplace

Jun 27, 2022

While I typically do no write about “political” issues on this blog, like many women (not all – I acknowledge that fact), the recent SCOTUS decision to overturn Roe Vs. Wade, has left me reeling. Of course, this decision has a major impact on women’s health, but it also has a huge implication for women in the workplace. At stake are the ability choose and build a career, get promoted, be viewed and valued as a leader, etc. In addition, a woman’s right to privacy is also being eroded.

Image of graduate tossing up their caps at dawn with the sun just staring to rise behind them

Congratulations Graduates

Jun 10, 2022

I attended the Drexel graduation ceremonies over the past two days not as a faculty member or an Assistant Dean, but rather as a parent. I carefully listened to the words of encouragement and accomplishment, ones I have often delivered, and those words were wholeheartedly deserved. However, I also listened to graduates, deans, and guest speakers talk about this class, the class of 2022, and the resilience shown as this class entered college and graduate school with all the hopes and dreams of those before them. But life had other plans.

Set of colorful tiles all with a question mark piled up in a fanned-out presentation - as if stacked on top of one another.

Career Growth Questions to Ask Your Manager

May 19, 2022

Planning your career growth involves a strategic approach that pulls together networking, professional development, reflection, skill attainment, and a packaging of everything to present your best self. It also involves support from your current manager or supervisor. A good manager will understand that while they hired you for a specific role, part of their job is to help facilitate your growth into other more senior roles. But they can’t, and shouldn’t, do that in a vacuum. As an employee, you are responsible for your career trajectory and need to play the biggest role in growing your skills and experience, so you can move up. A key way to do this is by asking your manager, in your 1:1 meetings, questions about how to enhance your skills and grow your experience, so you can achieve your goals.

Graphic image of men and women in suits with a positive trajectory and arrow behind them signaling success and job growth

What Kind of manager do you need?

May 10, 2022

I’ve written quite a bit about what it takes to be a good leader, but I have not focused on what kind of manager is right for YOU. Over the years, I have worked with horrible managers – throwing paper clips or worse at folks, mediocre managers who do little to assist you in growing and developing in your career, and a few who have been supportive and encouraging and work to help me achieve my goals. For the latter, I have not taken the time to think about what aspects of their leadership I needed at the time or which elements proved the most helpful.

Image of a woman of Asian descent who is looking at a screen, which is then reflected in her glasses, to demonstrate the idea of reflection.

Questions Leaders Need to Ask Themselves

Mar 14, 2022

With the Great Resignation is still underway, companies are losing talented workers, which not only costs money, but it also has a significant impact on institutional knowledge, organizational growth, sustainability, team morale, etc. We also know employees will be more likely to stay if they feel valued, supported, included, and encouraged, as well as knowing their manager is listening, transparent, and engaged. So, if companies want to retain their talented employees, it is incumbent upon all leaders – at all levels - to look at themselves and evaluate their leadership style and their engagement with their teams.

A compilation of images of young women of diverse ethnicities.

Women to Admire

Mar 07, 2022

The women I am choosing to highlight for International Women's Month might not be whom you would expect. This group of young women, of which there are some 14 million (based on census data and a little math). I see these young women entering the workforce, far more prepared than my generation was. I see these young women focused on the common good, work-life balance, personal values, but don’t think for a moment that they are not driven. These young women are doing amazing things.

Image of silhouetted man and woman in front of a maze having an argument

Strategies for Working With Difficult People

Feb 07, 2022

We’ve all experienced difficult people in our lives at one point or another – the feelings and emotions they can evoke with their condescension, aggression, or disrespect can feel overwhelming. But let’s face it, as much as we may want to, we can’t control their behavior, but we can control our reaction and the direction we take to resolve it.

Image of a computer in a home office with a teddy bear sitting on the laptop.

Happy Mother's Day

May 06, 2021

Mother’s Day is fast approaching and what better opportunity to send some extra love to moms everywhere. Mothers are a true force to be reckoned with. Life does not slow down for anyone once they have a baby, and there are a million things to juggle every minute of the day. Raising children is no easy pursuit but raising children while working seems almost impossible. Moms are no stranger to the impossible, though.

illustrated image of a women sitting at a desk with men giving her more work to accomplish

Advice to women - just say, "no"

Apr 16, 2021

Did you know that women are far more likely to volunteer for tasks that do not lead to a promotion or a raise? According to a small-scale study conducted at the University of Pittsburgh, 696 students participated in an exercise in which they were asked to volunteer. Researchers found that women raised their hands 48% more often than their male counterparts.

Image of a business woman with her head in her hands with many colorful arrows pointing at her.

Where is the grace?

Apr 01, 2021

When the pandemic interrupted our daily lives a little over a year ago, we had no idea how long the interruption would last or the lasting impact it would have. There are a number of silver linings, some of which I have discussed in prior posts, and there are – of course – challenges. But one thing that impressed me was the grace we extended to one another. Where is that grace now?

