Women entrepreneurs wear many hats—we’re the strategists, marketers, financial planners, and decision-makers behind our businesses. With so many responsibilities, integrating AI into our workflows can be a game-changer, helping us manage these roles more efficiently. We juggle multiple responsibilities all while ensuring our brands remain impactful. But no matter how skilled or determined we are, there are only so many hours in a day.

That’s where AI comes in. 

As a Grow With Google coach, brand strategist, and entrepreneur, I’ve integrated AI into my workflow to spark creativity and improve decision-making—and I’ve had personal experiences on how AI is helping business owners like myself, scale smarter. The good news is that integrating AI into your business doesn’t require you to be a tech expert. It’s all about understanding where AI fits into your business and leveraging it to enhance your expertise, not replace it. 

If you’re looking for a business partner that can help you work smarter, not harder, AI may be the missing piece. Here are five tips along with examples of how AI can transform the way you run and grow your business.

1. Increase Productivity by Automating Daily Tasks

I often say time is the most expensive thing I own, yet much of it can get lost in repetitive, time-consuming tasks. From responding to emails to organizing documents, these small tasks add up, blocking high-impact work. AI-powered automation changes that by taking over routine responsibilities, while you focus on strategy, growth, and creativity.

For example, I use Google Workspace AI tools to help with drafting emails, summarizing lengthy documents, and organizing content more effectively. AI-powered transcription tools change the game, allowing me to turn voice notes into structured outlines without having to manually type everything out. 

2. Conduct Extensive Research in Minutes

Business success relies on staying informed—whether it’s understanding customer behavior, analyzing competitors, or identifying market trends. The challenge is that research often sends you down a rabbit hole of exploration for hours, which typically mismanages time and leaves you overwhelmed from reading and sorting through information. AI provides a solution by delivering data quickly, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on applying the findings rather than searching for them.

For instance, whether working on a client’s blog post or developing a marketing strategy, I use Google Search’s AI Overviews to gather historical context, analyze influences, and identify key themes efficiently. Instead of sifting through multiple articles in a traditional search, AI presents that information in an overview, so I can spend more time on storytelling instead of searching.

Google Trends is a great tool that helps me stay ahead of industry trends by showing what people are searching for. Whether for a marketing campaign or product or service development, this tool ensures that I connect to what is relevant to my client, their brand, and the audience.

3. Brainstorm Creative Ideas Instantly

Creativity is as necessary as breathing for an entrepreneur, but we must admit, even the most creative minds hit a wall. I often find myself distracted from tasks by incoming emails, calls, meetings, and to-do lists, which cap my creativity. But whether I’m working on branding, marketing strategies, or content development, I use AI as a brainstorming partner to help generate fresh ideas and refine messaging.

One of my favorite ways to use AI is when naming a new initiative. I will use the Google AI tool, Gemini (formerly Bard AI), to brainstorm potential names and refine wording that represents the brand vision. The key is to always feed your AI tool information and insight that will help it work WITH you, not for you. Oftentimes, this leads to me discovering suggestions I might not have considered on my own, expanding my options. Similarly, when crafting social media content, I use AI tools to generate post ideas, captions, and outlines, which I then personalize to match the brand’s voice.

AI doesn’t replace creativity; it enhances it. Instead of struggling with a blank screen or staring into space waiting for your creative block to lift, use AI as a creative partner in your process.

4. Serve as a Thought Partner for Decision-Making

Entrepreneurs often encounter challenging decisions, such as: 

Should I raise my prices? 

How do I compete with my competitors? 

What platform should I use for marketing?

How much income do I need to scale and build my team? 

AI acts as a strategic thought partner by offering information that refines ideas and decision-making confidence.

For instance, when launching Memorial Moments Online, my new business dedicated to honoring loved ones through digital funeral programs and services, I asked my AI tool to help me further define my target audience. AI continues to help me make critical decisions for my business and my job that help me better understand best practices, allowing me to make intentional decisions with greater confidence. 

Even for something as simple as event planning, AI has been an incredible asset. When organizing a group trip for my nonprofit, I used AI tools to help structure participant surveys, allowing me to capture feedback for future planning. Additionally, these tools helped me plan an itinerary in the city we visited. The ability to process information quickly and provide recommendations is what makes AI a powerful thought partner—not just for execution but also for clarity and strategy. 

5. Support Business Planning, Strategy & Development

Scaling a business requires structured planning, strategic foresight, and operational effectiveness. AI has been a staple tool in helping me develop long-term business strategies, refine internal processes, and build the infrastructure needed for sustainability.

