SEARCH RESULTS

On June 1st, we began our Reading Challenge for the W.I.N. Community Members to level up in areas of Professional Development! Did you know the average CEO reads 60-100 books a year? How many have you read this year? We’ll wait… Since the W.I.N. Community is all about growth, support, development, and authenticity, we are doing our first challenge for our WIN Members in August! Every month we are going to dig into a new read. That’s 6 books in 6 months. Feel free to do more, but for now, let’s start here! Check out the books we selected for you to WIN 🥇 June - ✅ comment *completed if you read July - ✅ comment *completed if you read August - ✅ comment *completed if you read September - Think like an Entrepreneur, Act Like a CEO - Beverly E. Jones October - The Power of NOW - Eckhart Tolle November - The 80/20 Principle - Richard Koch December - Think & Grow RIch - Napoleon Hill WIN Reads Challenge book list with clickable links

Everyone should love what they do. When we are passionate about something, we want to do it well and make positive changes. As a college student, I am still putting together my puzzle to determine what I love most and want my career to be. I have gotten the opportunity to take the classes I want, at the times I want, with top-tier professors. I am passionate about career prep, talking about ethical leadership, and business. Classes in these areas make me excited to go to class, ask questions, and talk with peers. Being excited about what you do does not always come so naturally and/or easily. “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” — Confucius There are a few perspectives we can take when talking about job satisfaction. First, let us look at what people who love their jobs do. Many people who are passionate about something and then turn their passion(s) into a career are reportedly more satisfied. A 2022 study found that 45% of people ‘love’ their jobs and 42% ‘like’ their jobs. Additionally, most job satisfaction was attributed to work that was ‘personally fulfilling and meaningful.’ So, find what you love and make it your career. If you are not enjoying your current career, maybe it is time for some change. I challenge you to list your passions, analyze them, and find your purpose. What does fulfillment mean and look like to you? Second, how can we cultivate environments in which people love working and where doing your job is not seen as a chore? Employers and employees determine workplace culture. We have all been involved in something—an organization or job—in which we loved what we did but did not care for the culture created by those around us. For me, an example of this was playing soccer for my high school. I loved the sport and representing my school, but I did not care for the culture. The organization, coaches, and players were responsible for the culture they created. In organizations and the workplace, there are common goals. So, we should make it our utmost priority to ensure the quality and intention of workplace culture, as this plays a role in people enjoying their jobs. Every individual, team, and workplace should aspire for the most job satisfaction, as there are plenty of benefits. Some are listed below: More productivity Less absenteeism Less sabotage, stealing, doing work badly on purpose, and spreading rumors ‘Good citizenship’ behavior We should acknowledge the subjectivity of job satisfaction based on the individual and the role. Individuals should find what they love, and the collective should work to ensure the best environment for the group. These two elements contribute to increased satisfaction. We are the determinants of passion, satisfaction, and success. Every day, we should aim to wake up and enjoy going to work to do what we are passionate about. Emma Bathurst The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business | Moody College of Communication emmabathurst@utexas.edu | emmabathurst8@gmail.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmabathurst/

This past weekend, I flew back to college and started my first day of junior year just yesterday. When brainstorming ideas for my W.I.N. blog post this week, I got to thinking about education and how it impacts women and their careers. But before that, I want to start off by covering a brief history of women in higher education. Before the 19th century, women were strongly prevented from going to college. In 1836, Wesleyan became the first college in the world for women and in the following years, other women’s colleges started opening up, such as Barnard and Wellesley. Most Ivy Leagues refused to admit women, hence why they put together sister schools as a compromise. Between 1836 and 1875, around 50 women’s colleges started opening up. This shift in women going to college challenged historical gender roles because it gave women more opportunities in terms of careers that they didn't have before. Back then, women were blatantly treated with inequality from men in both coed and women’s only colleges. Though gender biases and stereotypes still do exist, the disparity is no longer as severe. Furthermore, the number of women attending colleges is constantly increasing. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, in the fall of 2022, about 8.3 million women were undergraduate college students, versus 6.1 million men. Women also outnumbered men in graduate programs — 1.8 million versus 1.1 million. While college might not be for everyone and that it is definitely still possible to have a successful career without an expensive degree, I do believe that college poses numerous benefits for women. For one, it provides women with access to a wider range of career opportunities. With advanced degrees, women can pursue careers in fields that were traditionally dominated by men, which can contribute to breaking down gender stereotypes and promoting diversity in the workforce. Additionally, it allows for academic empowerment, since education equips women with the skills and knowledge needed to secure well-paying jobs and achieve financial independence. This empowerment allows women to make informed decisions about their careers, finances, and personal lives. Higher education institutions also provide opportunities for networking and building social connections that can greatly benefit women's careers. Networking allows them to connect with mentors, peers, and potential employers, leading to better job prospects and career growth. To conclude, it is important to make higher education more accessible for women because it is a valuable resource and can lead to a successful career journey. Education is a catalyst for personal growth and confidence, equipping women with skills to excel in diverse careers and leadership roles. When women have equal access to higher education, they contribute to innovation and enrich the workforce with diverse perspectives. Divya Sarkar Email: divyasarkar123@gmail.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/divya-sarkar-910b681b0/ Purdue University: sarkar42@purdue.edu