Image of a black woman in the background with a chart in front of her with silhouetted women depicting a increasing number, i.e. of women succeeding in the workplace.

Advice to women

Mar 23, 2021

This is Women’s History Month – it is definitely a time to celebrate the many achievements women have made, but the reality is that there is still so much more to do. As I have written recently, women have lost ground in the workplace due to COVID, women have made progress in deepening the cracks in the glass ceiling, yet we only hold 6.2% of the CEO positions in Fortune 500 companies. So, instead of writing about our achievements and our progress, I decided to offer advice to women, so we can close these gaps.

Image of a woman, likely Hispanic, in business attire with the word in red across the image saying "She-Cession"

Let's keep talking about women in the workplace!

Mar 05, 2021

On Wednesday (3/3/21), I moderated the Pennoni Honor’s College Panel Discussion entitled, “COVID-19 and the ‘She-Cession’.” It was an excellent discussion - one that needs to continue. So, my goal in writing this week's post is to follow up on my call to action in the panel, which is to for all of us: women, men, trans people, marginalized people, everyone to continue this dialogue. The cat is out of the bag regarding the status of women in the workplace and the changes that need to occur, and we have to ensure the status quo doesn't continue. We do this by pressing the issue forward with all around us – with each other, with colleagues, with friends and family, acquaintances, our local representatives and our national representatives.

Image of Shirley Chisholm - first woman to run for President, standing in front of the US Capitol building

Thank you shirley chisholm

Feb 25, 2021

How many times did we hear during the 2016 Presidential election that Hilary Clinton was the first woman to run for President? And there is no doubt, regardless of one’s political affiliation, Clinton put some serious cracks in that glass ceiling, but she was not the first. That honor goes to Shirley Chisholm.

Compilation of 6 headshots of Black entrepreneurs, some old and some current.

Highlighting 6 Black Entrepreneurs - Among Many

Feb 15, 2021

Each of these entrepreneurs shows us that life interrupts and life is not fair, but they also show us that grit, resolve, agility, and creativity is crucial to an entrepreneurial spirit. Some of the older entrepreneurs shared in this post, may not have been celebrated in my history books, but I have no doubt the newer ones will become, if they have not already, household names associated with innovation, tenacity and the epitome of an entrepreneurial spirit. They are true models of inspiration, showing us what it takes to succeed.

Image of 4 Black women featured in the blog post.

Celebrating Black Women Trailblazers

Feb 03, 2021

I have decided, since it is Black History Month, I will be dedicating this month’s blog posts solely to the contributions and achievements of Black people. And this week, I begin by celebrating Black women trailblazers!

Image of a broken window - or glass ceiling with many cracks feathering outward.

The Glass Ceiling is Cracking

Jan 28, 2021

With the inauguration of Kamela Harris as the first woman Vice President last week and the confirmation of Janet Yellen as first woman to serve as the Treasury Secretary, that proverbial glass ceiling has more than cracked. It hasn’t shattered – yet – but as women, we are making great strides to take it down. With each woman taking aim at that glass ceiling, they pave the way for more women to follow.

Image of a computer in a home office with a teddy bear sitting on the laptop.

The impact of COVID on women in the workplace

Dec 09, 2020

As a nation and as women, we cannot allow the pandemic to strip away the gains that have been made over the past twenty-five or more years. We have to fight for one another. We have to support one another. And we have to advocate for one another. Otherwise the losses incurred will have a long-lasting effect on us and on our daughters. There is no time better than today, right now, to reach out and support one of your fellow women colleagues.

standard sign-shaped people standing in a pyramid formation with the first one blue and the ones behind in varying shades of gray.

Want to be a good boss?

Dec 03, 2020

I have written about good leadership in the past. Over the years, I have had a couple good managers, a number of mediocre ones, and a few terrible ones. When I think about each of these boss buckets, there are common themes and elements. While there is much to be learned, from a leadership perspective, from the horrible bosses, today I want to focus on the good ones, the great ones. There are five key consistent attributes that each of these good managers employed.

I miss my colleagues

Oct 29, 2020

A few days ago, while listening to the news, one of the newscasters asked, “What do you miss most about the office?” In that moment, as if in a Harry Potter book, I apparated back to my Drexel office, but like the last time I was physically there, the office was empty. Eerily empty. Depressingly empty. Reminders of the time that has passed since we all congregated in the halls posted on the side of my computer or white board. Then the following day, Alba Berberena – the glue of Goodwin College - emailed us all and asked, “What do you miss most about the office?”

Image of the upper body of a woman in a suit, but her face is not visible. She is holding a sign: Chief Executive Officer

Offering a woman a leadership role is no longer enough

Oct 08, 2020

According to the Wall Street Journal, less than 6% of CEOs are women. Sure, companies can check a box when they hire women in leadership roles, even though those roles are often “more female oriented” such as VP of Human Resources, but its time companies cultivate and foster female advancement. Jane Stevenson, vice chairwoman of the board and CEO at executive-recruitment at Korn Ferry said, “The women who do make it to CEO, they’re almost flukes because there’s not a consistent pipeline being built.”

