ARA Mentors

What a night! We were floored by the speakers’ insights, the attendees who joined us, and the community that was in the room at the recent ARA Mentors and Echo Global Logistics Fall Event. We also felt inspired and empowered by what was shared and wanted to impart some of the richness of the conversations we had during the night with our LinkedIn audience. Below, you’ll find the talking points that stood out most to us, as well as photos capturing the uplifting vibe from everyone's gathering to discuss how we can propel women in tech forward. The key points we’re still thinking about include: ??? Leadership empathy and accountability go a long way toward promoting a more inclusive workplace. Leaders should ensure that teams are well-represented and feel accepted throughout their organization. Additionally, organizations can make new hires and entry-level employees feel more welcome by purposefully establishing a diverse hiring team. ??? Women in leadership or DEI roles should support each other and the next generation of leaders that come after them. And get involved! Whether in your community or taking action against systems you disagree with, be the change you want to see and take the initiative to help yourself and your team fix a problem.? ??? Diversity and inclusion can have a huge impact on the workplace, and it’s important to continue highlighting that companies that make DEI a priority are more successful. ??? Imposter syndrome is real and shows up for everyone. You can be ready for it by turning to your network—peers, family, or mentor sponsors—to help combat those feelings. ??? It’s important to speak up for yourself, learn to be your advocate, and address women who minimize themselves in a room. ??? Recognizing unconscious bias is something we all must continually work on through self-education and open discussion. ??? Don’t forget about the power of mentorship—especially for entry-level talent. Mentor, give back, and inspire others, including underrepresented women and men who want to get involved in tech but just need to know how to get started. A special thank you to our moderator, the panelists, and the attendees who made the event a success! Is there anything we missed? We’d love to hear your thoughts if you attended. ?? #WomenLeaders #Leadership

The impact of company culture on a woman’s career trajectory is SIGNIFICANT! When organizations effectively empower women in tech, you see them rise. But this appears to be more of the exception rather than the norm. We aim to change that with an in-depth discussion and Q&A this Thursday evening at the ARA Mentors and Echo Global Logistics’ Fall Event.? Together, we’re hosting an amazing lineup of guest panelists — from tech executives and HR professionals to diversity and inclusion advocates — ready to tackle a topic many women in tech are all too familiar with: the need for an inclusive culture that champions women's career advancement. These experts will focus on: ?? The current state of gender diversity in tech and leadership roles. ?? Strategies for creating an inclusive environment that promotes retention and advancement. ?? Success stories and lessons learned from organizations that have effectively empowered women in tech. ?? The role of leadership in driving cultural change. “Empowering Every Voice: Building Inclusive Cultures that Propel Women in Tech” is the panel discussion you don’t want to miss!? We hope to see you there! Register by visiting https://bit.ly/4fVUda1 #WomenInTech #Inclusion #Tech #Technology #IT #ITCareers #WomenLeaders

The number of women in tech leadership roles isn’t good enough. How can we work to make things better? By holding space for conversations, dialogue, and action. And that’s just what we’re going to do with Echo Global Logistics next week! We’ll be hosting our Fall Event and giving space for a panel of experts and attendees to discuss what it means to support women’s advancement in the tech industry. Please join us for an evening at Echo’s headquarters in Chicago focused on, Empowering Every Voice: Building Inclusive Cultures that Propel Women in Tech, and featuring these incredible experts: ? Sally Anderson, Director, People Consultant Lead, Americas All Biz at Google ? Jasmine Kent, Head of DEI at Enova International ? Edwige A. Robinson, Trailblazing Senior Executive in Strategy & Innovation | Esteemed Member of the Forbes Technology Council | Author, ?"Believe It’s Possible" ? Sree Talluri, Senior Director of Engineering, Product, Platform, and Quality Engineering at Zoro.com ? Moderated by Tiara W., Vice President of Alumni Impact at Surge Institute, Strategic Advisor to Chicago Tech Academy High School, and Founder of Young Women's Leadership Society Find out just how impactful workplace culture is for the retention and growth of women’s leadership roles, what's next, and how to take action now to have more balanced representation in the C-suite.? To register, click here: https://bit.ly/4fVUda1 #Tech #IT #ITCareers #WomenInTech #DEI #Inclusion #WomenLeaders #Leadership