Burnout has been a major issue in the workplace especially for those women entrepreneurs starting their own businesses. Women more feel pressured to work harder to impress their employees and counterparts. Women are twice as likely to experience anxiety in the workplace compared to men. Women also feel the additional weight on their shoulders to take care of their additional responsibilities at home including watching their children or other family members. Burnout effects all employees at any point in their career. Symptoms of burnout can include exhaustion, sleep disorders, and depression. As a college student, I definitely struggle with burnout from going to class, work and extracurriculars while trying to catch up with studying and homework. It can be difficult to balance all of this at once while also trying to have a social life. For myself I find it is important to take small breaks and do something for yourself such as watch an episode of a tv show, read, listen to music, or go for a walk. There are many ways to practice self care. Burnout in the workplace should be a wakeup for society. This is another problem in the workplace that effects our mental health. The rates of mental health have continuously been on the rise. One study has found that around two-thirds or 64% of employees are struggling with mental health related issues. It is critical for companies to make sure their employees have a proper work-life balance by providing employees with vacation days and flexible hours. Everyone should remember to take care of themself and prioritize their mental health as health is always a top priority over work. Taking care of yourself and feeling good will also lead to a more productive workplace. Katelyn Davanzo University of Delaware kdavanzo@udel.edu https://www.linkedin.com/in/katelyndavanzo/

Those you surround yourself with are a reflection of who you are as a person. Everyone wants to be around people who build them up and push them to be the best version of themselves. These relationships can lead to health and wealth. Studies show that good, healthy relationships contribute to physical and mental wellbeing. The immune system can be stronger, and there can be less anxiety and more confidence. Those are just a few of the many benefits of strong relationships. On the other hand, we know that loneliness leads to people living less and feeling more stressed and depressed. Because healthy, strong relationships tend to make us feel more confident and less stressed, it only makes sense that people perform better. I have noticed that I perform better when I feel more confident. I remember having a great support system that empowered me and contributed to my success at university. I get to have new friends in a new city that make me feel good. Similarly, my family and friends back home support me through calls and checking up on me. Together, I use these relationships to propel me into becoming the best human and leader I can be. I am wealthier in knowledge thanks to my relationships. People in the workplace perform better when surrounded by supportive peers and mentors, especially in today’s world where societal expectations seem so high and so out of reach. This leads to greater individual, team, and organizational success, as well as faster promotions. So, whether you gain wealth in the form of knowledge, money, or experience, you are better off with strong relationships. It is easier to reach your goals with the help of others. Emma Bathurst The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business | Moody College of Communication emmabathurst@utexas.edu | emmabathurst8@gmail.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmabathurst/

Is there enough leadership opportunities in the industry? Traditionally, men would usually dominate most companies as bosses or CEOs. Men typically enjoy the power of being in charge and more respected. It is found that only 15% of CEOs at Fortune 500 companies are female. Although this number is low, the rates of CEOs that are women are continuing to rise. Women are fighting to finally gain more power and have a leadership position. Not only is this beneficial for women, it is beneficial for the company. Having a more diverse workplace increases the chances for new innovations as men and women having different perspectives. As a double major in marketing and management, I have found that most of my management classes are predominantly women. As I talk to these other women in my class we all come to an agreement that we want to be in control. We want the ability to have a potential leadership position after graduation. As I also became a member of a women in business group on campus, I loved the idea of women supporting each other. I made close bonds with women in this group and had people that could be going through the same potential struggles as I am. This organization made me realize that we all want to stand up to hardships in the field of business. We want to help continue to rise the statistics of leadership positions in any way possible. It would be great to have more influential positive female role models that are CEOs. Woman in the upcoming generations are rising the against the standards of a stereotypical man being in charge of a company or organization. I believe that women having more power and leadership roles will give young girls today and in the future the motivation to become their own leader. Katelyn Davanzo University of Delaware 2024 kdavanzo@udel.edu https://www.linkedin.com/in/katelyndavanzo/

