Women's Business Group Plans First Worcester Event
There's nothing new about women in technology in Central Massachusetts. Anyone who works at a technology company probably knows a female engineer or lab scientist or software programmer.
But there are still far fewer women than men in high-tech jobs, and particularly in leadership positions within technology companies. That's where WEST comes in.
WEST, a Cambridge-based nonprofit that promotes women's roles in the business end of science and technology industries, is holding its first official event in Worcester on Feb. 9. Back in October, the organization received a $30,000 grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center to expand from the Boston area into the Route 128 corridor and the Worcester/I-495 area.
Ilene Fischer, WEST's executive director, said the group's focus is on helping women develop business skills that they haven't traditionally been taught, such as how to ask for a promotion or how to set themselves up as a leader within a work group.
"They really need the development in leadership skills," Fischer said. "As a woman scientist I certainly note that that has been the case for me too."
Victoria Waterman, president of Leading Women of Massachusetts, another organization dedicated to helping women navigate the business world, said that's just the sort of focus that she has found is important for businesswomen. She said women are often told that if they just do well at their jobs they'll be recognized. Instead, she said, they need to learn to demonstrate the links between their work and the financial success of the company.
"That's what we find is the skill set that's needed to get to the top," she said.
"Unfortunately it's not offered in most corporate training programs, nor is it the advice that most women are given."
Of course, some men also need help with some of the same skills, and Fischer said her events are open to them as well.
Fischer said the initial workshop in Worcester will be a program on communication and presentation skills led by business coach and former WBZ-TV news anchor Tom Kennedy. Participants will be recorded on video giving presentations and get tips on how to improve their performances.
WEST has previously offered the workshop in the Boston area, and Fischer said the plan going forward is to try events there first and then bring them out to Route 128 and Worcester. She said popular workshops may also be expanded into full-day events held along Route 128 to draw participants from all three areas.
As things move forward, Fischer said the organization may expand to the north or south of Boston, or into Western Massachusetts.
"We want to grow organically," she said. "We want it to be a pull strategy, not a push strategy."
More information on WEST and its upcoming events in Central Massachusetts is available at www.westorg.org.
WBJ Web Partners
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments