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February 01, 2021
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24 Ways Companies Are Celebrating Black History Month at Work
If last year proved anything, it was that America's long history of inequality is not a relic of the past. Many of us spent more time thinking about, speaking up against, and working to change the everyday racism faced by Black people in the United States in 2020 than we did in years past, thanks to the leadership behind the Black Lives Matter movement and media attention over the police brutality faced by Black Americans.
<p>So when honoring Black History Month in 2021, doesn't it seem right to focus not just on the past, but on the present? Not just to learn about the notable accomplishments of impressive Black politicians, artists, and entrepreneurs, but also acknowledge the reality of the Black experience today—and work to improve it?</p><p>We asked several of our partner companies what they're doing to honor Black History Month at work, and we were inspired by the range of responses. From digging into economic injustices to investing in projects to support the Black community to sharing the real-life experiences of their Black employees, these companies are finding ways to not only honor Black History Month, but encourage positive change all year round. Here's what they're doing, in their own words:</p>
1. Honoring and Celebrating the Black Family — Freddie Mac
<p>"Our ARISE Business Resource Group is hosting several programs and activities throughout Black History Month that celebrate the diversity of the Black family. The month kicks off with a fireside chat about Black wealth and economics featuring Marc Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League. Later in the month, Shanti Das, Executive Director of Silence the Shame, Inc., will share the importance of mental health and well-being. We will close the month with a panel discussion on the Black employee experience at Freddie Mac. The discussion will feature stories of empowerment and resilience that celebrate and support employees." <br></p><p><strong>Learn more about Freddie Mac and their open roles </strong><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/freddie-mac" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a></p>2. Investing in Skills and Scholarships — Facebook
<p>"During Black History Month, Facebook Elevate will host programming with the theme <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fbelevate/black-history-month" target="_blank">GenerationBlack</a>. Among the activities will be a discussion called #GenBlack is Skilled covering how a new generation of Black professionals can be key contributors to a more inclusive society.<br></p><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/fbelevate" target="_blank">Elevate</a> is a community and learning platform to accelerate the economic impact of entities of color. Elevate is committed over the next 3 years to reaching 1 million Black and 1 million Latinx and Hispanic members of the community with training in digital skills as well as distributing 100,000 scholarships to Black learners working toward digital careers."</p><p><strong>Learn more about Facebook and their open roles </strong><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/facebook-inc" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a></p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU2ODA2Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MDUwMDk3M30.QvsDtqZVEbKkipf0RNc4j9-380rSR28AbYb3CkvOgR8/img.jpg?width=980" id="62c08" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9f81364701bb8f097c4f77441716b3d8" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1200" data-height="672" />3. Planning Virtual Events for the Whole Family — LogMeIn
<div><br></div><p>"At LogMeIn, we will be celebrating Black History Month all month long! Since this year's theme is 'The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity,' our Employee Resource Group, BE@LogMeIn (Black Employees at LogMeIn) will be partnering with our Families ERG (Families@LogMeIn), our Corporate Social Responsibility Program (Mission Possible), and our wellness program (Thrive) to offer engaging, impactful, educational, and fun events all throughout February. We'll be hosting a virtual paint night, virtual volunteering event, discussions with Black authors and publishers, and a fun children's book giveaway as part of our celebrations."</p><p><strong>Learn more about LogMeIn and their open roles </strong><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/logmein-inc" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a></p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU2Nzk5NC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzOTMzOTkzMn0.trRlfb8Q4VFcFX6tZ_R2RXaGZXH_7j7bfDkpNA7F5I4/img.png?width=980" id="95cb7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a9f18312fadf99f73049fdc1c59b914e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1600" data-height="490" />4. Celebrating Black Joy — Moody's
<p><br></p><p>"To kick off our Black History Month celebrations, Moody's will activate our annual Speaker Series and host multiple events that highlight the contributions of the Black community and celebrate Black Joy. Our Black Inclusion Group will be profiling Moody's employees and Black leaders for a weekly, educational newsletter throughout February. In addition, we are producing an employee-led video that shares the importance of Black Joy and cultural/family traditions. Our employees will also be able to choose from an array of Zoom and desktop backgrounds that will display quotes from prominent Black figures."</p><strong>Learn more about Moody's and their open roles </strong><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/moody-s-corporation" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a>5. Inspiring, Educating, Engaging—And Investing — ServiceNow
<p>"ServiceNow is honoring Black History Month in the U.S. in February and in Europe in October. We've worked closely with our Black at Now Belonging Group to develop programming that will inspire, educate, and engage employees globally. We have a series of events focused on themes of allyship and intersectionality, which will feature special guest speakers, ServiceNow leaders, and employees in discussion and interactive dialogue. Additionally, we just announced an important piece of our efforts to live our company value, 'embrace diversity, create belonging': a <a href="https://blogs.servicenow.com/2021/servicenow-invests-100-million-in-racial-equity-fund.html" target="_blank">$100M investment in Racial Equity fund</a>, which is focused on building equitable opportunities in underserved Black communities in the U.S."<br></p><strong>Learn more about ServiceNow and their open roles </strong><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/servicenow" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b00b013ee62cb51b153c058f29b29e2a"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JA-TLUN31Vw?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>6. Communicating Inclusively — Clarus
<p>"Here at Clarus we're honoring Black History Month in a couple of ways. Our DEI ERG is encouraging employee conversation by disseminating a companywide email acknowledging BHM and its significance. Additionally, we're promoting employees to be mindful of written communications, specifically in making sure we're using non-biased language.<br></p><p>We continue to partner with <a href="https://www.wayfindingpartners.com/" target="_blank">WayFinding Partners</a> as they work with us on developing a long-lasting DEI strategy at Clarus. This includes the company partaking in a workshop called 'Let's Talk About Race' — opening our eyes to racism in our society and how we can defeat it."</p><p><strong>Learn more about Clarus and their open roles </strong><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/clarus-commerce" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a></p>7. Centering Black Culture and History — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
<p>"For more than 10 years, Blue Cross NC's African-American and Black Employee Network (AABEN) has created meaningful programming for employees each February in honor of Black History Month. The network has hosted various events to celebrate African-American culture through song, dance, poetry and more. Their programming also provides education and awareness. Topics have ranged from historic Black Wall Street in Durham, to a panel of employees sharing how their hair is part of their identity and how corporate America can be more inclusive of cultural differences, to hearing directly from Black leaders who share their career journey and lessons learned."<br></p><p><strong>Learn more about Blue Cross NC and their open roles </strong><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/blue-cross-and-blue-shield-of-north-carolina" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a></p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU2ODAwNS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0ODk2OTY3MH0.JoEMlweFsZ1fm0oDZMDqpFfxElvrLbs47Aukz3sAIIo/img.png?width=980" id="9d514" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7aefd116fafefbe77dc836c210679c63" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1600" data-height="533" />8. Highlighting Black Luminaries — MongoDB
<p>"To celebrate Black History Month, members of TUPOC — MongoDB's affinity group for people of color — highlight Black luminaries via daily posts in the #black-history Slack channel, a channel that's open year-round but is especially active in February. TUPOC will also honor Black History Month by hosting a company-wide event, and all employees will have access to a cross-company event celebrating Black History."<br></p><p><strong>Learn more about MongoDB and their open roles <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/mongodb" target="_blank">here</a>.</strong><br></p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7d8b34f1ca2c54a205852fa635490b61"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/897QAybeZ84?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>9. Celebrating and Supporting Black Futures — PagerDuty
<p>"This year, our Black employee resource group at PagerDuty, Array, is approaching Black History Month with the theme 'Black Futures Month: Excellence, Resilience, and Equity.'<br></p><p>Our programming is designed to celebrate Black excellence and highlight our resilience, in order to build an equitable future. We'll be partnering with other employee resource groups representing Black talent across the Tech sector, hosting our first meeting with our first Black board member, Dr. Alec D. Gallimore, fundraising and volunteering with a local middle school of predominantly Black students, and introducing a mentorship program for our Black employees."</p><p><strong>Learn more about PagerDuty and their open roles </strong><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/pagerduty" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a></p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU2ODAwNi9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzODAwNTMwMn0.zM2g3Vslbt8MQiknBsOSjSxSFuowIxrb4Ee0leI0c6Q/img.png?width=980" id="8f3d6" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b0aefc777833ddfdb28ee8fc999055f8" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1600" data-height="897" />10. Empowering Growth and Development — CSL Behring
<p>"CSL Behring will be formally launching the Promising Futures Scholarship mid-February. This scholarship program will award 37 scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 annually.<br></p><p>The program has been specifically set up for our Black colleagues and their dependents to provide financial empowerment and support professional career growth & development."</p><p><strong>Learn more about CSL Behring and their open roles </strong><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/csl" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a></p>11. Learning Through Film, Art, and History — Autodesk
<p>"This year in honor of Black History Month, Autodesk is kicking off our festivities with our speaker series. This development opportunity will promote our growth as we learn about the power of storytelling and why we need to call on courage to increase mutual understanding and foster a sense of belonging. In addition to team events, we've partnered with MoAD, the Museum of the African Diaspora, to facilitate film viewings and discussions across culture, art, and Black history."<br></p><p><strong>Learn more about Autodesk and their open roles </strong><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/autodesk-inc" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a></p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU2ODAwOS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MTA0MTczNX0.Igua3Px7Vq20hRW39eyCJcKNfLzqKXBO_wENoQxMsvg/img.png?width=980" id="0dac7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="86818c42bd73c4c4ff4d08835179173b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1334" data-height="750" />12. Hosting Ta-Nehesi Coates and Town Halls — T. Rowe Price
<p>"T. Rowe Price remains committed to equity and is mindful of the socioeconomic impact of systemic racism. To foster learning on the history of racism and the myriad of ways it shows up in our communities, the firm hosted local and national experts in the last several months. The firm is also providing opportunities to connect with Black leaders within the firm, virtually.<br></p><p>Next month, MOSAIC @ T. Rowe Price, the firm's business resource group (BRG) focused on promoting inclusivity and attracting, developing, and retaining diverse talent, will host New York Times bestselling author Ta-Nehesi Coates. He is the keynote speaker for our annual Black History Month event. </p><p>The BRG will also host a town hall to discuss the firm's vision to become a more equitable and inclusive workplace for Black professionals. The discussion will be led by Black leaders with representation from the Management Committee and several advocacy groups."</p><p><strong>Learn more about T. Rowe Price and their open roles </strong><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/t-rowe-price-group-inc" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a></p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU4MDM0NS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3MDk3MTgxNX0.dP-BOmr7r3jqB0HrHxoLeiA_x0dU9nWDA7rlBGVn4YQ/img.png?width=980" id="23a2f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9aeaa07aec4dd5f0ce59e3a0784e12cc" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="350" data-height="101" />13. Sparking Curiosity and Dialogues — Bounteous