Greta Gerwig’s Barbie has broken the internet as of late. The ads are everywhere, and the movie is the topic of many conversations. Without giving too much away, I wanted to highlight the movie’s important message to society. In a world full of unrealistic beauty standards where “perfection” is impossible, the satirical fiction movie paints a world where everything seems so glamorous and perfect when that is actually not the case. I watched Barbie in the theater recently. I enjoyed the one-liners and the subtle pop culture references. The biggest takeaway was: this longing for perfection in a world where perfection is impossible and where women are expected to be, act, and look a certain way according to patriarchal society. Now, it can be easy to blame and point figures at the cause of this societal issue, but there is no one cause. There are multiple factors contributing to these unachievable expectations. Additionally, every person faces some degree of adversity in this society (the degree can ultimately vary). I saw the point Gerwig was trying to make. She intentionally used the main character, Barbie, to show that even those who seemingly meet idealized beauty standards have insecurities and problems of their own. One of the most thoughtful and impactful moments of the movie was a monologue by Gloria, played by America Ferrera. Here is the monologue: It is literally impossible to be a woman. You are so beautiful, and so smart, and it kills me that you don't think you're good enough. Like, we have to always be extraordinary, but somehow we're always doing it wrong. You have to be thin, but not too thin. And you can never say you want to be thin. You have to say you want to be healthy, but also you have to be thin. You have to have money, but you can't ask for money because that's crass. You have to be a boss, but you can't be mean. You have to lead, but you can't squash other people's ideas. You're supposed to love being a mother, but don't talk about your kids all the damn time. You have to be a career woman but also always be looking out for other people. You have to answer for men's bad behavior, which is insane, but if you point that out, you're accused of complaining. You're supposed to stay pretty for men, but not so pretty that you tempt them too much or that you threaten other women because you're supposed to be a part of the sisterhood. But always stand out and always be grateful. But never forget that the system is rigged. So find a way to acknowledge that but also always be grateful. You have to never get old, never be rude, never show off, never be selfish, never fall down, never fail, never show fear, never get out of line. It's too hard! It's too contradictory and nobody gives you a medal or says thank you! And it turns out in fact that not only are you doing everything wrong, but also everything is your fault. I'm just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us. And if all of that is also true for a doll just representing women, then I don't even know. This speaks for itself. Gloria says the monologue when talking to Barbie (Margot Robbie) when she is down and doubting herself. Barbie was supposed to represent women and who they can be—Nobel Prize recipients, presidents, doctors. Most of all, the movie is trying to convey that they can be human. The movie and its impactful monologue show the plethora of pressures put on women, emphasizing why women should not try to conform to unrealistic standards. We can be what we dream of being. Your imagination can run wild now, just as it did when you were playing Barbies as a kid. Emma Bathurst The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business | Moody College of Communication emmabathurst@utexas.edu | emmabathurst8@gmail.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmabathurst/