Image of an empty desk with an Apple computer on it and a few other items, suggesting a home office

Looking toward the new normal

Oct 01, 2020

While you may have stopped talking about the “new normal,” there is no question most of the workforce who was suddenly catapulted into a home working environment, is wondering what work will look like post-pandemic. The answer is likely a hybrid model with employees working from home part of the time and in the office the rest of the time. Currently, employees are feeling burnout, having difficulty maintaining boundaries, and feeling a lack of community. These will all need to be addressed regardless of the number of days we return to the office.

Image of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, wearing her black robe and infamous white collar.

Lessons to be Learned from Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Legacy

Sep 24, 2020

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second woman nominated and conformed to the United States Supreme Court died on Friday evening as the Jewish New Year began. Many found their way to the steps of the Supreme Court to honor the Notorious RBG and her legacy. There are many lessons to be learned from RBG – her resilience, her dedication, her fortitude, and how she approached disagreements. There is one other lesson and that comes from the support and honor bestowed upon this larger than life woman by her colleagues on the Court.

Illustrated image of a business women with other business folks around her.

Stop using the "B" word

Aug 06, 2020

Okay folks, stop using the B-word – not that one, I’m referring to the word – BOSSY. According to the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) in their recent White Paper entitled, Bossy What’s Gender Got to do With It?, they provided some context for the negativity surrounding the word, “bossy.”

Image of a woman's arm coming out of a laptop computer and shaking hands with another.

The Importance of Trust in a Remote Environment

Aug 11, 2020

Trust is crucial in all relationships, but I think sometimes we forget the importance in our working relationships, or we take it for granted. Like any other relationship, elements of trust may be given immediately, but full trust is earned over time. If you do not work to build that trust, you are actively eroding your relationships with your manager or your direct reports. Without trust growth will be hampered, success stalled, and both managers and direct reports will feel unappreciated and undervalued.

Image of two men, one black, one white, talking with one another in an office setting, but in casual clothes

Let's Talk About It: Why It's Good To Talk About Difficult Topics

Jul 01, 2020

Much has happened around us since we rang in 2020, leaving many of us feeling tired, worried, sad, frustrated, disgusted, and hopeful. This myriad of feelings and emotions do not disappear when we open our computers to start our workday. They do not disappear as we respond to emails or sit in Zoom meetings. They do not disappear as we read through reports to discern talking points. These feelings sit with us, hang over us, and dwell within us. We need to talk about them, so let's talk about it.

Image of an empty board room with white walls and chairs around a square table.

Preparing to Return to Work: 6 things to expect

Jun 17, 2020

For those of you who pre-COVID-19 worked in an office and have been working from your dining rooms, comfortable chair in the living room, home office, deck, or the kitchen counter, plans likely are underway to begin the process of returning to work. But what does that really mean? Who will return and when is still up in the air for most of us. And, the reality is, returning to work will look very different. So, what can we expect?

Image of a chestnut-colored puggle named Sadie

5 Tips to help you focus while working from home

May 13, 2020

Most of us have been working from home for at least eight weeks and most of us have adapted well, getting our work done via video conferences, chats, emails, and phone calls. However, one common thread I continually hear, “I’m have a hard time focusing.” It should not be a surprise, we are living in the most uncertain of times, nothing like we have ever experienced.

Image of cartoon-type people all connected by lines, as in by social media

6 Tips for communicating effectively while working remotely

Apr 28, 2020

Communication is one of the single most important elements to ensure workplace productivity, happiness, engagement, and creativity. When communication breaks down, the ultimate result is a loss on return on investment. Millions of dollars are lost every year due to communication problems. Communication can be difficult under the best of circumstances, and now that most of us are working remotely, it is even more critical to ensure our lines of communication are in place. Follow these six tips to help you and your team communicate effectively while working from home.

Image of a doctor's mask and the words "be Prepared" underneath

Coronavirus: Be Prepared From a Work Perspective

Feb 28, 2020

There is no doubt the next couple of months, while the Coronavirus progression is being monitored, will be uncertain. The more you can do to keep your anxiety and your team’s anxiety at bay, the better off you will be in the event this virus spreads quickly and drastic measures are enacted.

Image of a road with tall trees on either side and the light from the sun dappling through the leaves.

5 Ways to Recover from Bullying in the Workplace

Feb 20, 2020

While I am not a psychologist, let’s be clear, dealing with the aftermath of a bully boss is a form of Post-traumatic stress disorder. Gordon points out that targets of bullies experience panic attacks, eating disorders, depression, and even thoughts of suicide, in addition to the lesser symptoms which can include sleeplessness, stomach issues, headaches, and general stress conditions.