When developing strategic plans for my businesses, I used AI to identify challenges and structure goals and action items. Instead of starting from scratch, I maximized AI-powered research tools to gather an assessment of my current position, analyze market trends, and refine my competitive positioning. AI also helped me create timelines and format my ideas and strategies into structured, professional documents that I could use for execution and stakeholder communication. 

Beyond strategy, AI has also been instrumental in building operational frameworks and HR processes. I’ve used AI to draft internship and apprenticeship program outlines, ensuring that roles, expectations, and learning outcomes were clearly defined. 

Final Thoughts: AI is Here to Help, Not Replace

AI is designed to enhance and support the work we already do.

Since integrating AI into my business, I’ve been able to work more efficiently, generate new ideas faster, and make more confident decisions. You can start small, just make sure you start!

Start by using AI to automate daily tasks, boost your productivity, or brainstorm ideas—and gradually expand from there. AI can be one of the best supports to your business if you give it a chance to transform how you work.

As the year winds down, it’s a time for reflection, gratitude, and generosity. End-of-year charitable giving offers a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on causes you care about while also reaping valuable tax benefits. Whether you’re donating cash, appreciated assets, or even setting up a donor-advised fund, your contributions can help shape a brighter future for those in need and reduce your taxable income at the same time.

Strategic philanthropic giving can maximize your contributions and transform the holiday season into a time of meaningful change. Let’s make the most of these last few weeks in 2024!
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Here are several methods to consider:

1. Cash Donations: Contributing cash to qualified charitable organizations allows you to deduct the donation amount from your taxable income, up to 60% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). If your donations exceed this limit, you can carry forward the excess deduction for up to five years.

2. Donating Appreciated Assets: By donating long-term appreciated assets, such as stocks or real estate held for more than a year, you can deduct their fair market value and avoid paying capital gains tax on the appreciation. This strategy is particularly beneficial for assets that have significantly increased in value.

3. Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs): Establishing a DAF allows you to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction, and recommend grants to charities over time. This approach provides flexibility in your giving and can be advantageous for tax planning.

4. Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs): If you’re 73 or older and must take required minimum distributions (RMDs) from your IRA, you can direct up to $105,000 per individual for 2024 to a qualified charity through a QCD. This distribution satisfies your RMD but is not included in your taxable income.

5. Bunching Contributions: If your total itemized deductions are close to the standard deduction, consider “bunching” charitable contributions into one tax year to surpass the standard deduction threshold, allowing you to itemize and maximize your tax benefits.

6. Check Employer Benefits to Maximize Charitable Contributions: Many companies offer workplace giving benefits where they’ll match tax-advantaged charitable contributions to nonprofits. Now is a great time to check your employer’s policies to ensure you maximize your giving.

Before implementing these strategies, consult with your legal, tax or financial professional to ensure they align with your financial goals and comply with current tax laws.

As the calendar turns and a new year approaches, there’s no better time to reflect on the difference you can make through thoughtful giving. Whether your gift supports a local organization, advances global causes, empowers women, or strengthens communities, your generosity will spark meaningful change. Beyond the impact on others, end-of-year giving allows you to take advantage of tax benefits that align with your financial goals.

Let this season of giving be a reminder that every contribution—big or small—can ripple outward in ways you might never imagine. Together, we can close the year with purpose and step into the next one with a shared commitment to making the world a little brighter.

I am passionate about encouraging better money habits and financial discipline for women and strive to help even more women feel confident about being financially independent. 

Pennsylvania Women Work has a vision to empower all to succeed in the workforce, earn equitable compensation and attain economic security. Community programming like PA Women Work’s truly makes a positive impact on the overall health and wellness of families in our community. I am thankful to align my passions with PA Women Work’s vision and work together to educate women on financial literacy.  

Collectively, let’s go beyond the basics of “What is a checking and savings account?” and “What is credit?” Let’s actually work to improve economic mobility. Bank of America shares Better Money Habits throughout the community and here are a few action steps that you can take. 

Develop A Budget: Developing a budget can bring on a bit of anxiety for some, but it serves to keep us disciplined with our financial decisions. Getting organized and gathering all your sources of income and expenses is the first step. Fortunately, there are a plethora of technology and applications that can make this easier. Most banks have online platforms that can track expenses and provide reporting to help adjust where needed. This can assist in your strategy to reduce debt. Streamlining your payments and opting for electronic processing can also help maintain your budget and improve efficiency.