Hello W.I.N. Community! My name is Divya and I am so excited to be a part of this amazing organization and interact with you all! I recently joined W.I.N. as a marketing intern and wanted to share a bit about myself! I am originally from California (the Bay Area) and currently here for the summer. I will be an incoming junior at Purdue University, but am actually hoping to graduate a year early to get a headstart on my career and maybe grad school (fingers crossed!). At Purdue, I am majoring in Brain & Behavioral Science, minoring in Design & Innovation, and pursuing a minor in the Applications of Data Science (it’s a very exhaustive list, I know!). I chose this degree plan because I am intrigued in the intersection of cognitive science and technology, and how it can be applied to provide innovative solutions in the workplace. This summer, I was searching for a valuable opportunity that will allow me to expand my skills and learn from business professionals and this position at W.I.N stood out to me in particular. I feel that W.I.N.’s goals and mission to support women in their career journey aligns with my personal values and interests. As a woman of color in STEM, I have noticed that the field is very male-dominated, which makes it difficult for women like me to feel comfortable and feel that what they have to say is not important enough. Earlier this summer, I attended TiEcon 2023, which is known as one of the largest technology conferences designed by Silicon Valley leaders. Right off the bat, I noticed that most of the speakers and attendees of the conference were men. At the end of one of the panels, there was a Q&A session, and a speaker asked if they could get a woman to ask a question since all the past questions were asked by men. I was a lot younger and less experienced than everyone else, so I felt especially intimidated to ask a question and hoped another woman would step up to the plate. My male friend who I went to the conference with was sitting next to me and encouraged me to stand up. I thought of a question to ask, but decided to keep quiet because I felt that it was dumb. Some time passed and everyone was silent. Suddenly, someone stood up, which caught the attention of the person passing the mic around. I looked over in curiosity and saw a man standing up. “I’m not a woman, but I have long hair, so I can kind of pass off as one,” he said, causing everyone to chuckle. As he was asking his question, I frowned and whispered back to my friend, “Maybe I should’ve asked my question. I don’t know why I was second-guessing myself.” Later, at another speaker event, the CEO of NextDoor, Sarah Friar, described her journey of reaching this high position as a female entrepreneur. I have always been passionate about becoming successful in the workplace, but this brought a recent surge of inspiration to stand up and make a difference. By being involved in the W.I.N. community, I am positive I will have access to valuable resources and meet ambitious people so that I can achieve this goal. The opportunity to learn from accomplished women leaders, gain hands-on experience, and participate in empowering initiatives fills me with both anticipation and gratitude. I am committed to making the most of this internship, pushing my boundaries, and acquiring the skills necessary to become a successful advocate for positive change and equity in the workplace. I am so beyond thrilled to be a part of this community, where we can uplift, empower, and inspire one another. Looking forward to meeting with you all and learning from each other! With immense appreciation and excitement, Divya Sarkar Email: divyasarkar123@gmail.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/divya-sarkar-910b681b0/ Purdue University: sarkar42@purdue.edu

As a woman in STEM myself, I have noticed several issues in this domain. While progress has been made to promote gender equality in these fields, there are still significant barriers that women encounter, which I will be debriefing in this blog post. For one, there is underrepresentation and sometimes a lack of representation for women in STEM fields, which can cause a sense of isolation and discourage women from pursuing such careers. Without prominent role models, it can be challenging for young girls and women to envision themselves succeeding in STEM. Furthermore, women may have limited access to resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities compared to their male counterparts. This disparity can hinder their professional growth and development within the STEM field. Source: Commercial Cafe Balancing family responsibilities with demanding STEM careers can be especially challenging for women. Although as a society, we are moving away from gender roles, they still do exist. Women are still expected to be the main caregivers for their children and to do more work for the household, such as grocery shopping and cooking. Long hours and inflexible work arrangements in certain STEM industries can make it difficult for women to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Some STEM workplaces can be unwelcoming or even hostile towards women, leading to lower job satisfaction and higher attrition rates. Experiences of harassment and discrimination can further deter women from pursuing or staying in STEM careers. Additionally, women can face implicit or explicit bias and stereotypes that perpetuate the belief that certain STEM fields are better suited for men. These biases can affect hiring decisions, opportunities for advancement, and the perception of women's abilities in technical roles. In the case of female scientists and researchers, they may encounter biases in academic settings, affecting their chances of obtaining funding, publishing research, or achieving leadership roles. Source: Adobe Stock Many men feel threatened by or look down on female bosses. According to polls conducted by Gallup, men prefer male over female bosses. The main reason there is a lack of women representation in the workplace is because there is a lack of powerful female leaders at the top, which means there isn't anyone to encourage, support and mentor women who have just started working. In order to have more representation and make advancements, we must make efforts to push women up and help them climb the ladder to the top in workplaces. We must ensure that they have access to valuable resources and tools so that they can succeed and make a positive impact. And when it comes to work-life balances and hostile environments, workplaces must to be understanding and there should be mandatory training regarding harassment and unfair treatment, so that this behavior can be corrected. Addressing these challenges requires a collective effort from society, educational institutions, and employers to promote diversity and inclusion, provide equal opportunities, and challenge existing biases and stereotypes within STEM fields. Supporting and empowering women in STEM can lead to a more diverse and innovative workforce that benefits everyone. Divya Sarkar Email: divyasarkar123@gmail.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/divya-sarkar-910b681b0/ Purdue University: sarkar42@purdue.edu