??? SAVE THE DATE!? ?? WHO: ARA Mentors & Echo Global Logistics WHAT: Our Fall Event – Empowering Every Voice: Building Inclusive Cultures that Propel Women in Tech WHEN: Thursday, September 19th, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. CST WHERE: Echo Global Logistics (900 North Kingsbury Street, Chicago, IL 60654) WHY: Examining the role of workplace culture for keeping women in tech and how to advance them into leadership positions. Join us for an evening focused on the cultural barriers holding women back, what we can learn from others’ success stories, and the key strategies for fostering an inclusive culture that supports women’s growth in tech. To register: https://bit.ly/4fVUda1 #CompanyCulture #Retention #Logistics #Technology #ITCareers #Culture #Inclusion

? Tick-tock… don’t wait to get your ChiWitCon 2024 ticket! Early bird ticket pricing ends this Friday, August 30th. We’re excitedly counting down the days until October 3, when we’ll join so many others for a day of inspiring speakers and discussion focused on this year's theme: Fearlessly Forward. Take part in our celebration of women in the tech industry and find inspiration from their immense resilience, innovation, and courage to keep forging a path forward and building a more inclusive and fearless tech community. To register and take advantage of the early bird pricing, tap on this link: https://bit.ly/3Mkp6Hl #CHIWITCON2024 #WomenLeaders #WomenInTech #Chicago #Inclusion

Chicago Innovation is again looking for the most innovative new products, services, and organizations in the Chicago region to celebrate at the 23rd annual Chicago Innovation Awards! Have someone who comes to mind? Or are we describing you? Nominate them (or yourself) for the 2024 Chicago Innovation Awards!? It’s free and can be submitted via an online form until July 31st: https://bit.ly/2KvjlFt By submitting a nomination, you can: ? Celebrate your team for their hard work and commitment to innovation ? Receive recognition at the Chicago Innovation Awards, attended by 750 people ? Experience a unique opportunity to ring the Nasdaq Bell in NYC to celebrate the winners ? Gain brand exposure by receiving coverage in local and national media ? Grow your tech community by getting invited to year-round Chicago Innovation events We can’t wait to celebrate all the efforts dedicated to building up the innovation community in the Chicago region! #Innovation #Tech #Chicago

We’re in love with the theme for this year’s CHIWITCON 2024: Fearless Forward! ?????? With a focus on celebrating the women who are making a difference in the tech industry, we can’t wait for October when we’ll get the chance to hear their inspiring stories. Do you have a story that fits this year’s theme? Consider being a speaker at CHIWITCON! The Call for Speakers is open until July 31st: https://bit.ly/4cc8pcf. Join us as we celebrate our diverse network of tech professionals in the Chicagoland community, learn from one another, and look to the future of tech, fearlessly. #CHIWITCON #ChicagoWomenInTech #WomenInTech #Tech

The countdown is on! ??? Just 4 days until our event with HAVI, Working in a World of Artificial Intelligence: Understanding the Impact of AI, is here! Will we see you there? Let us know in the comments. ?? #AI #FutureOfWork #ChicagoEvents #Staffing #ThoughtLeadership

? Time is running out to register for our upcoming event, Working in a World of Artificial Intelligence: Understanding the Impact of AI! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to gain valuable insights into understanding AI's evolving impact on every aspect of the work environment. Industry leaders will share their unique perspectives, tips, and more. This event is approaching quickly! Secure your spot now. ?? #AI #FutureOfWork #ChicagoEvents #Staffing #ThoughtLeadership

Join us in celebrating the top innovators in the Chicago region at the 22nd annual Chicago Innovation Awards on November 16th! As a long-standing partner of Chicago Innovation, we are excited for the awards and invite you to join in the fun. ? The event convenes leaders from corporations, startups, government, investors and key stakeholders who drive Chicago's innovation ecosystem forward. RSVP at https://lnkd.in/g7g_8kHG