Image of a woman with target superimposed over her - she has her hand in her hands with a hand pointing at her in each corner to depict bullying

6 Strategies to Deal with Bullying in the Workplace

Feb 13, 2020

Bullying is hardly a new phenomenon, but did you know that bullying is fairly common in the workplace? According to The Workplace Bullying Institute, 19% of workers are bullied on an annual basis and 61% of those bullies are bosses. Given these statistics, I thought I would be important to examine this topic further.

Image of 4 diverse people forming a circle around the camera, as in huddled - all wearing a light blue t-shirt that says "Volunteer" on the front.

Tis the Season to Volunteer

Nov 21, 2019

Nonprofits need volunteers throughout the year, not just during the four-to-six-weeks during the holidays. I support volunteerism whenever people can fit it into their schedules, but I encourage you to think about in January, March, and July, not just during this time of year. Nonprofits across Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and across this country make a difference for many who would otherwise might not have access to a library book, healthcare, legal advice, clothing, a bed, or food. And these nonprofits need people like you and me to help them achieve their mission.

Image of an array of American Flags sticking in the ground.

3 Ways to Honor Our Veterans

Nov 11, 2019

And I know there is no perfect way and each veteran may wish to be honored differently, and for some it may even mean not being honored. So, as opposed to honoring these women and men the way I think they should be honored, I decided to ask a few Veterans about Veteran's Day and how they would like to be honored.

Image of a group of co-workers reaching across a table with computers in a fist pump, as in being supportive of one another.

The Value of Supporting Your Fellow Colleagues

Nov 07, 2019

I am lucky to work in an environment where we all value supporting one another. In fact, collaboration is the first value on our list of core values for our college. We do it knowingly and unknowingly, in formal meetings, and in the hallway, and we are all the better for it, and as a result, our students are also better for it.

images of 3 heads, 2 black, 1 red with the words conflict management written below

How to handle conflict in the workplace

Oct 30, 2019

It is likely you have encountered conflict at work at some point during your career. It is more likely you recently encountered conflict. In fact, according to CPP, Inc. - a management consulting arm under The Myers-Brigg Company – through their research, reports 85% of employees experience some kind of workplace conflict and 29% experience this conflict on a “constant” basis. They also report this amounts to 2.8 hours every week being lost to conflict or $359 billion in hours paid. In other words, conflict is highly disruptive.

Image of a board meeting with many employees around the table, looking disinterested

3 Reasons to Avoid Meetings

Oct 03, 2019

How many meetings do you attend in a given week? You might be surprised, or not, to learn the average person spends five hours and three minutes per week in meetings and another four hours and 15 minutes preparing for those meetings. This translates to 11 million meetings every day in the United States. Now, some of these meetings are likely useful and productive, but not all of them. In fact, $37 billion is wasted on unnecessary meetings every year. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX said, “Excessive meetings are the blight of big companies and almost always get worse over time.”

Colorful game pieces on a white board with lines drawn in between.

Social Skills are Essential Skills

Sep 25, 2019

Social skills are soft skills, which are also known as essential skills or human skills. They are important and necessary to make you the most effective co-worker, colleague, and leader possible. They are skills that can be learned and mastered, but it starts with you and your commitment to grow and develop over time.

Black print - arrow hitting a barrier, moves around to hit another, and then goes in a different direction - meant to depict how one adapts to challenges, change, etc.

4 Ways to Boost Your Adaptability Skills

Sep 18, 2019

Charles Darwin’s words still very much ring true, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, it is the one that is most adaptable to change.” Adaptability is one of the top “human skills” otherwise known as soft or essential skills employers are seeking. Historically, little emphasis has been placed on these skills, but employers have realized that hard skills on their own are not enough. Employees need to be able to communicate, negotiate, interact with fellow colleagues, think critically and creatively, and they need to be able to adapt.

Image of a woman with dark hair in a suite holding a pair of eye glasses with the white board to her right that states: "Be a leader, not a boss."

6 Ways to Become a Leader

Sep 12, 2019

Leadership roles are generally earned, which sometimes leaves young career professionals wondering how they can build leadership experience to earn such a role. It’s that old adage – if I’m required to have leadership experience for a leadership role, and I can’t get a leadership role without leadership experience, how do I get leadership experience? Well, there are six ways you can demonstrate leadership to earn a leadership role.

Image of the Fellows wearing Drexel t-shirts in front of Mario the Dragon

Personal Reflections on the Mandela Washington Fellowship

Aug 21, 2019

Learn about the impact the Fellows had on the Drexel community and what they're up to today!

Image of a woman and a man (arms and hands only showing) shaking hands.

The Power of Connection: 3 Ways to Build Relations

Aug 15, 2019

I don’t know anyone who has been able to succeed in their career without making and developing strong connections and relationships. Sure, we all know someone who has been promoted, maybe more than once, despite being terrible at relationship building. However, in the end, those folks usually don’t rise to the top, they don’t build a coalition of folks under and around them, they often reside on their personal island. It is the process of building connections and forging relationships that helps us succeed and grow in our careers.