Jump-Start Your Emergency Fund: Saving can be challenging, especially given our current economic conditions. Starting small is the best advice that I can give. The most important thing is to develop the behavior and the return will happen over time.  Making your income work for you and finding creative ways to increase income can help build savings, as well. For example, if you are passionate about animals offer to dog sit for a neighbor or sell those cupcakes that everyone loves. Also, do not take on the task of creating a savings plan alone. You can reach out to a financial advisor or a trusted friend to help you develop a plan and hold you accountable to it.   

Saving Best Practices: Establishing goals and staying disciplined is key. Behaviors that can help you save money and stay on track include, reviewing monthly subscriptions and phone plans, stick to a grocery list and eat in, and forgoing something you buy often but perhaps do not need. Also, celebrating yourself when you hit a goal is important. It does not have to be extravagant but could be something simple like sharing the news with loved ones.    

Tackling Financial Stress: Managing the stress that comes with trying to improve your financial situation can certainly be difficult. Better Money Habits reveals that 66% of adults said that money is a significant source of stress and 43% reported feeling that saving enough money for things in the future is their main source of stress. Financial stress can impact your mental, emotional, and physical health, so it is important to be aware of this and take advantage of available resources. Some tips to alleviate stress include things previously mentioned, such as creating a budget, building an emergency plan, and reaching out to others for support.

Regardless of where you are financially today, know that you are on a journey and things do not change overnight. Stay encouraged to practice better money habits and remember to share your knowledge and story with others who may benefit. 

Sources:
(Study: Women’s Financial Literacy & Investing Knowledge (ml.com)
https://bettermoneyhabits.bankofamerica.com/en).

In a 2005 speech, Barack Obama stated, “A budget is more that just a series of numbers on a page. It is an embodiment of our values.” Financial literacy and economic mobility are important for everyone, but women often feel less knowledgeable and less equipped than men to make smart investments and financial moves. 
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With more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, I have had the opportunity to listen to the financial journeys of many individuals and families.  A common theme I hear is: “I wish I would have started saving and investing earlier.” There is an increasing demand for knowledge and guidance in the area of financial wellness and literacy. The latest Merrill Lynch study revealed that more women are owning their financial futures and 48% of women feel confident managing money, up from 32% in 2018.

I am passionate about encouraging better money habits and financial discipline for women and strive to help even more women feel confident about being financially independent. 

Pennsylvania Women Work has a vision to empower all to succeed in the workforce, earn equitable compensation and attain economic security. Community programming like PA Women Work’s truly makes a positive impact on the overall health and wellness of families in our community. I am thankful to align my passions with PA Women Work’s vision and work together to educate women on financial literacy.  

Collectively, let’s go beyond the basics of “What is a checking and savings account?” and “What is credit?” Let’s actually work to improve economic mobility. Bank of America shares Better Money Habits throughout the community and here are a few action steps that you can take. 

Develop A Budget: Developing a budget can bring on a bit of anxiety for some, but it serves to keep us disciplined with our financial decisions. Getting organized and gathering all your sources of income and expenses is the first step. Fortunately, there are a plethora of technology and applications that can make this easier. Most banks have online platforms that can track expenses and provide reporting to help adjust where needed. This can assist in your strategy to reduce debt. Streamlining your payments and opting for electronic processing can also help maintain your budget and improve efficiency.

Jump-Start Your Emergency Fund: Saving can be challenging, especially given our current economic conditions. Starting small is the best advice that I can give. The most important thing is to develop the behavior and the return will happen over time.  Making your income work for you and finding creative ways to increase income can help build savings, as well. For example, if you are passionate about animals offer to dog sit for a neighbor or sell those cupcakes that everyone loves. Also, do not take on the task of creating a savings plan alone. You can reach out to a financial advisor or a trusted friend to help you develop a plan and hold you accountable to it.   

Saving Best Practices: Establishing goals and staying disciplined is key. Behaviors that can help you save money and stay on track include, reviewing monthly subscriptions and phone plans, stick to a grocery list and eat in, and forgoing something you buy often but perhaps do not need. Also, celebrating yourself when you hit a goal is important. It does not have to be extravagant but could be something simple like sharing the news with loved ones.    

