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The power of community

I was struggling to get moving.

It was a recent Friday night and I was exhausted from a long week. I had already purchased a ticket to the Executive Leadership Forum by Alliance of Technology and Women (ATW).

I wasn't motivated to get dressed up and leave the comfort of my house.

Sometimes, it just takes a little momentum.

As soon as I got there, I saw people I knew and we shared hugs and laughs. It felt like a sisterhood. There's not many technology events I go to where women are actually a majority.

While the social aspect is amazing, ATW really stands out for their impactful programs.

One of them close to my heart is called ignITe. This program is designed for women in transition, returning to the workforce or interested in a career change.

The participants build marketable skills, get industry exposure and certifications, build technology competency and confidence, and open new career pathways for themselves.

Here’s why this program really hits home for me. When my family immigrated to Canada in the 1980s, my mother spoke no English and worked as a cashier at my grandfather’s store.

Thanks to a program called Skills for Change, she got certified on Microsoft Office and got a job as an accounting clerk at an insurance company, providing our family with steady income. It also meant she no longer had to work 12 hour days and be on her feet all the time.

I wouldn't be here writing this to you without it.

Want to pay it forward? How about donating to organizations and resources that you needed the most when you were growing up? Watch here.

Podcast Feature:

Unleashing the power of education, mentoring and succession planning with FedEx Divisional CIO

I’ve long believed in the power of mentorship, so it was an absolute pleasure to speak with Cheryl Bevelle-Orange on the Tech Legacies podcast!

Cheryl is the Managing Director & CIO FedEx Custom Critical, the company where she has spent an impressive 27 years, starting as a programmer and rising through the ranks.

Here are just a few highlights from our chat:

• You are uniquely you, and you bring certain things to the table that nobody else can bring.
• Get out into the community and see the people that we are trying to help to get to where they want to be. And so if we can mentor and coach them, they can be better, which makes all of us better.
• You have to do something different to get to the next level. So that's where I began to take my own advice. I would mentor and coach people, and I had to say: “OK, you need to relook at your network.”
• Mentors are people that talk with you. They help get you your career plan together. They coach you on how you're doing your current job. A sponsor is talking about you. They are in the room where the decisions are being made.

You can watch the full interview here.

You may also like this episode from Season 1 where Shaunna Black, former Vice President at Texas Instruments, shares her core philosophy of being a heart-centered leader.

Content tip:

When should you give . . . and when should you ask?

In this short video, I share a great tip that I got from Craig Fisher, CEO of TalentNet Media about the 5:1 Give to Ask Ratio.

It’s a really important formula when posting content and in this video, I give more specifics on how to use this ratio to your advantage.

A little inspiration for productivity: Over the last 5 years, I've been on the hunt for the best planner. I've become obsessed with time management and productivity. It's still a work in progress. But I finally found a planner that marries productivity with wellness and self care. Click the button to learn more and get $10 off with my friends link. Look for the Special Edition Wellness Planner. Take a look

Thank you to our Tech Legacies sponsor, CG Infinity!

Huge thank you to CG Infinity for sponsoring our podcast so we are able to feature these tech leaders with their perspectives and insights. Follow their company page to learn about their tech consulting services and #peoplefirst culture.

Now we want to hear from you, Reader

What is your favorite productivity tool?

Fanny

🌟 Ready to invest in executive coaching and build your LinkedIn thought leadership? Click here.