Cartoon of a man with no face in a suit jacket and red tie juggling 6 colored balls.

Too Many Balls in the Air?

Jun 27, 2019

A leadership exercise I facilitated with the Mandela Washington Fellows teaches us to think about the number of balls we are continually juggling.

sign that says welcome to drexel

Welcoming the 2019 Mandela Washington Fellows to Drexel University

Jun 19, 2019

Learn about the Mandela Washington Fellowship and how much we can discover together.

Navy blue mortar board with a gold tassel

The Drexel Legacy: A Message for Our Graduates

Jun 13, 2019

To each of you – this is the beginning of so much more. Capitalize on what you have learned. Use it to leverage your future, but also use it to empower others. A diploma from Drexel University should also be about using your skills and knowledge to benefit others.

A blue silhouette of a world map with 7 women in black silhouette standing across the map

5 Ways Women Can Empower Other Women in the Workplace

May 23, 2019

In the age of the continued gender gap, wage gap, the Time's UP movement, it is imperative that, as women, we actively work to empower one another. Here's how.

single pink flower

How to succeed as a team of one

May 02, 2019

Are you the only person in your whole department? Learn tips and tricks on how to be a successful team of one.

silhouette of a leader facing their team. The team members are clapping and raising their arms in agreement.

The Secret to Building a Cohesive Team

Apr 10, 2019

Whether on the basketball court or in an office, building a team is not done haphazardly. It is a thoughtful and methodical process. One that has long-lasting consequences. The old proverb, “you are only as strong as your weakest link” is especially true when it comes to building a team. At Goodwin, I am part of a dynamic, engaging, and productive team, where I feel supported and valued, so I thought I would ask Assistant Dean, Tim Gilrain, who is responsible for building this team, to share his secrets.

A heart with the primary colored puzzle pieces signifying autism

4 Tips for Helping Employees with Autism Succeed

Apr 03, 2019

Employers are being faced with the increasing prevalence of a new conundrum: how to approach and assist employees who may (or may not) have autism. Guest blogger, Amy D. Edwards, EdD provides 4 Tips for helping employees with autism succeed in the workplace.

Image of a man in a suit holding a card. On the card in red bold font is written the word, "Accountability"

3 Ways to Create a Culture of Accountability

Mar 13, 2019

Level, status, seniority, etc. do not matter. Accountability should be woven through the fabric of every position, in every department. It cannot happen in a bubble, it must start at the top, it must be fostered and cultivated, and it must never be punitive.

Grey background with the decorative wheel to the left and the words: Mentoring Part II: 5 Benefits of Mentoring on the right in a peach colored font.

Mentoring Part II: 5 Benefits to Mentoring

Mar 06, 2019

I might go as far as to argue that if you are not gaining something in return, then you aren’t putting enough effort into the mentor/mentee relationship. Sure, the bulk of the benefits should be for the mentee. However, I have had those mentor/mentee relationships where I feel I have been the one gaining the most benefits. That would extend to my mentoring of the Mandela Washington Fellows. Of course, part of that results from the cultural exchange.

clear white board with the word in bold red, "Mentoring" and a hand on the left side that has presumably written the word with a marker.

Mentoring: Part I

Feb 27, 2019

Mentoring at its core is a symbiotic relationship. It is one where both people, the mentor and the mentee gain something of inherent value. In this two-part series, I will unpack the value of mentoring from each angle – that of the mentor and of the mentee. Let’s begin by looking at the value for the mentee.

Navy blue background with the words "I'm sorry" in the middle

The Importance of Saying I Am Sorry

Feb 13, 2019

Brené Brown, in her book Dare to Lead, argues, “While some leaders consider apologizing to be a sign of weakness, we teach it as a skill and frame the willingness to apologize and make amends as brave leadership.” She also talks a lot in this book about vulnerability and there is no doubt that stepping up, in front of a colleague you just insulted or yelled at, immediately makes you vulnerable, but it also is a bridge to honesty and accountability. And without those two elements, there can never be trust.

Image of a blue sky with a heart-shaped puffy cloud in the center.

5 Traits Needed to Lead with your Heart

Jan 10, 2019

I recently came across a quote from Dame Minouche Shafik, the Director of the London School of Economics. She said, “In the past, jobs were about muscles, now they’re about brains, but in the future, they’ll be about the heart.” This really resonated with me, likely because I talk a lot about the necessity for empathy and compassion in the workplace and both come from the heart.

Line drawing in a light blue color of three women standing in front of a city skyline

Celebrating the 100 Most Powerful Women

Dec 06, 2018

If you are a young woman, just starting your career, or one in mid-career, only you can define what success means to you. For some of you, that may be owning your own business, for others of you it means service, and for some still it is a path to the C-Suite. Regardless of your trajectory, we should applaud their hard work and dedication and look to their journey for inspiration.