Tackling Financial Stress: Managing the stress that comes with trying to improve your financial situation can certainly be difficult. Better Money Habits reveals that 66% of adults said that money is a significant source of stress and 43% reported feeling that saving enough money for things in the future is their main source of stress. Financial stress can impact your mental, emotional, and physical health, so it is important to be aware of this and take advantage of available resources. Some tips to alleviate stress include things previously mentioned, such as creating a budget, building an emergency plan, and reaching out to others for support.

Regardless of where you are financially today, know that you are on a journey and things do not change overnight. Stay encouraged to practice better money habits and remember to share your knowledge and story with others who may benefit. 

Sources:
(Study: Women’s Financial Literacy & Investing Knowledge (ml.com)
https://bettermoneyhabits.bankofamerica.com/en).

When looking for career advice, we’re often told: “Find a mentor!” But what does that really mean, and how can a mentor help you achieve your career goals?

When I entered the workforce after college, my first mentor was assigned to me by my company’s training program. She was a senior-level manager who had started in the same role as me ten years earlier but worked in a different department now, and I was required to set up three meetings with her over the course of my four-month-long training period. I am grateful for how formal this first mentorship experience was. I didn’t need to feel shy about taking time out of a busy person’s day, and she was uniquely positioned to give me great advice about succeeding in the role. 

Over the years, I’ve had other similarly formal mentor relationships, thanks to my company’s Close Knit Co-Mentorship program that matches associates across departments for a six-month series of meetings. But I have also had mentorships that grew more organically — former managers who I kept in touch with, and leaders in other departments who could offer a different perspective.

If you’re looking for a mentor but not sure where to start, I would recommend trying a mentorship program! Pennsylvania Women Work’s 3 Cups of Coffee program is, of course, a great place to start. Your current employer may also have a program you can join – according to MentorcliQ, “as of 2022, 84% of U.S. Fortune 500 companies have visible mentoring programs.” Your manager or Human Resources department should be able to help you, or if a formal program isn’t available, they may have suggestions for potential mentors in your organization to reach out to. 

So, you have a mentor now…what’s next? Here are some suggestions to make the most of your meetings with your mentor:  

• Identify your career goals. Are you working toward a promotion? Looking for greater work-life balance? Trying to make a career transition? Knowing this, and sharing it with your mentor, will help guide your conversations.
• Ask about your mentor’s career path. If you can find them on LinkedIn, you can prepare questions about particular roles or transitions you want to learn more about. Coming up with personal questions and conversation topics will help lead to a productive conversation.
• Consider how this individual can support you. What are you hoping to get out of this relationship? Do you need a resume review or interview practice? Do you want to talk through issues you’re currently struggling with at work? Are you looking for introductions or referrals to help you land your next role? 
• Share updates on your progress. As your relationship progresses, you can come to your meetings with updates on your progress and how you are putting your mentor’s advice to work. 

At some point in your career, you will likely find the tables turning, and it might now be your time to be the mentor instead of the mentee. When you feel established and secure in your career, and you feel you might have experience to offer others, it’s time to consider stepping into that mentorship role!We all have something in our story that others can learn from. 

For me, I found myself taking interns under my wing and offering one-on-one meetings to share advice, and now new hires at my organization often reach out to learn more about my career path. I love talking about what I’ve learned, and when I realized that people actually found a 30-minute phone call helpful, I discovered I had become a mentor without really trying to!

As you begin mentoring others, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Practice explaining the different parts of your career. Work on your own “elevator pitch,” but include enough detail so your mentee fully understands your career path and what you do for a living. 
• Meet your mentee where they are. Some people just need a listening ear and someone who believes in them, and others may need much more guidance and explanation. You’ll learn a lot in your first conversation and map out a plan for your mentoring relationship from there.
• Be ready to learn just as much from your mentee as they are from you! Your mentee may come from a different field, company or background than you, and you may find that hearing their story and perspective helps you think about your own work differently. That’s the true power of mentorship. 

​When done right, mentorship creates a support network for both mentors and mentees, and helps us all learn from each other’s mistakes and successes. Use these tips, and make it your goal for 2024 to build at least one new mentor relationship! I promise you won’t regret it. 

For some, social media can seem like a chore. It can sometimes feel like one more thing we have to check off our to-do list. But in the fast-paced work world, it has never been more important to be active on social media with LinkedIn. 

Since its inception, LinkedIn has grown significantly. The social networking platform now boasts over 900 million members, up nearly 60 million more than in 2022. It is the largest professional networking platform and provides an opportunity for job-seekers or those looking to advance their careers to learn about employment, training and career development opportunities. On top of that, it’s a space for employers to recruit talent for open positions and seasoned professionals to network and engage with one another across the country (and world). 

