Edition No 103. #boardroles

Dear Women Who Do,

We're still celebrating our past 100 weeks and this week we are thrilled to feature WIE Suite member, Mita Mallick, Author of Reimagine Inclusion and Head of DEI at Carta on her...

Personal/career win from the last 100 weeks: I'm finally publishing a book! Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths to Transform Your Workplace out October 3 published by Wiley.

And, hope for the next 100: I want more and more leaders stand up to the backlash against diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in our workplaces and in our communities.

We want to highlight you! Please email or Slack Kristina with your wins and hopes: [email protected]. This community has done so much in the past two years, and we are excited to understand your dreams, missions, and plans for the years ahead.

WIE Suite Woman?

SHANNON NASH, CFO OF WING, AN ALPHABET COMPANY, ON STAYING CREATIVE AND GETTING ONTO BOARDS

Shannon currently serves as Chief Financial Officer at Wing, a drone delivery company and subsidiary of Alphabet, Inc. She serves as an independent director on several boards, including NetScout Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: NTCT) and SoFi Bank a subsidiary of SoFi Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: SOFI). She's also on the Board and Audit Chair at Lazy Dog Restaurants. Previously, she was on the board of UserTesting (NYSE: USER), including Lead Independent Director and Chair of the Nominating & Governance Committee.

Here’s what I would say to women who are seeking out Board positions or c-suite roles:

• You cannot make it to the C-Suite alone. If that’s your goal, you need to seek out a core group of advisors who have charted the path before you. Ask questions, be open to critical yet constructive feedback, and use their triumphs and failures to help guide you. I call this a “Personal Board of Directors” and I believe it’s an essential first step on the journey towards joining a Board.
• Invest in your own professional development. Always seek out new opportunities for growth. Invest your time, and sometimes your own money, on a night class, networking event, or professional retreat if it will help you make important connections or advance your position. For example, Black Women on Boards is an organization that helps Black Women seek out Board opportunities and/or provides the support that you will need along your journey to joining a Board.
• Be the hardest working person in the room. People will not just hand you things. You have to be willing to work harder than the next person), ask the right questions, say yes to stretch opportunities, become an expert in your craft. And finally, don’t forget to socialize your superpowers - you’d be surprised by how people will come to you with opportunities if you put it out to the universe.
• Return the favor. Once you’ve made it on a Board or to the C-suite, don’t wait too long to return the favor. Some of my most important moments of growth have happened when a strong woman, who just made it to the “top of the mountain”, reached back to help me make it to the top as well.

Read more here.

Move the Needle??

EXECUTIVE PRESENCE: HOW TO RESPOND TO CRITICISM

When the term "executive presence" is thrown out - whether as part of feedback or explanation for professional choices - it can be difficult to know what to take away.

“We have vague ideas, and some people may have actually done the work to define it for themselves, but there is no factual, widely accepted definition that you are somehow not meeting. Define it for yourself, and if you're leading an organization, have an in-depth discussion about what you mean by executive presence here and now, and make sure that you articulate that clearly and specifically to everyone.”

Thaler Pekar offers advice to those interested in growing, but conflicted as to how. “Be appreciative of yourself; amplify what you’re excellent at. Let your best attributes shine. Be your best self and invite others to do the same. If you exhibit confidence, you will inspire confidence. Confidence, curiosity, humility, engagement, and energy - these are all attributes of presence.”

Pam Sherman says to remember one thing: “That it’s not about you – it says more about the person using the phrase than it does about you.“

Read more from here.

Masterclass Moments

TACHELLE LAWSON ON DEI AS AN INTENTIONAL BUSINES STRATEGY

With over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry with an emphasis on food & beverage and luxury retail, TaChelle Lawson brings a fresh, no-nonsense approach to diversity, equity and inclusion. She is a dynamic public speaker, award-winning entrepreneur, and enlightened business leader laser-focused on aligning DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) with business and brand goals to help build client revenues and strengthen brand equity.

Equity is the part that we struggle with the most, because it acknowledges that we are not all starting on equal ground. Equity is a choice that says I have to acknowledge that although TaChelle is intelligent, she may not necessarily have all of the tools or the support in her home life, she may not have all of the education, or training etc, to help her get to this next level. So although she may be qualified, she may require a few additional steps, whereas my counterpart may not require those additional steps. Equality would say we're going to treat both candidates the exact same, we're going to treat both customers the exact same. That's equality, but that does not necessarily mean that we're given the resources that we need to be successful. That's the equity part.

Read more here.

Community News

MEMBER NEWS

• Kathryn Minshew steps down from the Muse.
• Holly Corbett, VP of Content at Consciously Unbiased, penned an article for Forbes on Women and GDP.
• Claire Vivier, CEO of Claire V, will speak at Fast Company's Innovation Festival.

EVENTS

• October 12 - Alexis Grant, Founder and CEO of They Got Acquired, has talked with hundreds of entrepreneurs who have sold their online businesses. She’ll share insights into what led to their life-changing exits, what they wish they had done differently, and how you can carve a path toward your own sale.

Share the knowledge and forward this email to a powerful woman you know.