<p>"Bounteous honors Black History Month to pay tribute to the accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout history. This year, Bounteous' affinity group, b: shades, curated a collection of events that span the entire month. The events include movie screenings, trivia nights, a brave space conversation, and a guest speaker appearance by Dr. Annice E. Fisher. Additionally, our team will host a special edition of our <a href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bounteous.com%2Fevents%2F2021%2F02%2F11%2Fget-know-bounteous-bipoc-edition%2F&data=04%7C01%7Csiobhan.leonard%40bounteous.com%7Cd22b14db83ef4723dfe208d8c3a91b0d%7C9d343c00481447ebabcde3a0761d628b%7C1%7C0%7C637474478351445973%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=u57YW98fKFDhFbwS%2F0EJNzrPsLyPf5VkBfWiEzJMlkE%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">Get to Know Bounteous</a> info-session on February 11 at 12:00PM CT for people who attend or have attended Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCU) and any person who identifies as Black/African American and/or a Person of Color. Bounteous celebrates all month long through these educational and social events geared towards sparking curiosity and hopefully, a dialogue."</p><p><strong>Learn more about Bounteous and their open roles </strong><strong><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/bounteous" target="_blank">here</a></strong></p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU2ODAxMS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0OTQwNjUyNH0.Xy0y2v9YS1A4RNAoH4dFgMzdgHs12EcSYAdvV-0wcUw/img.png?width=980" id="9cbb6" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b5d5082336ce47829bb1ca0367c5f7e7" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="710" data-height="358" />14. Celebrating Trailblazers — New Relic
<p>"In honor of Black History Month, our Relics of Color ERG has put together a spectacular lineup of </p><p>events and activities to celebrate Black excellence in tech and beyond. This month, we will celebrate our inaugural Mikey Butler Day. Mikey was a VP of Engineering at New Relic until his passing in late 2019. He was a trailblazer in technology, and an amazing and inspiring leader, coach, and mentor. Other activities include a fishbowl discussion on 'What Does Black History Mean to You?' and a Black Trail Blazers employee spotlight series celebrating our Relics of Color."<br></p><p><strong>Learn more about New Relic and their open roles </strong><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/new-relic" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a></p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU2ODAxMi9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNzUwODY4NH0.xI9lfvh-DSsQ1PHecEhlx5YYChJaGnh67UHsalT83qo/img.png?width=980" id="da6eb" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d298af5791ff0f9dc7cebff9d23c93a9" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1200" data-height="800" />15. Reading and Learning Together — CarGurus
<p>"Our People of Color (POC@CarGurus) Employee Resource Group (ERG) will be sponsoring multiple events in celebration of Black History Month (some events will be co-sponsored with several of our internal ERGs). These events will consist of speaker series, workshops, and group (virtual) activities!<br></p><p>Events planned include a discussion with Gretchen Sorin, author of <em>Driving While Black</em>, a Black History Month Stump Trivia night, a reading of <em>Parable of the Sower </em>by Octavia E. Butler<em>, </em>and a Family Reading Night where we will by providing children's books written by Black authors."</p><p><strong>Learn more about CarGurus and their open roles </strong><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/cargurus" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a></p>16. Launching an Employee Resource Group — Mindbody
<p>"Mindbody will be celebrating Black History Month with the inaugural launch of our Mindbody Black Alliance ERG. MB Black Alliance members have developed a full program of content to celebrate, educate and foster awareness of black culture everywhere, from past to present. We will be highlighting our own team member stories and aligning them with the businesses that we serve."</p><p><strong>Learn more about Mindbody and their open roles </strong><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/mindbody" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a></p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU2ODAxNS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMjI3NDYxOH0.R4sZFc7iRPRH-At5ih_mU3rT50acopdw2xI2SMslLPM/img.jpg?width=980" id="96cb0" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9b00b2f436b9d8731fb7a71f44b744db" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1600" data-height="601" />17. Addressing Workplace Equity — StackOverflow
<p><span style="background-color: initial;">"BnB creates a safe space for Black and Brown employees within Stack Overflow. Instead of working with only one team on initiatives or confining programming to one month, BnB partners with Stack's leadership to address workplace equity across multiple dimensions, long-term. This includes:</span><br></p><ul><li>Helping all employees educate themselves on racial injustice</li><li>Partnering with HR on D&I efforts</li><li>Providing leadership opportunities for employees of color</li><li>Ensuring content channels - from our popular blog to our podcast - are inclusive in their approach to storytelling</li><li>Donating resources like money, products, and services to organizations that promote the social advancement of people of color"</li></ul><p><strong>Learn more about StackOverflow and their open roles </strong><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/stack-overflow" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a></p>18. Stories Untold — CallRail
<p>"Our goal is to make Black history more relatable to people who aren't as familiar with the Black experience. Historically, Black History Month is associated with overcoming struggles and highlighting injustices. We want to demystify the Black experience through focusing on Black lives throughout the African diaspora. There are many untold stories of diverse culture, unity, and joy that we feel should be shared as a part of our history."<br></p><p><strong>Learn more about CallRail and their open roles </strong><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/callrail" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>here</strong></a></p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU2ODAxOS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxOTExNjIyNn0.cjEc4IHu9J4gYh7YNYM9fgYqlDmGFyGAoqvA9nOSp9I/img.png?width=980" id="83cd3" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9f0d704c5d3cdda6b67ba25e4c52ffe8" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="640" data-height="502" />19. Supporting the Fight Against Racial Injustice — Folsom Labs