But what is my favorite thing about LinkedIn? It’s simple – it’s fun and positive. This is a platform where controversial topics are usually left aside and users lift one another up, cheer each other on, and celebrate accomplishments. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that? 

Now the hard part, creating your LinkedIn profile or simply maintaining it. Here’s the good news – LinkedIn is very user friendly, and you can make some simple updates to your profile to keep it current, relevant and clean. 

Profile and cover photo: These two things are prime real estate on your LinkedIn page. Make sure your profile picture is not a selfie or a cropped photo, but a photo of you in a more professional setting. We don’t all have the means to get a professional headshot, which is okay, but ask a friend to take a photo of you dressed professionally with a simple background. That will do just fine! As for your cover photo, choose something that fits your personality and have a little fun. 

Headline: Your headline is the descriptive words that appear under your profile photo on your LinkedIn page. These are important because they follow you everywhere, showing up with your name whenever someone searches you on LinkedIn. For those actively employed, you can include your job title, but also consider adding some descriptors of who you are and what you do to better maximize your chances of showing up in search results! 

Here’s an example: Director of Communications | Story-teller | Strategic Communicator | Social media expert | Nonprofit branding

About: Your about section is an opportunity for you to tell the world a little more about yourself. I always like to say it’s a space for you to show your “professional personality.” By this, I mean it’s where you can share some of your professional accomplishments, employment background and highlights, and also a little bit about who you are personally. But keep it professional and under five lines. 

Activity: So here’s where people always seem to get hung up and overwhelmed. What do I share on LinkedIn? How often do I post? I’m here to tell you that you’re overthinking it! As I said, LinkedIn is a positive space where people encourage one another and lift each other up. For your activity, consider sharing an article you read that was of interest to you, or perhaps you just finished a professional development workshop or training. You can share a photo of yourself volunteering! You can even share content from a page you follow (we always love when volunteers share PA Women Work’s LinkedIn posts *wink wink*). Liking and commenting on other posts plays in your favor, as well, so you can’t do enough of that! I typically encourage people to log in to LinkedIn once or twice a week to share a post or engage with other users’ content. That’s all – just once or twice a week. 

Experience: If you’re just starting out on LinkedIn, upload your resume to autofill this space and then trim it down. Most importantly, you want your Experience section to match the timeline on your resume. Less importantly, you do not need every single bullet point of every single job you have ever had, so keep it to the highlights of each position. 

LinkedIn has so much to offer, so don’t shy away from it because you are intimidated to get started or maintain your profile! If you have these five areas up-to-date on your profile, you are golden. 

PA Women Work offers a LinkedIn virtual workshop through our A Closer Look program throughout the year. If you want to learn more about the platform, be on the lookout for the next one coming in the spring!

In the meantime, feel free to join me on LinkedIn and start networking today. 

I looked up the origin of the quote “Fake it till you make it” and have found many references dating all the way back to Aristotle who is quoted saying: “if a person would act virtuous then they will become virtuous.”

For centuries, we have promoted the idea that we should “fake it” if we lack the skills or qualities we need to succeed (or believe we lack them). I believe that “faking it” drives self-doubt and promotes thoughts that we are not capable or competent versus instilling confidence.

Imposter Syndrome is when a person believes that their success is not earned or validated. According to a study released in 2022 by KPMG, 75% of women in executive roles experience imposter syndrome at some point in their careers. I have experienced this feeling of doubt in my career – worrying that someone is going to tap me on the shoulder and say: “We’ve figured it out. You don’t know what you’re doing.”

But the truth is, I do, in fact, know what I’m doing, and so do you. We must remind ourselves that we are strong and competent and have made it this far because we have earned our seat at the table. 

Many of us invalidate the fact that we have worked for opportunities and we are capable. The opportunities have not been given; they have been earned. I will admit that I am still a work in progress – I believe we all are! However, I have learned to stop and cope with the negative thoughts before they become debilitating. 

Here are 3 tips that I use to recenter myself when the feeling of imposter syndrome creeps in:

1. Lean into your experience and knowledge.  You have made it to where you are today because you’re capable and have demonstrated your value through your experience and knowledge. When you’re unsure of yourself or nervous, take a moment to reflect on experiences you’ve had that led you to this point in your career, such as projects you’ve completed, relationships you’ve built, or your education.

Also, it’s okay to not know everything. Learn where you can find the resources to get the knowledge and tools that you feel you might be lacking. These are the two most critical foundations of success – using your knowledge and knowing where to get knowledge.  

