CONGRATULATIONS to our 2015 Leadership Conference Fellowship Winners
Jessica DeBurro
Cheryl Greene Fellowship
The recipient of the Cheryl Greene Fellowship is selected based on the applicant’s ability to most effectively demonstrate how they have helped support advancement of women in the workplace.
Jessica joined Comcast in 2003 as a customer service representative in the call center. Her work within several different functional groups over the years, including Customer Care, Engineering, and IT, prepared Jessica for her current role as a Senior Marketing Specialist in Product & Sales Support Analytics for the Greater Boston Region. Jessica has developed a vast network throughout the organization that delivers results.
WICT New England Member & Board Member Fellowships
Kim Drake
Kristine McDavid
HARNESSING CHANGE
embracing opportunity
Here is a write up from one of our Fellowship recipients Kim Drake from ESPN.
I was thrilled and excited when I received the fellowship to attend the 2015 WICT Leadership Conference in New York. It was an amazing education both professionally and personally that included inspiring keynote speakers, innovative breakout sessions, expert panels and networking opportunities to make new connections. It exceeded all my expectations.
The two day event started with NBC Today’s cohost, Hoda Kotb. She was my favorite speaker of the conference. Through her life stories of facing adversity and how it changed her life, she made the audience both laugh and cry. From her blazer story to the hug from a girl, she believes that every day you should wake up trying to live each day and have a person in your corner.
The Wired for Authenticity workshop with Henna Inam gave me tools to find my mission and purpose and be passionate about it. Learning to stay curious and be a friend to yourself will give you strength. Her suggestion of doing the “Victory Poise” (arms up in a V shape) when you are stressed or before a big presentation will help give you confidence you need. Try it…it works!
One of my other favorite classes of the Conference was given by Joe Navarro on “What Everybody is Saying.” He emphasized how important body language is to effective communications. His humor was delightful and thought provoking. He stressed the importance of how your body language influences the way others receive you….from a good handshake, hand gestures, and a true smile.
I took away some great quotes from the final session on day one called Confidence Code Decoded led by a powerful panel of executives that shared their accounts of the style of confidence that leads to success in the workplace. Here are some that resonated with me. “Be yourself…Control your inner voice…You can turn the volume up or down…it is your control…don’t let other do it.” “A closed mouth never gets fed.” “Speak off intelligence not emotion.” “Fear paralyzes.” “You don’t have to know everything, but you have to know how to get it done.”
The best panel of the conference was Profiles of a Champion. We learned from highly successful athletes how they turned their skills on the playing field to succeed in the high powered business world. They talked about everything from teamwork, learning to rebound after defeat, how competition makes you stronger and better, hard work really does pay off, when to lead, when to follow, and when to stay away. The inspiration story of Victoria Arlen, a Paralympic swimmer and now ESPN commentator, was a testament of fortitude and perseverance.
The conference also offered an opportunity for one on one coaching sessions with professional leadership coaches. I took advantage of the chance to gain advice on career issues. My meeting with Nikki Heise from Ridgeline Coaches was eye opening. She had a method of helping me answer my own questions, similar to a therapist. I came away with tips that I look forward to putting into action.
The closing general session was a great way to sum up the ideas brought forth by the Conference. Dynamic leaders shared their insights about the power of change. They embraced the idea that woman are powerful, intelligent, and need to be heard. Once again some of my favorite take away lines… “Say Yes to the No.” “Embrace Change…step out of your comfort zone.” “The true measure of what we are is how we treat others who cannot do anything for us.” “Happiness is the key to success.”
As you can probably tell I had a remarkable experience at the conference. I walked away empowered, motivated, and energized and ready to transform my career, my company and the industry! The skills I learned will be impacted on me for life. I can only hope that I can be as inspiring as the women leaders that I met at the Conference.
Once again, thank you for giving me the chance to attend this educational and inspiring event.