<p>"Folsom Labs is celebrating Black History Month by focusing on community support. It is important to us to show our continued support for the Black Community not only in February but as an ongoing company initiative. Last year we held an employee charity matching event to support those that are doing critical work in the fight against racial injustices. On our team, we believe long-lasting change starts from within. So this year, not only are we kicking-off Black History Month with another charity event, but we're also focusing on ongoing DEI education and training for employees."<br></p><p><strong>Learn more about Folsom Labs and their open roles </strong><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/folsom-labs" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a></p>20. Volunteering and Learning Through Film — Commvault
<p>"At Commvault we are excited to host our 2nd Black History Month celebration. Even though this year we are virtual, we have kicked things off with a Martin Luther King Memorial Virtual Tour, on MLK Day, for our Vaulters and their families. Vaulters in the US were excited to have a day to reflect and volunteer in their communities. Our Multi-Culture ERG is blogging internally daily about prominent Black figures, weekly Black History Trivia, and will end the month with filmmaker Keith Beauchamp who will talk about Black history and share his film <em>The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till</em>."<br></p><p><strong>Learn more about Commvault and their open roles </strong><strong><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/commvault" target="_blank">here</a></strong></p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU2ODAyMS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MjMxODczMX0.hoqLF2p5gLEOFR76S8g5S6vzI3E8nGZdGfaChtyhia4/img.jpg?width=980" id="9b74c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6326456ff33e77b1d1e5ede01075475b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1600" data-height="1202" />21. Spotlighting Black Excellence — NBA
<p>"The NBA is honoring Black History Month with the following initiatives:<br></p><ul><li>"#BlackExcellence Spotlight – Internal NBA website (Home Court) will spotlight Black employees across the company as they reflect on 2020, look ahead to the future and share details about what work they are proud of, in or outside of the office.</li><li>Player Conversation – Current NBA player will join a virtual conversation about the fight for racial justice, how he supports Black businesses, celebrates Black culture and more.</li><li>Virtual volunteer opportunities with the YesSheCanCampaign and Jersey Cares</li><li>NBA Town Hall on Leaguewide Social Justice Efforts"</li></ul><p><strong>Learn more about the NBA and their open roles </strong><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/nba" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a><br></p>22. Hosting Fireside Chats - Procore
<p>"Black History Month in the U.S. takes place each year in February. This year, we turned to members of Procore's African [Descent[ Council (PAC) employee resource group to learn what the month means to them—and why it matters to the communities in which we live and work.<br></p><p>One of the many ways we're celebrating Black History Month at Procore is by hosting an internal virtual fireside chat about the life and legacy of Black leaders and the significance of the month. All employees have been invited to join select speakers for a discussion about the annual commemoration and ways to get involved. The fireside chat is part of an ongoing speaker series that explores stories and conversations around life, race, gender, social justice, and equality. <a href="https://www.procore.com/inclusion-diversity" target="_blank">Learn more</a> about Procore's Employee Resource Groups and ongoing efforts to build a more inclusive and diverse future."</p><p><strong>L</strong><strong>earn more about Procore and their open roles <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/procore-technologies-inc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.</strong></p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU2ODAyOC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNDk3MDk3OX0.dB8jFn8mYhelEbE8Y9uw3NCX7OQOpNtnA7Fk03XRQC8/img.png?width=980" id="0263e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9a2690bea821e3cf42c8bde5b2c70d58" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="2560" data-height="1440" />23. Educating & Celebrating with Events, Guest Speakers, and More — Raytheon Technologies
<p>"In honor of Black History Month, our Raytheon Black Employee Network (RAYBEN) employee resource group has planned a series of events that educate, celebrate, and honor the importance of Black history. This month-long program of events focuses on the cultural diversity of the Black community, moments in Black history, guest speakers, including former football running back Brian Mitchell and poet Nikki Giovanni, and games that bridge the gap between the past and the future. We also use this opportunity to highlight our Black employees throughout the month."</p><p><strong>L</strong><strong>earn more about Raytheon Technologies and their open roles <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/raytheon-technologies" target="_blank">here</a>.</strong></p>24. Facilitating Courageous Conversations — Lockheed Martin
<p>"Our theme for Black History Month 2021 is, 'The Black Family: Representation, Diversity and Identity.' Lockheed Martin's African American Council for Excellence (AACE) Business Resource Group will use Black History Month to explore the wide-ranging diversity of the black family life through educational content, presentations and courageous conversations. We will also use this month to bring families together and reconnect as we view black stories and learn to make a simple meal where everyone can contribute. What's more? Our focus won't end there. Beyond Black History Month, AACE will support multiple programs to recruit, retain and develop black employees and give back to our community."</p><p><strong>Learn more about Lockheed Martin and their open roles <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/lockheed-martin" target="_blank">here</a>. </strong></p>
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January 26, 2021
Moody's Corporation
Interested in Moody's? Make Your Application Stand Out With These Tips
We recently chatted with two really awesome recruiters at Moody's who took the time to share some tips with us!