2. Find a cheerleader AND someone who calls you on your BS. Talk to someone you can trust, whether a mentor, colleague, boss, friend, or family member. It helps to verbalize your fears with someone with your best interest at heart, talk through why you’re having these feelings and how you can manage them.  Speak to someone who will shut down these negative thoughts and support you.

I want to note that this is not to encourage you or suggest we should seek validation from others to build confidence. This is simply an opportunity to share and discuss some of the struggles or challenges you might be feeling to someone there to listen, support you, and help you create solutions.

3. Stop the negative self-talk – even to make a joke. You know when you were little, and you stuck out your tongue or made a face and your mom said, “If you make that face long enough, it will stay that way.” Negative self-talk is the same. If you say or think negative things about yourself long enough, you will start to believe them.

Questioning your capabilities does not make you incapable. It makes you human. As women, we have been programmed to believe that boasting or leading with pride are negative traits. We have seen our ancestors hide in the shadows and purposefully not take credit for all they have done.
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We must stop believing that confidence and pride are bad traits for women and that we do not deserve promotions, leadership roles or accolades. If you feel imposter syndrome sneaking up on you, take some time to step back, assess what might be causing it and find tools within yourself and your community to help push forward.

Growing and sustaining networks of women is empowering and one of the best ways to overcome some of the disadvantages women have traditionally faced in the workplace. Building a network often depends on attending networking events or reaching out to people we’ve never met face to face. Networking in any of these situations can be intimidating, especially for more introverted folks.

Fortunately, there are many ways to build your network, including options that don’t involve having to wear a nametag! When I came to Pittsburgh from the Washington D.C. area, I met so many amazing women who made networking easy. While it didn’t happen right away, eventually I found folks I connected with and felt more settled. As I grew my network, I was impressed with the things women in Pittsburgh did to support each other, especially when it came to sustaining a network over time, which can be the most challenging part.

Being involved with the PA Women Work community has helped me find another excellent resource of women who want to support each other in Pittsburgh. Being a great ally to other women in your network is important. Whether your network is big or small, be a great ally and supporter to the women in your circle. Even a small amount of time and effort can have many benefits for you and others that can last for years to come. But what does being a great ally to one another mean?  

Below are a few things you can do to grow and sustain your network of women: 

• Support each other on social media – It only takes a minute to like, celebrate or share someone’s post! Social media is important to everyone’s personal brand, it’s good to react to what other folks in your network share, especially posts that include job openings, new positions, or celebrate an honor or award.

While there are many social networks to choose from, if you don’t have a social media profile yet, LinkedIn is a pretty good bet for finding many of the people you see professionally. Spending a few minutes on this channel daily or weekly can keep you in the loop on opportunities to support and grow your network. I find an easy way to reach out to new people is connecting on LinkedIn shortly after an in-person or virtual meeting, showing appreciation for their participation, or just saying it was nice to see them.

• Carve out some time – Time can feel like the thing we have the least of, but even taking an hour to review a resume, attend an event, or chat about a challenging work situation can mean a lot to someone. This can be especially important when someone is going through a career transition. Time is indeed incredibly valuable, and when you spend yours supporting another woman in your network, it shows you value the opportunity to show up, and it will encourage people to do the same for you.

• Sponsor other women – Sponsoring is a relatively recent name for something that has always been done in more traditional business settings but hasn’t always been done for or by women. In this context, “sponsoring” means naming other women for projects, speaking events or other opportunities to elevate them. Putting someone else’s name forward for opportunities can be the difference between an employer saying they “can’t find qualified women for the job” and that fantastic woman in your network getting the job! Sponsoring someone usually comes in tandem with mentoring or other professional relationships.

• Be a mentor – It’s easy to think that being a mentor requires special skills or experience, but no formal training or career milestone is required to be a mentor. If you haven’t already checked out PA Women Work’s 3 Cups of Coffee mentorship program, I recommend it. Whether you want to be a mentor or a mentee, it’s a great way to grow your network, become a stronger professional, and learn about new opportunities.

Signing up is simple! (Link to sign-up page). You’ll be paired with a mentor/mentee and spend three sessions together…so PA Women Work does the work to connect you with someone in your field who is capable of helping you achieve your goals. I’ve met some fantastic women this way and learned so much in the process!

