Recap of January 2024 Discussion

This month's picture is Kristen Summers showing that we all learn best when we're having fun.

https://mailchi.mp/72e8e83a5ef5/women-in-arb-zoom-13923166?e=[UNIQID]

It's the month of love - what do you need to love your career?

Here's a recap of our January discussion:

1. We discussed evening drinks and using flavors (like bitters) and fruit to dress up drinks, alcoholic and nonalcoholic alike

   1. One of our members makes her own bitters from local trees.

2. We discussed public speaking

   1. Several of our members have branched out into being public speakers.  We shared tips for putting together a talk and being prepared.

   2. We have a blog post on putting together a speaking proposal.

3. AI was mentioned - it's inaccurate but fun.  Zoom's meeting summary gets better each month.

4. We talked about beautiful states to live in.  Unsurprisingly, most of us thought our own states were pretty, but New Hampshire and West Virginia got top honors.  

5. Georgia Chapter ISA has a brand new Executive Director and Texas Chapter will be announcing their new ED soon.

6. We discussed allyship - Natalie is doing great things to improve psychological safety in her company and the wider industry. 

   1. She and Cindy Schwab spoke at SAF about being good allies.

   2. It's important to engage in groups for "Bubbles of Love"

7. We talked about our goals for this year:  (Daniel Pink talks about the "natural" times to start new things in "When", New Years is a big one, but Monday is a new opportunity to start something new and it comes each week)

   1. Hitting a reset button - being more thoughtful about the opportunities we say yes to and which we say no to.

   2. Keeping emails under control.

   3. Remembering the power in the word "No" and that no is a complete sentence.  Recognizing that it can be hard to say an unqualified no because you don't want to be seen as difficult, but not overexplaining is important.

      1. We're going to focus on knowing our worth and being aware of how we allow people to treat us.

      2. If it's not an enthusiastic yes, it's a no - we're going to keep that in mind when we're asked to take on new opportunities.

8. We talked about working and the industry in general and how the environment matters

   1. How working in a dysfunctional environment affects you and warps your sense of normal.

   2. We talked about the changes we've seen in the industry and in our own career.  Natalie talked about how weird it is to no longer feel she has to fight to be heard but now she can use her voice to lift and support other women.

   3. We talked about the damage one asshole can create and how it can take years to overcome, even after they're no longer employed.

   4. We also talked about "critical mass".  We're seeing it happening in the industry, we're starting to have more energy to lift each other up because we're not fighting alone anymore.

   5. We talked about writing letter to bosses, boards of directors, and other folks in charge about the experience working under an asshole - even if you don't send it, it's very cathartic.  If you do send it, be prepared for fall out.

      1. "May the bridges I burned light the way" 

9. Speaking of critical mass - Legends of the Geezers had 4 women competing.  

10. Book, movie, and podcast list - 

    1. Invisible Women was listed again.

    2. Trees & Other Entanglements (movie)

    3. 10% Happier Podcast

    4. When - Daniel Pink