Humera Yasmeen, located in Bangalore, India, and Vytaute Syvoke, located in Vilnius, Lituania, shared some top-notch tips with us, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at the company's culture and values, and how you can make your application stand out.
To learn more about Moody's and their open roles, click here.
January 13, 2021
popular
12 Tips for Setting Better Goals
We asked 30+ women how you can make 2021 your best year yet.
Resolutions are one thing. Goals are another.
How do you move from vaguely hopeful statements about what 2021 will mean for you personally and professionally to thoughtful plans that are likely to come to fruition?
<p>You set good goals. Specific goals. Goals that tie back to your values, goals that can be tracked, goals that make you excited to get out and start working towards them.</p><p>We asked 32 incredible and accomplished women about the advice they'd share with anyone looking to make 2021 their year. Here's what they had to say!</p>
<p>--</p><p><strong>Think you may want to work with one of the incredible women highlighted here? </strong>Check out open roles at the companies mentioned:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/cargurus" target="_blank">CarGurus</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/national-security-agency-nsa" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NSA</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/folsom-labs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Folsom Labs</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/autodesk-inc" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Autodesk</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/clyde" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Clyde</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/lockheed-martin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lockheed Martin</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/relativity" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Relativity</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/smartsheet" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Smartsheet</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/vts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">VTS</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/mongodb" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MongoDB</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/chainalysis" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chainalysis</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/moody-s-corporation" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Moody's Corporation</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://blog.powertofly.com/pymetrics-page-2646063125.html" target="_self">pymetrics</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/blue-cross-and-blue-shield-of-north-carolina" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BCBSNC</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/state-listings-inc" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">State Listings</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/lattice" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lattice</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/siemens" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Siemens</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/raytheon-technologies" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Raytheon Technologies</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/stack-overflow" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Stack Overflow</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/primer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Primer</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/datadog" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Datadog</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/csl" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CSL</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/netskope" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Netskope</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/software-one-inc" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SoftwareONE</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/ciena" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ciena</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/quicken-loans" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Quicken Loans</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/clarus-commerce" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Clarus</a></li><li>Apply for open roles at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/elastic" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Elastic</a></li></ul>
1. Make goal setting a ritual.
<p>Sure, a new year is just a change of date, an arbitrary way to mark time. But if we create meaning around it, it can become something else entirely. Carmen Kelly, Training & Development Team Leader at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/quicken-loans" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Quicken Loans</a>, likes to see it as a real beginning. "I enjoy embracing the fresh, new year with hope of what could be, and a huge part of that is goal setting," she says. "Having goals in life is essential. Even creating goals for different areas of your life is key. This can help with making sure you are balancing out all critical aspects of your life that are most important to you."</p> <p>Starting with reflection can help make sure that your goals are well-connected to where you are mentally, personally, and professionally. "I always start with reflecting on my past to gain better understanding of myself," says Ankita Patel, Principal Software Engineer at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/clarus-commerce" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Clarus</a>. "What my capabilities are versus what I really foresee myself doing in next quarter or so. It allows me to see where I stand, what difficulties I have faced, and to shift my perspective from doubting myself to believing in myself. It forms the baseline of starting fresh and helping me plan for my future."</p><p>For Jess Tsai, VP of Business Operations at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/vts" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">VTS</a>, the ritual of goal setting begins with a long journaling session. "I reflect on the last year and rate myself on a scale of 1-10 for how happy I am in these ten areas: health, emotional/mental, relationships (friends/family), love/romance, service, learning/personal growth, experiences, spirituality, career, and finances," she says. "In the areas where I scored lower, I reflect on why. Then I go through each area and write out in detail what my life would look like if I scored 10 in each area, and try to visualize that life and feel like I'm already there. Depending on my scores and what's most important to me right now, I set some intentions for where I want to focus for the year."</p>2. Build around your values.
<p>Disparate goals scattered across different aspects of life aren't as likely to motivate you as one set of goals that coalesce around a theme, says Jac Le, a Senior Territory Sales Representative at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/autodesk-inc" target="_blank">Autodesk</a>. "Whether or not you're conscious of it, values are the foundation of goals, dreams, character, and decision making," she says. "Instead of creating New Year Resolutions, I create a Theme that I want to focus on for the year, which is based on my values. It can be a word or phrase. From there, every goal set throughout the year is measured in alignment with that Theme to ensure that my goals are an expression and enhancement to my values instead of a stressor to check off."</p> <p>If you're having trouble thinking of a good place to start from, or naming the values that drive your everyday life, Dipabali Chowdhury, a Learning & Development Specialist at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/mongodb" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MongoDB</a>, has advice that can help. "The more self-awareness you can build, the more specific your goals will be and the more motivated you will be. Sometimes, we set goals without understanding what's important to us. We follow someone else's compass instead of our own," she says. She suggests asking yourself reflection questions: "When I was happy at work, what contributed to that joy? When and why was I frustrated at work? What mindsets held me back from achieving my goals this year? What challenges did I overcome? What are my natural strengths? What skills, knowledge, or behaviors do I want to build in the new year?"</p> <p>Claire Lucas, Senior Manager, Services Operations at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/elastic" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Elastic</a>, suggests beginning with an end vision in mind. "I work backwards," she says. "I journal about my vision for the end of the year, trying to think about it uninhibited from any constraints. I then focus on creating a declaration for myself that will help me break through to reach my goals. The declaration ties together who I am today, and who I need to be in the future to fulfill this goal."</p>3. Consider making personal and professional goals in harmony.
