The Edge: Network Your Way to Success

By Jennifer Sugarman (This Column Ran on FloridaToday.com 11/12/2007) Oh no, it’s another one of “those” articles – about how networking is important. I can hear your collective sighs and visualize your eye rolls from here! But what if I told you that your business could experience an increase in revenue without spending a dime? OK, maybe a few dimes … Read More

Exasperating Tenacity, Constant Learning and 21st Century Leadership

(This column was published on FloridaToday.com 10/21/17) By Beth Gitlin “If you aren’t actively trying to learn, no one can help you. If you make it central to your professional life, no one can stop you.” – Ann Dwane, Co-founder and Partner, Village Global. When I was a global sourcing director at Wal-Mart 20 years ago, I was THAT associate … Read More

Mentoring Benefits All Who are Involved

Sheryl Sandberg said in her book, “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead”: “I realized that searching for a mentor has become the professional equivalent of waiting for Prince Charming. We all grew up on the fairy tale ‘Sleeping Beauty,’ which instructs young women that if they just wait for their prince to arrive, they will be kissed … Read More

Don’t Be Afraid of Changes, Rather Embrace Them

Once upon a time, in the land of work, there lived a people who were comfortable and secure. They had good education and advanced degrees. They were celebrated and adored for their long-term dedication to their companies and crafts. This fairy tale life guaranteed the people would live happily ever after. Then one day, the people of the kingdom realized … Read More

Success: It Looks Different for Everyone

Success. It’s such a small word with big consequences. An Internet search on Dictionary.com defined success as, “The accomplishment of an aim or purpose.” Success can also mean accomplishing one’s goals, or attaining wealth, position or honors you have striven to attain. Success looks different for everyone. Of course being successful is what everyone strives for, but not the outcome … Read More

Find the Best ‘Work-Life’ Balance

The first time I really paid attention to the term “work-life balance” was during interviews as I was about to graduate from business school. Coming out in a strong economy when companies were actively recruiting from top business schools, I heard many spiels on work-life balance and corporate programs centered around the concept. The whole idea was to make us … Read More

A Golden Answer for Every Problem

Albert Einstein said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” I have been in practice as a lawyer for more than 32 years, in five states. People rarely come to see a lawyer when everything is fine in their lives. As a result, over the years, I have seen a lot of … Read More

Male “Allyship”

I recently attended a women’s networking event sponsored by weVENTURE’s “League of Extraordinary Women.” These women, high level leaders in our community, are stepping up and setting great examples as mentors, leaders and cheerleaders for each other in addition to lending financial support to train and develop women entrepreneurs in our region. They are passionate about community and economic development, … Read More

Strategic Networking

Just the other day, after leveraging a key contact to land a prime business opportunity, a friend posted on her Facebook, “Your network determines your net worth.” We all know the importance of networking in growing our brand, companies, and careers. For those of us who are introverts, the thought of actively networking can be daunting if not overwhelming. However, … Read More

Better This Year

Have you ever had a book change your life? “Younger Next Year for Women” did that for me. In this book, authors Chris Crowley and Dr. Henry Lodge use scientific data to entice us to live the rest of our lives biologically younger and emotionally happier. “Decay is optional,” the authors write, if you choose to grow instead of to … Read More