A Message from your Chapter President

Lorraine Lewis WICT Northern California President 2011

As we move beyond the half-way mark for this year, it's a great time to take stock of successes and ahas, while embracing those exciting opportunities that lie ahead.

Revisiting the themes of preceding newsletters, I highlighted the importance of having a plan for your professional and personal development, and discussed mentoring and some misconceptions. 

So, how is it going? How is your plan, and are you on track? And, perhaps you've discovered a whole new appreciation for mentoring, based on those four myths.

My esteemed Iyengar yoga teacher, Tony Eason, often closes his yoga class with words that resonate with me every day: 

      "Remember that you and only you are your own guru." 

These powerful words at first appear to fly in the face of the idea of mentoring, right? But, is this a contradiction, or can "being your own guru" in fact co-exist with mentoring? Without question, the "guru-like," mentoring relationship is critical more than ever in the business world. At the same time, there's a place somewhere between the mentor-mentee relationship, and being your own guru where there's that sweet spot - to be your "own person."

On that note, what a perfect segue way into WICT Northern California's Fall programs designed to help you connect with your unique skills, clarify your plan and assist so you can excel - both within teams and as your "authentic self."   

These programs include:

September 8 Coaching Clinic: "Igniting Your Passion" a dynamic panel discussion on what excites and motivates you to come to work, and how to find that passion and tap into your core strengths.

October 13 Executive Leadership Symposium (targeted to senior level executives and their nominees): How to effectively bring together and productively work across four generations in the workplace.

November 10 Webinar: Personal and Professional Development Career Strategies.

I look forward to connecting with you at one of WICT Northern California's upcoming events.

LL

Save the Date

WICT NorCal 

Leadership Boot Camp: Best Practices for New Leaders

Hilton Pleasanton at The Club

August 12 

WICT NorCal  

Coaching Clinic

Comcast Spotlight, San Francisco

September 8

WICT NorCal  

Executive Leadership Symposium

October 13

WICT NorCal

Webinar: Personal and Professional Development Career Strategies

November 10 

WICT National

WICT Leadership Conference

New York, NY

October 3 - 4

Through inspiring keynote sessions, innovative workshops and interfacing with industry colleagues, attendees will be immersed in leadership activities that will help to impact their bottom line. WICT will recognize individuals and organizations that are paving the way for the development of women in the cable industry.

Annual Golf Tournament and Clinic (June 9)

Happy participants at the golf tournament

WICT Northern California's Annual Golf Tournament and Clinic  drew a record 108 participants made up of WICT chapter members and cable industry employees.  Attendees connected with industry leaders, cultivated communication and negotiation skills, and enjoyed an afternoon of golf, followed by dinner, awards and prizes.  Attendees of the Golf Clinic learned first hand from Poppyridge Golf Course golf pros Scott Beville and David Parks inside golf tips, and how to use the game of golf as a tool for business. Kudos to Golf Tournament Event Chairs Kevin Wood and Kerri Dupray for championing another dynamic and sell out tournament!  

Interview with Bev Wilmore, author of Motivating Greatness 

By Katrina Hammonds  

Bev Wilmore

I had the delightful opportunity to interview our own Bev Wilmore, Immediate Past President, WICT NorCal, to discuss her new book, Motivating Greatness. Here are some excerpts from our discussion:

Q: A few months ago I watched Oprah Winfrey share her road to success in a two-part series that aired on OWN. She spoke consistently about finding her purpose and doing what she was "meant" to do. What motivated you to write a book that helps others identify what they were "born to do" and why do you think knowing it is important?

A: "This book, Motivating Greatness, was written to encourage readers to focus on their power to choose greatness for each day, each moment and each experience. This way, they may learn whatever lessons are presented and look forward to getting and giving the best of themselves every day of their lives."

"I have always embraced my life, appreciating each day and each moment. Being a motivator and inspirer by nature, I realize that my best gift is to generate positive energy among others. I define greatness as a remarkable gift or talent that is unique to an individual. I believe that everyone has greatness. I do not take the gift of greatness for granted and have made a lifelong commitment to use my greatness to help others realize their purpose and passion. My fondest hope is to create an epidemic of greatness so that each day a person anywhere in the world awakens with a mindset to embrace every day and moment. I believe that you have something important to contribute because you matter...that is why you were born and that is why you are still here!"

                                                     Read more of the interview 

In Charge and Indispensable: Finding Opportunity in Difficult Times

By Ann Carlsen 

Ann Carlsen

Believe it or not, this is a time of tremendous opportunity. The economy and the job market are clearly undergoing significant upheaval. But despite the unemployment numbers and associated hand-wringing, corporate recruiters are very busy. Companies are hiring. There's a lot of activity out there, but the game has changed. Career growth is available for those who learn the new rules and seize the opportunities that are emerging.  

In our current environment, margins are affected by relentless technological development and globalization. Financial pressure has increased, and more than ever, the only thing that counts is results. Most companies are now overstaffed in functions that have become less critical to the bottom line, and understaffed in strategic and revenue-generating areas. At the same time, while unprecedented numbers of baby boomers are retiring from corporate positions, fewer young, well-educated workers are entering the workforce to fill the gap. Employment experts estimate that incoming younger workers represent just a quarter of departing older ones.

In the years ahead, businesses will focus more and more on key core competencies and contract out for the support needed for other functions. Speed to market will be more important than economies of scale. These changes point to a new path for the individual career-builder. As the corporate organization chart shrinks and flattens, networks of specialists in specific critical areas will call the shots. Eventually, they'll replace middle management. Generalists are losing traction; specialization is the new black.

Another result: paternalistic companies that used to shepherd employees up the career ladder are on the way out. Your career path is in your hands, no matter how big the company you work for or the staff you lead. In a practical sense, each of us is self-employed. Think of yourself as CEO of You, Inc.

           Read on...

Women in Cable Telecommunications Northern California Congratulates our 2011 Scholarship Recipients

Leadership Boot Camp & Beyond (August 12) Scholarship

WICT NorCal's 2011 Leadership Boot Camp and Beyond provides the perfect training ground for professionals who want to hone their management and leadership skills in this intensive one-day program. The day will include:

• the history of how cable came about
• the future of the marketplace
• the key elements of leadership versus managing

Latoya Gadson

Ayeshia Sanders 

Octavio Martinez

Alejandra Rocha

Cherie Leanders

Maribel Torres

Zaikiya Hazewood

Andrea Carson

Theresa Castro

Saundra Campos

Student Membership Scholarship

This year's student membership scholarship winners are:

Rachel Brienzo, Loyola Marymount University

Sarah "Cat" O'Grady, Emerson College