<p>You might have personal goals that are completely unrelated to what you do at work. That's okay! Great, even. But you do need to make sure that they are complimentary at least so far as how they'll be achieved, says Lee Ann Mangels, Senior Director of Program Management at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/clyde" target="_blank">Clyde</a>. "Your personal and professional goals have to be somewhat aligned. If you decide to improve your time management in the new year, it will only work if the practice or process you start applies to your home and work life," she says. She gives an example: "Several years ago, I started taking 30 minutes on Sunday afternoon to review the week ahead. What meetings do I need to prepare for? What are we having for dinner? Do I have to coordinate any personal appointments for our family? Investing 30 minutes on Sunday has been a game changer for me."</p>4. Start big, then whittle down as needed.
<p>Being aspirational when you make your goals is key—but so is creating a practical plan to achieve them. "I always try to look at the bigger picture [when goal setting]," says Beatriz Alvarez, Talent Acquisition Sr. Analyst - Recruitment Events Lead at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/lockheed-martin" target="_blank">Lockheed Martin</a>. "I try to set a long term goal that seems impossible, making sure it is measurable, down-to-earth, and real—and most importantly, that it is motivating. Once I have my eyes on the prize, I strategize by setting up a group of smaller goals that will help me achieve it."</p><p>That being said, it's important to not lose sight of those aspirations, either. Amanda Fennell, Chief Security Officer at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/relativity" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Relativity</a>, has advice for finding the Goldilocks moment between too-easy and too-hard goals, finding the just-right pace where you're pushing yourself: "You never know how far you can go unless you set stretch goals. If I only set goals that I knew I could ace, it would be stacking the deck. I want to know how far I can push myself and in taking this approach, I have achieved some pretty amazing things. As Captain Marvel says: 'Higher, further, faster.'"</p><p>Yasameen Raissinia, APAC Commercial New Business Manager at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/smartsheet" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Smartsheet</a>, is a fan of the stretch goal, too. "I always like to push myself either personally or professionally to hit smaller attainable goals that add up to a big audacious goal. For example, I always try to set the goal of getting to the Presidents Club which typically has a goal post of 130%, which is massively difficult to achieve. In order to get there, I try and break down my weeks and my quota to overachieve, and try to give myself smaller goals around numbers of accounts, or contracts I close per week, helping me get to the major and impressive goal!" she says.</p><p>Bridget Barrot, <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/chainalysis" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chainalysis</a>'s VP of Customer Success, has a three-step framework for getting that balance right. "The best lesson I've learned about setting goals is they need to be simplistic, realistic, and strategic," she says. "Simplistic: It's important to find things that are easy to measure, so that you can regularly assess them. Anything that requires too much work to analyze will set you up for failure. Realistic: Stretch goals are important, but it's also important to be practical about what you can complete in any quarter or year. When they get too lofty or too numerous, it's easy to just give up on them all together. Strategic: It's important to differentiate between goals and a 'to do' list. Goals can be a mix of big and small things, but they must be grounded in results rather than just a list of tasks to check off."</p>5. Write goals down.
<p>"We're all familiar with the numerous studies that underscore the correlation between writing down our goals and our ability to achieve them," says Shavit Bar-Nahum, Senior Vice President of Leadership Development at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/moody-s-corporation" target="_blank">Moody's Corporation</a>. "The bottom line is, if it's not documented, it's less likely to happen, you are less likely to hold yourself accountable, and it's much easier to slip back into old habits and behaviors. So whether you are embarking on a new opportunity, learning a new skill, or increasing your sales objective, write it down. And not just for yourself. From documenting it in a system of record to creating a visual reminder for yourself, capture your goals in a way that you and others can see your intentions and can support you on your journey."</p> <p>Going beyond writing down goals can help, too. Mary Kay Evans, <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/pymetrics">pymetrics'</a> Chief Marketing Officer, recognizes the power of writing down her own story: "One of the most challenging and rewarding exercises for me was actually writing out my story. Not goals in a bullet point list, but rather in a story format as though it's already happened. I began the year 2018 by writing the story I wanted to tell by January 2019. It was a narrative looking back on my accomplishments and challenges faced and how exactly I overcame them. By being vivid and specific, like a good narrative requires, I really had to bring my vision of the year ahead to life. It went beyond simply listing my goals to describing outcomes and how I would experience them. This preparation made all the difference as 2018 was a year of tremendous growth and accomplishment for me. It works!"</p>6. Find a way to track your goals over time.