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Why Brainstorming is Important & How to Do It

Nov 16, 2018

Personally, I love brainstorming whether it is one-on-one or in a group. There is an energy that flows between the participants and as that energy builds, more ideas begin to flow. Essentially, it is a highly collaborative experience intended to bring a wide range of ideas to the table, some of which will fall to the wayside, while others will get pulled and shaped into something concrete, but what I find most exciting is when a new idea emerges, something no one entered the room with, and through the meeting it grows and develops.

Image of millennial workers sitting around a desk collaborating.

2 Ways Companies Must Support the Millennial Generation

Oct 12, 2018

According to the Bureau of Labor statistics, millennials (aged 22-37) make up 35% of the workforce. Another 5% is made up of the post-millennials (aged 16-21). This 40% of the workforce faces incredible challenges such as carrying high student loan debt and earning low salaries, both of which will make it more and more difficult for them to establish themselves, feel comfortable financially, let alone save for retirement.

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The Benefits of Nature

Oct 03, 2018

Take a few moments every day to notice the natural world around you. Maybe it’s a sunrise, a lone dove meandering along, or the dew dripping off a blade of grass. These moments not only pull you out of your frenzied world, they have health benefits.

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What Are Your Core Values?

Sep 06, 2018

Have you ever thought about your personal core values? If companies create core values to guide decisions and actions, then shouldn’t you have personal core values to do the same?

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Lessons From John McCain's Legacy

Aug 28, 2018

John McCain passed away on Saturday, August 25th from an aggressive brain tumor, it felt sudden given the families announcement that he had decided to stop treatment came just the day before. It also felt sudden because he was an incredible American hero. This is not about being a Republican or a Democrat, a conservative or a liberal, this is about honoring a man who has an incredible legacy of serving this country. Whether in the military, politics, or simply a lay person, there are lessons we all should learn from John McCain.

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3 Ways You Can Foster Inclusion in the Workplace

Aug 02, 2018

Learn more about ways you can foster inclusion in the workplace through my interview with Jesse Krohn, the Associate Director, Education & Prevention in Drexel's Office of Equality and Diversity.

Image of three women at a meeting.

The 3 Benefits of Using Ice Breakers

Jul 24, 2018

Next time you have a team meeting, suggest using an ice breaker. When this short 10-minute activity is effectively utilized, by choosing the right type and following some basic rules, it can pave the path toward a more functional team by fostering interaction, a sense of community, and empathy.

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6 Barriers to Effective Communication

Jul 18, 2018

Since we communicate with people throughout each and every day, one would assume we'd be fairly good it. I don't believe it is any surprise that we're not. But why? Well, there are six barriers that impede our ability to communicate effectively.

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Transparency

Jun 26, 2018

Wells Fargo is in the news again for taking advantage of their clients. In full disclosure, I bank with Wells Fargo, but that does not stop me from questioning their actions. Over the past couple of years, Wells Fargo has made the headlines with a series of scandals for the treatment of their employees and their clients. As I read about the latest scandal, I can’t help but think about transparency and Wells Fargo’s lack of it.

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The Handshake

May 23, 2018

After talking with my freshmen about the handshake, I started thinking more about this little ritual and had to ask myself the question - are they really all that necessary?

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So Your Boss is Leaving

May 02, 2018

Change always opens the door to the unknown, especially when it involves leadership. I’ve written before about a colleague leaving, but what happens when it’s your boss? In some instances, it could be a good thing, but for those of you who have a collaborative and supportive relationship, your boss’s departure can be anxiety provoking.

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Millennial Impact on Corporate Philanthropy

Apr 26, 2018

Corporate philanthropy, the practice of corporations donating money to charitable causes, is technically on the decline. While the total dollar amount has increased some 115% over the past 30 years, as a percentage of pre-tax profits, corporate philanthropy numbers are dismal. According to Ken Stern in his article entitled, “Why Don’t Corporations Give to Charities,” published by MoneyBox, corporate giving has dropped over the past 30 years. In 1986 corporations gave 2.1% of their pretax profits, and as of 2012 that number had dropped to 0.8%.

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Nonprofits at a Glance

Jan 31, 2018

Charitable organizations are not just opportunities to find purpose in one’s career or to provide much needed services to those in need. These nonprofit organizations and the monies they raise and spend have a significant impact on our country’s overall GDP. According to Bureau of Economic Statistics, as a means of comparison, the wholesale trade accounts for 5.9% and the retail trade 5.7% of the GDP. The Charitable Sector reports 10% of the American workforce is employed by nonprofit institutions.

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Accountability

Jan 17, 2018

Another lesson we were taught in Kindergarten that seems to disappear once we reach adulthood is admitting to our mistakes. I could go on and on about the reasons why accountability has been replaced with denials and finger pointing, but the reasons really don’t matter. The truth is, we, as adults and business people, need to be accountable for our actions – both good and bad.

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Social Capital

Nov 15, 2017

Why is social capital important? Well, within our organizations (small and large), we can’t operate in a vacuum; we need to rely on others to accomplish tasks, projects, etc. You may need to ask for an introduction, expertise, a favor, or you may need an advocate.

Image of a hammer hitting a nail with the bubble comment: "I'm the Boss! That's why!"

Lead by example

Oct 26, 2017

Remember the old saying, “Do as I say, not as I do?” Well, those are not words to live by. If we want those who work for us and with us to be kind, empathetic, hard-working, etc., then we had better be kind, empathetic, and hard-working. Never did the day exist where one could truly expect those around them to perform in a certain way while they performed in another.

powerful words = empowerment

Powerful Words=Empowerment

Oct 18, 2017

At the recent Pennsylvania Conference for Women, I heard powerful words of encouragement from the keynote speaker.

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Sexual Harassment

Oct 12, 2017

As a woman, I would like to think we were making progress, and in some cases we are, but according to a YouGov poll that survey 4,900 people, 25% of respondents reported witnessing sexual harassment at work, and 30% of respondents (80% of whom were women), reported experiencing sexual harassment. And it gets worse, “60 percent of women in tech report receiving unwanted sexual advances,” according to a February 2017 TechCrunch article, it is difficult to argue progress is being made.

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Benefits of team building

Sep 20, 2017

Team building experiences are not just fun, they provide an opportunity for co-workers to interact with one another in very different ways, see one another through a different lens. We begin to see one another as a fellow human being versus a “co-worker,” someone who has feelings, hopes, and dreams, etc. When we return to the office, we then interact with that person a little bit differently. While we have this shared experience to talk about, laugh about, and reminisce about together, we also are more likely to be supportive, give the benefit of the doubt, or even lend a hand.

Movie cover from Horrible Bosses

Horrible bosses

Sep 14, 2017

Over the years, I have had a few good bosses, some bad ones, and even more mediocre ones. The good ones have been supportive of me and my career goals, they have encouraged me to think differently, they have pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and take on tasks and assignments I considered out of my wheel house. The mediocre bosses weren’t unsupportive, but the focus was more about simply getting the job done – punch the ticket and move on. For the most part, the bad ones were either not interested in my career goals or they didn’t support them because they thought they knew what was best for me.

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The art of reflection

Sep 06, 2017

Reflection is a powerful tool in our EQ (Emotional Intelligence) toolbox. It is a skill that requires you to step outside of yourself to honestly examine your actions, thoughts, and goals. In other words, thinking critically about yourself by asking the tough questions.

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Potential Effects of the Solar Eclipse

Aug 23, 2017

Did you purchase the special solar goggles or make a home-made viewer to watch the solar eclipse in action on Monday? If so, you are not alone. Many people did just that, and then they stepped away from their desks, phones, and computers to withness the rare event. But at what cost?

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Business Ethics

Aug 16, 2017

Leaders should model and encourage ethical decision-making, and reward those who make ethical decisions. More importantly, those leaders who do not make ethical decisions and promote ethical decision-making, should not lead. They do their employees and their clients a disservice.

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How To Improve Your Time Management Skills

Aug 09, 2017

Time management is a "soft skill" — a skill highly valued by employers and necessary in virtually all aspects of our professional and personal lives. So, I spent some time thinking about my own time management skills, and here is what I consider a sensible list of recommendations to enhance your time management skills.

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Embracing Millennials

Jul 19, 2017

How often have you heard – the Millennial generation is lazy, they don’t respect power structures, or they need constant reinforcement, in other words they are the generation that expects a trophy just for showing up?

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Education Benefits

Jul 05, 2017

Does your company offer education benefits? Tuition reimbursement? According to a survey conducted by the International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans, as cited in Fortune Magazine, 83% of companies offer some type of educational reimbursement benefit.

Veteran carrying an American Flag

Happy memorial day

May 24, 2017

For many across this country, this weekend signals the start of summer. There will be pool parties, cookouts, and trips to the beach to welcome the warmer weather and the lazier days that will follow. And while I enjoy all of those things, I wanted to take a moment to reflect upon the holiday and what it represents.

Computer keyboard with a clear fingerprint on the return key.

Juggling Security Concerns and Employee Privacy

May 16, 2017

There are a more than a dozen companies that offer various employee security and monitoring software. While they may differ slightly, they all monitor emails (content and destination), file usage and access, inactivity, social media usage, websites visited, and even keystrokes. The intention is to ensure employees are productive and efficient with their time. According to CNBC, the amount of time employees across the world “wasted” on Facebook totaled $3.5 trillion (in US dollars).

Influencing Others

Influence, Part II

Apr 12, 2017

Spotting influence around us means that we need to be open about what and who influences us. Think about the times you yielded to the group and the times you separated yourself; this will give you an idea about what influences you and how.

Influencing Others — New Car

Influence, Part I

Apr 05, 2017

Last week, I attended the 2017 Philly Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) Symposium, themed "Ignite Your Influence." It was a great day, full of information and networking, but it was the keynote speaker, Jonah Berger, a Wharton professor and best-selling author, whose message resonated most for me.