• Peer to peer mentoring – Peer-to-peer mentoring is just as crucial as traditional mentoring with someone who might be farther along in their career. This form of mentoring can be done with a coworker or someone you meet at a networking event who is in the same place in their career as you.

While you may have some things in common, you can always learn from someone else’s experiences. This type of mentoring is excellent for sharing challenges and brainstorming solutions. Those in the same professional arena might know of resources you don’t; someone in a different industry might have a totally different perspective or an out-of-the-box solution. 

• Be a BIPOC ally – If you aren’t someone who identifies as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color), educate yourself about the systemic issues of racism, the pay gap, and other workplace barriers that BIPOC women face. Sharing resources, being a connector and taking the initiative to educate yourself on the challenges BIPOC people face is important to understanding and supporting women in your network. Sponsoring BIPOC women is an excellent way for women who do not identify as such to leverage their privilege.

All these suggestions add up to women supporting each other to reach their goals. There’s no one right way to do it, but there are steps we can all take to grow and strengthen our network while accomplishing our own career goals and advocating for others.

I’ve made some great friends that started as people I met while networking, which feels like icing on the cake! Pittsburgh has a great ecosystem of strong, talented, and accomplished women, and don’t forget, you’re one of them!

I was 38 years old when I walked into my first classroom at the University of Pittsburgh to begin my Master’s degree. It had been nearly two decades since I wore a cap and gown and walked the stage at Penn State for undergrad. How had I gotten here? What was I thinking? Then I thought of my mom, and I took a deep breath, knowing that if she could do it, I could do it.

My mother graduated from high school in 1969. Women couldn’t take out a student loan at that time without their fathers cosigning it. Unwilling to let her take on debt for schooling that she “didn’t need,” my grandfather refused to cosign a loan. So, my mom worked hard to save enough to pay for one year of tuition (and room and board) following high school. After her first year in college, she went back to work. She continued this cycle of one year of working, and one year of schooling until she met my father. They decided to get married and buy a house, and her dream of graduating from college ended…temporarily, anyway.

Fifteen years later, when my sister and I were in elementary school, my mom decided to finish her degree. Remarkably, nearly all of her (ancient, as she called them) credits transferred to California University (now Penn West). Not wanting to take on debt (old habits die hard, I suppose), she used her skills as a seamstress to pay for school. She took on hemming, mending, and occasionally making a wedding dress and socked away the cash to pay for the six credits she took each semester. Taking classes during the day, while my sister and I were in school, she was typically the only “adult” student among a sea of students who were 20+ years younger. It took her six years to finish what would have been her last two years of a four-year degree, but she did it.

What are my takeaways from this invaluable life lesson?

• If you want something badly enough, you’ll find a way to do it. Always.
• There’s nothing you can’t do if you truly set your mind to it.
• We should all have a “life skill” outside of what we do “for work.” My mom could sew. (She made her prom dress in high school!!) That allowed her to make money to help fund her classes. We live in an age where these skills are fading fast, and sometimes they can serve you well. 

Getting back to me and my cold sweats as I entered my first classroom in nearly two decades – how had I gotten there? I graduated from Penn State, got a job, and never intended to return to school for a graduate degree. Until one day, I was asked to participate in the hiring process for my peer position at work.

What you need to understand about me is I’m competitive. If I did 15 minutes on the stair climber yesterday, I want to do 20 today. If someone did 20 minutes today, I want to do 25 tomorrow. So, as I was reviewing stacks of resumes, I realized that most candidates had an MBA – something I didn’t have. If I ever wanted to leave my current employer and seek a position elsewhere, I’d be competing with candidates with their MBA, (blasphemy!) and they’d have a leg up on me (GASP)!

I called our HR department that very day to see what tuition reimbursement was offered. I hired a tutor to help me prepare for the entrance exam. I was accepted and registered for my first classes. There I was, a student again.

As I began to prepare to go back to school, and then once I entered the classroom, I was terrified. I felt so out of place, which got me thinking about my mom. If she did it, I knew I could do it too.

You are never too old or too far down the road to continue learning. If you are considering going back to school for any level of degree, I encourage you try to do it!

