On day three of the Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit, sponsored by State Farm, attendees began the day bright and early with fitness, networking and dynamic panels. After hearing inspiring words from tennis pro Venus Williams, professional women got insights on how to assess their career strengths and weaknesses and build a career advancement team via the “Career Team Advantage” seminar.
Moderated by Audra Bohannon, senior partner at Korn/Ferry Leadership & Talent Consulting, the panel included power women Pamela Culpepper, senior vice president of global diversity and inclusion at PepsiCo; Cynthia H. Bowman, senior vice president of diversity and inclusion at Bank of America, and Yvette M. Miley, senior vice president and executive editor at MSNBC.
Panelists talked about the importance of minority women not only being great performers known for results, but engaging with peers and influencers in their offices to ensure career development and advancement. They also encouraged attendees to have a team of people that includes sponsors and advocates within their offices, industries and personal circles, who support their development and can give honest feedback— good and bad.
Another key topic was finding the balance between personal openness and professional tenacity. Attendees were encouraged to open up a bit to workplace peers in terms of letting them know the you that exists beyond your business duties, so that you can relate to them in a personal way. Create healthy boundaries in sharing personal information, but don’t be afraid to let peers in so you can forge long-lasting business connections and relationships.
Remember, attendees were told, people are more likely to do business with people they know, like and trust.
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS! Join us for the landmark 10th Annual Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit hosted by State Farm, March 2—4, 2015, at Fort Lauderdale Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Fort Lauderdale, FL. This exciting, one-of-a-kind executive leadership summit is designed to train, equip and encourage women to become industry leaders, learn career strategies, and discover proven work—life balance techniques. Register Now! https://blackenterprise.com/wps