<p>The many women we talked to had different ways of tracking, but the unifying thread is that each had found a way that worked for them. Alisa Cash, Director of IT Solution Delivery at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/blue-cross-and-blue-shield-of-north-carolina" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BCBSNC</a>, sums up the key approach: "Do not set a goal that cannot be measured. This does not have to be an emphatic measurement (such as achieving 100% on time delivery = x; 90% on time delivery =y), although the more you can do this, the clearer resources tend to be."</p><p>For Sarah Morningstar, Ph.D., Data Researcher at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/primer" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Primer</a>, breaking her goals into timely metrics helps. "I have found that I am more likely to achieve my goals if they include specific and actionable metrics; otherwise, it is hard to determine if I am successful," she says. "For example, one of my goals for 2021 is to practice more yoga. However, the term 'more' is vague and difficult to know when I have achieved it. Instead of more yoga, I decided I wanted that to mean that I will practice yoga at least two times per week. Over the year, I need to practice 104 times or 26 times per quarter to be successful. Each quarter I work backward from 26, I do more some weeks, and others it's less. I allow this flexibility because I know that being a mom and a working professional, I can't always control my schedule."</p><p>Amanda Sternklar, Marketing Director at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/state-listings-inc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">State Listings</a>, agrees, and notes that she checks in on her progress every week: "The most important thing for me is ensuring my goals are measurable, through metrics directly related to my own activities. That means that if I want to increase our blog following in the new year, my goals would look something like 'Create 3 original blog posts each week' and 'Be a guest contributor on 10 blogs in 2021.' That way, I can create a tracker—mine is a physical page in my planner, but there are also various apps that help with this—to see my progress at a glance. I review my tracker on the first Monday of each month to make sure I'm on track and figure out any steps I need to take if I'm not."</p><p>Amy Luo, Senior Product Designer at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/lattice" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lattice</a>, likes identifying specific behaviors that she can easily keep in mind. "Be specific and focus on actions or behavior when defining your goals," she says. "Try setting a number you want to achieve or a completion date. It'll help keep you on track and you can clearly measure your progress toward the goal over time. For example, if you want to work on your writing skills, a general goal like 'Become a better writer' would be too vague and difficult to measure. A specific and actionable version could be 'Write for 30 minutes every day' or 'Publish an article every month.'"</p><p>For Stacey Chase, Senior Manager Internal Audit at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/siemens" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Siemens</a>, adding a visual element to her goal metrics is what keeps her on track. "I use a Kanban board on Trello to plan and organize my activity," she says. "In my first column I list my goals for the year and assign them a color. As I work on things throughout the year and add tasks I tie them back by color to the goal the effort is in service to. This helps me multiple ways. First, it is a visible reminder I see daily or weekly of the goals I have set. Second, I am constantly tying back my efforts and time spent back to my goals. Third, it gives me early warning that my goals or my efforts may need to be reevaluated if I find most of my energy is spent on things other than my goals."</p>7. Don’t keep your goals to yourself!
<p>Many of the women we spoke to highlighted how important it is for your goals, personal and professional, to exist outside of your own head. "Be sure to share your aspirations with others and ask for feedback along the way—don't assume your supervisor knows your near and longer-term plans," says Wyetta Morrow, Executive Director, Human Resources at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/raytheon-technologies" target="_blank">Raytheon Technologies</a>. That's particularly true for goals that can be advanced at work, she notes, adding, "Our career journey includes a village and it helps to have others that can advocate for you when you may not be present."</p><p>And there's no need to limit that sharing to just your manager—what about all of the other people that care about you and want to see you succeed? Janet Higgins, Vice President of Regional Sales at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/ciena" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ciena</a>, suggests broadening your circle. "Build a support group around you. Share your goals and your thinking with your trusted mentors and friends. Actively think about who you can leverage in this way. Chances are they would be more than happy to reciprocate. Seeking the perspective of people outside your industry who only have your best interests at heart and are willing to give you straight honesty is pure gold," she says. </p>8. Considering making your goals three-dimensional.
<p>Writing down your goals is a classic approach, but if you have a creative bent or are a more visual learner, maybe going a step farther and making a concrete representation of your goals will help you focus on them. "Try creating a vision board that includes pictures and words of the mini goals and milestones you want to focus on to help you achieve your bigger picture goal," says Gursharn Dhami, Senior Global HR Business Partner at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/stack-overflow" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Stack Overflow</a>. "If you make it visible, you may just feel more accountable to accomplish what you've envisioned for yourself!"</p><p>Brooke Kaylor, Program Manager, National Security Group at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/primer" target="_blank">Primer</a>, agrees with the power of seeing your goals around you. "Visualize it. Decide what it is you want to do and make it so real you can touch it, see it, taste it. When I decided to change my career completely, I put things into my workspace that reminded me of where I wanted to go. Articles, photographs — anything that kept my focus on my goal," she says.</p>9. Tackle the hardest things first—if that’s possible (ribbit).
<p>There's an argument to be made for starting with easy wins, but Laura Ripans, <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/datadog" target="_blank">Datadog</a>'s Director of Channels & Alliances, won't be making it. "Get the important things done first," she says. "For me, this is early in the morning when I have no distractions. Stay focused and concentrate on the things that matter most." She suggests reading <em>Eat That Frog </em>by Brian Tracy. "There's an old saying that if the first thing you do each morning is eat a live frog, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you're done with the worst thing you'll have to do all day. For Tracy, eating a frog is a metaphor for tackling your most challenging task—but also the one that can have the greatest positive impact on your life," she says.</p> <p>As it turns out, Claudia Petrocchi, Executive Director of HR Operations for <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/csl" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CSL</a>, is a big fan of the frog approach, too. "Years ago, someone shared a Mark Twain quote with me: 'If it's your job to eat a frog, it's best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it's your job to eat two frogs, it's best to eat the biggest one first.' This quote clicked with me—it's so visual that it really helps me. Normally I would wait the whole day and think how awful this frog will be. But now, I'll eat the frog right away. For years I had a sticker of a frog on my laptop. So, if I had that crazy email or that crazy project, that would be my frog."</p> <p>Sasi Murthy, VP, Product and Solutions Marketing at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/netskope" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Netskope</a>, has a visual trick to help you remember to keep that big, hard goal front and center: "Invest time in thinking about what you want to achieve, not how you will do it. Then find a jar and place a big rock or a few that represent these goals inside, and fill the rest with smaller rocks. This will be a reminder that we are most effective at anything we set out to do, when we give it the space in our 'mental jar' first, and follow it with the smaller goals."</p> <p>That being said, make sure the hard thing you're going after is even possible. For Shelly Anderson Bodine, a Chief of Staff at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/software-one-inc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SoftwareONE</a>, remembering that she's operating in an environment where she can't control everything is key. "I once had a leader tell me you needed two things to get promoted," she says. "First, a position had to be available, and second, you had to be ready for the role when it was available. That feedback has always stuck with me throughout my career. I realized I really only had control over the latter. So each time I would move into a new role, I gave myself 6 months to acclimate. At that point, I evaluated what I could do to be better than the next person in the role I have and where do I want to go next. From there, I would create a list of things that would bring me closer to my end game, narrow down to the 2-3 most impactful, and those became my goals."</p>10. Goals aren’t set-it-and-forget-it.
<p>If you set goals in January and ignore them from then on out, your chance of marking them "achieved" at the end of the year is low. "Try not to think of goal setting as a yearly activity," says Sarah Burke, Senior Director of Software Engineering at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/ciena" target="_blank">Ciena</a>. "Achieving goals requires continual review and reassessment of priorities. Book some personal time in your calendar once a month to remind yourself to check in on how you're progressing and hold yourself accountable for re-adjusting. You are responsible for your success!"</p>11. Go beyond a 12-month horizon.
<p>Many of the things you're most interested in—be it <a href="https://blog.powertofly.com/how-to-become-a-vp-2644977654.html" target="_self">becoming a VP</a>, launching your own company, writing a book, finishing an advanced degree moving to a different country, or any other number of goals—might not happen in just one year. Tami Early, VP and General Manager Sales—Major Accounts at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/ciena" target="_blank">Ciena</a>, suggests breaking down your goals into "digestible and achievable bites." She uses the VSEM method: setting a 5+ year vision, a 2-4 year strategy, a 12-18 execution plan, and 12-month rolling metrics. "This method of goal setting allows me to think about my long- and short-term objectives, while holding myself accountable to measurable outcomes inside of a year," she says.</p>12. Treat yourself with grace.
<p>You won't achieve all of your goals, and that's okay. As Megan Sykes, Contracts Manager at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/elastic" target="_blank">Elastic</a> reminds us, "Don't set overbearing expectations on yourself. Afford yourself grace. While it's important to progress personally and professionally, we have to be adaptable to the circumstances around us (which can change over time) and live with integrity."</p> <p>That's never been more important than after the year 2020. "I'm very goal orientated both personally and professionally," shares Amanda Eleuteri, a Sr. HR Business Partner at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/cargurus" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CarGurus</a>. "Early on in my career, I would feel defeated if I didn't achieve my goals for the year. I try to be mindful that sometimes a goal is not achieved because priorities change. That was certainly the case in 2020 as needs in the business evolved and what I was focusing on shifted in response."</p><p><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/national-security-agency-nsa" target="_blank">NSA's</a> Meredith D., PhD, echoes the importance of revisiting, and revising, your goals: "Your goals are not meant to be set in stone! There are several factors that can require them to change, even dramatically at times. Be flexible and willing to change your SMART goals. Sometimes we can foresee that the goal is not going to be achieved in our original timeframe. Or we change our mind completely! This is not a failure. It is an opportunity to reflect and revise the goal given the new information at hand."</p> <p>After all, it's about the journey, not the destination. "The process of working toward a goal is often more important than achieving the goal itself," says Stephanie Cheng, Product Engineer at <a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/folsom-labs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Folsom Labs</a>. "The shape or timeline of your goal can change as long as you check in with yourself and continue to consistently work toward them. It's okay if you don't achieve your goal on the first try. Working toward goals is really about building the muscle memory to form slightly better habits each year. With consistency, patience, and positivity you can build the tools you need to succeed."</p>
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November 04, 2020
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Watch our virtual experience with Moody's Corporation, a global integrated risk assessment firm that empowers organizations to make better decisions.
As Moody's relies on data to pinpoint client growth opportunities and assess risks, their tech organization is a critical component of success. During this session, you'll meet a few of the company's most prominent women leaders and gain insight into the evolving financial technology industry.
Speakers included:
- Fabian Astic, Managing Director, Global Head of Analytical Tools and Solutions
- Ashit Talukder, Senior Director, Machine Learning
- Irina Korablev, Senior Director, Analytics Product Management
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