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Power Systems

Mar 22, 2017

Recently I participated in a power system exercise. It was based on the research of Barry Oshry. Essentially, within any type of organization (this also applies to our personal organizational structures such as families and friend groups), people fall into certain roles: tops make the decisions and shape the vision, middles work to execute the vision of the tops, as well as prioritize the needs of both tops the bottoms, and bottoms are the ones completing the work. It is important to note, that we tend to float between the levels based on situations, areas of expertise, etc. For example, a CEO is considered a top in most instances, but in the board room, the CEO becomes a middle or even a bottom.

ethics word cloud

Ethics

Mar 15, 2017

Is a company’s main responsibility to make as much money as possible for its shareholders/owners or to make as much money as possible—under certain standards?

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Empathy

Mar 08, 2017

How many times have you heard, “Put yourself in someone else’s shoes…?” The ability to understand how another person's beliefs, feelings, and experiences makes them feel is known as EMPATHY. Well, empathy is essential to good leadership. At the end of this post, take the empathy quiz.

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Historical perspective

Mar 01, 2017

If history is not your thing, I am not suggesting that you must develop a passion for the subject, but to be a great decision maker, you have to understand how we got to where we are before you can take a step forward to determine where we are headed.

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Practice Civility

Feb 08, 2017

In Christine Porath’s article, The Hidden Toll of Workplace Incivility, published by McKinsey&Company in December of 2016, she details the rising trend of incivility in the workplace.

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Focusing on the Elderly Consumer Segment

Nov 30, 2016

Given Black Friday was just a few days ago and we are now full swing into the holiday shopping season, I thought I would share my thoughts on a recent McKinsey&Company article/podcast entitled, Getting to know urban elderly consumers. It should be no surprise the over-55 set is growing – they are, after all, the baby boomers. But what this article points out is that this consumer group is not well-understood, nor is it generally targeted.

Image of a Black Friday neon arrow sign with crowds of shoppers behind it.

Black Friday

Nov 22, 2016

The term Black Friday has nothing to do with the day retail stores move into the black, meaning they start earning profits. The term actually originated right here in Philadelphia!

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Veterans Are Invaluable Assets

Nov 09, 2016

Finding a job as a vet can be difficult. According to Military.com, employers often do not view veterans’ skills as transferrable, they prejudice veterans based on stereotypes, they worry that veteran employees can be deployed again in the future, or they believe veterans won’t acclimate well, especially in corporate America.

Image of the Boston, Federal Street old Bank of Boston Building (now Bank of America)

Communication is Key to a Corporate Reorg

Nov 02, 2016

A corporate reorganization often instills fear, anxiety, and paranoia in people, which then results in miscommunication, distraction, and even depression. In the October 2016 edition of the McKinsey Quarterly, Rose Beauchamp, and the authors of ReOrg: How to Get It Right (Harvard Business Review Press, November 2016), Stephen Heidari-Robinson and Suzanne Heywood take a look at how communication plays a significant role in effectively and compassionately managing a corporate reorganization.

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National Business Women's Week

Oct 12, 2016

Next week is National Business Women’s Week (October 17-21). There are so many incredible women who paved the way for my generation and the generations to come. Over the course of the next week, please follow us on Facebook and Twitter to pay homage to some of these inspiring women.

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Women in the Workplace

Sep 28, 2016

I came across McKinsey’s annual Women in the Workplace Report for 2016. The study was conducted by LeanIn.org and McKinsey. It looked at more than 34,000 men and women at over 130 companies. While the results are not necessarily a surprise, it tells us there is much more work to be done.

BLOCK letters M A R with the words Management Through Appreciation and Recognition written below.

Management Through Appreciation and Recognition

Aug 24, 2016

When leaders manage those under them only through expectations and demands, discussing performance on an annual basis, workers at all levels are left feeling undervalued. This leads to dissatisfaction and resentment, which ultimately prevents the person from effectively doing his/her job. And it doesn’t stop there – resentment and negativity can breed like rabbits.

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Poor Communication Has a Huge Financial Impact

Aug 17, 2016

Confusing emails, poor directions, incomplete responses - have you ever thought about the actual cost of poor communication?

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Moving From Me to We

Jul 21, 2016

I was having a conversation with a colleague the other day about organizational collaboration and how people often get caught up in their own positions, their own collective group of employees, their own departments, etc.

Dreucker's Five Most Important Questions - Book Review

Drucker’s Five Most Important Questions – Book Review

Jul 15, 2016

Not too long ago, I picked up Five Most Important Questions: Enduring Wisdom for Today ’s Leaders by Peter F. Drucker, Frances Hesselbein, and Joan Snyder Kuhl, published by John Wiley & Sons in 2015.

Interview with Milt Silver

Interview with Milt Silver

Jul 11, 2016

Today, I had the pleasure of interviewing Professor Emeritus, Milton “Milt” Silver. I usually see Milt in the afternoon as he walks by my office to refill his coffee mug.