Below are some helpful tips I gathered along the way throughout my time as a nontraditional student:

1. Don’t be afraid to change your position on a topic. Sometimes it’s good to hold to your beliefs, but sometimes you have to be honest with yourself, reevaluate, and see if maybe swallowing some pride and changing your opinion is the right thing to do.
2. Be smart about student loans. Take what you need and defer the rest. Consider speaking with a financial advisor to help sort out your loans to ensure you’re taking only what you need.
3. Use your tuition reimbursement if it’s available to you. If you can find an employer who will give you something back for education, that’s a win. Consider spreading your classes over a more extended period of time. Most companies are willing to make an annual contribution to your schooling.
4. Build a network of quality, reliable people. In grad school, every class had group work. I was fortunate to meet a few folks with different backgrounds and strengths, meaning we filled in the gaps for one another. Once you begin your program, connect with your classmates and make sure you’re on the same page when starting a group assignment.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Many of you considering returning to school or beginning this journey might be working full-time with kids at home or relatives to care for. If you need help, ask those around you to chip in and make it work. Juggling it all can be challenging, but that’s why we have friends, family, and neighbors to help us along the way.
6. The outcome needs to justify the effort. Beginning or finishing a degree is a big commitment. Evaluate how much effort you’ll need to put in and consider the benefits. Make sure the pay-off is worth the buy-in.

I finished my MBA in May of 2020, so there was no pomp and circumstance (literally). However, on the very last day of my very last class, with only 20 minutes or so remaining in the Zoom meeting, I got a knock at my door. I answered it to find a flower arrangement sitting just outside it. The card said “I knew you could do it! Love, Mom.” And for that, I say thanks, mom, for the courage and inspiration.

Whether you are searching for a new job, want to succeed in your current job, or are working toward other goals, we all have things we need to get done. Sometimes, the list of things to get done feels overwhelming. It might be a long list and it’s challenging to find a place to begin, or it might be a short list but procrastination is setting in. In either case, not making progress toward goals will not get you where you want to be in life. 

So, what do you do about it? Read on for some tips that have worked for me and some clients we serve.

1. Define your goal: What is the success you want? What is the future you envision?  Why is this important to you? Take some time to think through this, write it down in words, and draw a picture of your future success. I’m not an artist and can barely draw stick figures, but sketching out my future vision unlocks personal inspiration. Make your goal SMART — Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timebound. 

2. Mark key dates on your calendar: Figure out what you need to accomplish by creating deadlines for yourself. Mark key dates on your calendar, to motivate yourself and holding yourself accountable to progress. Sometimes life gets in the way, but make adjustments and keep moving forward.

3. Identify your potholes:  Living in southwestern PA, we all know potholes can get in the way and cause real damage. What are the things that are getting in your way to accomplishing your goal or getting your tasks done? In your job search or career progression, there might be skills or knowledge you need to acquire for the job you want.  Maybe your own fear is getting in the way. Whatever it is, identify what is holding you back and follow the next few steps to push onward

4. Overcome the potholes. 

• Prepare: Gather as much information as you can about the situation ahead of you. If it’s applying for a new job, research the company you are interviewing with and understand what skills are required to fulfill the position.
• Start small: Choose one or two small steps toward the goal. Taking small steps and affirming your progress will motivate you to continue moving forward.
• Focus on the task: Focus on the next step you need to accomplish rather than the bigger picture. This will help the whole process feel less overwhelming and daunting. Learn from setbacks: When things don’t go how you would like them to, reflect on what happened and what you can learn from it.

5. Keep negative thoughts at bay.  “Every cell in your body is listening to your thoughts.” Deepak Chopra. Your thoughts can determine your actions. When you find negative thoughts creeping in, practice holding them at arm’s length and examining them for truth. Reframe them into something positive. 

6. Enlist others.  Find at least one other person to enlist as an accountability partner.  Someone who will check in with you to see what progress you are making towards your goal, problem-solve barriers getting in your way, and encourage you.  

7. Reward yourself.  Encourage yourself with rewards along the journey. Did you set a goal to spend 2 hours researching and applying to jobs? Once you’ve reached that goal, reward yourself with a walk outside, a favorite podcast or book, a chat with a friend, etc. 

8. Be kind to yourself.  My daughter used to have a sign in her room that said: “The hard things in life are hard.”  So true! What do you do for self-care? Perhaps it is one of the activities listed under ‘reward yourself’. Perhaps you practice a hobby, meditate, exercise, or connect with the important people in your life. Whatever it is, don’t forget to take time for YOU!

9. Remember your ‘what and why’. If you feel your motivation lagging, go back to your future vision. What is the future you desire? Why is this important to you? Reminding yourself can give your renewed strength and energy to move forward.

If you find yourself feel stuck or facing an overwhelming mountain, give some of these tips a try. And if your job search isn’t going your way and you’re unsure where to begin, reach out to us! We’re here to help.