Articles

  • 9 Ways to Support Introverts in Meetings

    At least one-third of people are introverts, according to Susan Cain’s book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking.  I’m actually one of them, and my introvertedness manifests itself in a specific way. Some introverts are perfectly fine speaking publicly with prepared remarks, but have a difficult time thinking on their feet. Others hate the idea of public speaking with prepared remarks, but have no problem thinking on their feet (that’s me!). Others may be okay doing all of it but will be completely drained after, or are absolutely incapable of doing any of it.

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  • Is Your Cat for Consent?

    Despite increased dialogue about pussy-grabbing and locker room talk, survivors of sexual abuse and assault are facing more fear, shame and stigma than ever before. When the world’s most powerful leaders dismiss sexual violence, or worse, perpetrate it, it can be hard for survivors to feel safe. When the media’s coverage of this issue dominates the news cycle, survivors may feel triggered or overwhelmed. And when that happens, the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC) is ready, willing and able to support.

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  • On Writing With Purpose, Taking Control of Your Financial Destiny and Building Teams With the Help of Rubber Ducks.

    Effective communication: on writing with purpose, taking control of your financial destiny and building teams with the help of rubber ducks. March’s Inclusion Geeks event, sponsored by Toast, Inc. featured three speakers that shared advice and anecdotes about how effective communication can build successful teams. We heard about how written communication can be a tool for effective collaboration within technical teams, how financial literacy is a language that we all need to learn and how rubber ducks can help build “BS-free” teams. Written communication is often overlooked Monica Hirst, Engineering Team Lead at Toast, Inc.

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  • 17 Women in STEAM from Around the World to Inspire You on International Women’s Day 2017

    Happy International Women’s Day! Looking for some inspiration? The theme this year is #BEBOLDFORCHANGE. We’ve gathered a list of incredible women from around the world that are doing incredible things in STEAM. We are in awe and we hope you feel the same. The International Women’s Day website has a ton of ways for you to take action. How will you be bold? Quarraisha Abdool Karim, South Africa, Epidemiologist Quarraisha Abdool Karim is an epidemiologist born and raised in South Africa.

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  • On Returning to the Workplace After Becoming a Mom, Traveling Solo, and Dealing With a Cancer Gene

    We had a great lineup of speakers at our February Inclusion Geeks event hosted by edX. The presenters opened up about their personal lives and shared anecdotes of empowerment and strength. Keep reading to find out what returning to work after becoming a parent can feel like, why you should plan your next travel adventure today, and what it takes to stay positive in tough situations. Why being assertive benefits you and your company Nimisha Asthagiri, a Principal Software Engineer at edX, came to the U.S. from India when she was three years old.

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  • Meet Beth Santos

    Beth Santos will give a talk titled “Why we need support for women travelers now more than ever” at our February networking event hosted by edX. Beth Santos is a dynamic leader and inspired entrepreneur with a passion for international development, multiculturalism and community building. She is the founder and CEO of Wanderful, a global network for adventurous, independent women travelers. Beth is the creator of the Women in Travel Summit, an annual summit for female travel influencers, creators, and brands.

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  • Why Women-Only Spaces are Important

    2016 was a great year for bringing a deeper awareness to gender inequities in the workplace. Hardly a day goes by without tripping over an article about this topic which is great news, because there’s so much work to be done (as evidenced by the comments in many aforementioned articles). However, while we’re seeing a greater awareness, we’re also seeing a backlash– people saying they’ll never speak at or attend women-only events, questioning the echo chamber effect, saying that men can’t learn if they’re not there to participate and accusing those who create these spaces as ‘reverse sexist’.

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  • Why We’re Taking a Stand

    When we first launched Inclusion Geeks, we were very clear about staying neutral in our political stance. We want to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all women in STEAM*. We appreciate a diverse set of opinions and want all women to feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, but we also believe in positivity, inclusivity, transparency, science, provable facts and the advancement of women. It’s been, to say the least, a challenge to square the rhetoric coming out of the current administration with any of our goals.

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  • 10 Podcasts Led by Women of Color to Listen to Now

    We know we recently published a blog post about our favorite podcasts, but our ears have been filled with so many good ones we’ve recently been introduced to, we had to follow up with a new list of incredible podcasts led by women of color. Go, listen now. You will not regret it. We are in love with them all and it was REALLY hard to choose a favorite episode from each, but we did it because we love you. So happy Valentine’s Day. 🙂 2 Dope Queens — Phoebe Robinson and Jessica Williams share personal stories on sex, dating, hair, work, and more.

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  • Getting Civically Engaged – A Shared Resource Guide

    It’s just been a few weeks since the new administration has taken office and we think it’s safe to say many of us have been inspired by the outpouring of action. We’re getting involved like never before and for many of us, for the first time ever! We’ve seen so many resources come at us and, well, Rachel really likes creating single points of reference for people. It’s a thing. So she created this spreadsheet of resources for anyone to get civically engaged. While many of the resources are progressive, this is really a tool for anyone to get involved.

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  • Meet Emily Rawitsch

    Emily Rawitsch will give a talk titled “Positively Positive: Applying Design to Life” at our February networking event hosted by edX. Emily Rawitsch is passionate about all things design. She blends product strategy, user research visual and design to make experiences more delightful and businesses more profitable. Emily approaches design with a business mentality, rooting decisions in user research and data as opposed to personal preference. Emily has extensive experience leading design teams and collaborating with Product, Engineering, Marketing and C-level executives.

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  • Going high when they go low – an account of the Women’s March in DC

    Like many, a sense of foreboding and gloominess swept over me on election night as a new president was announced. Happily sheltered in my New England bubble, I was heartbroken. Unlike some of my peers however, I have the unique experience of both being an immigrant and enjoying the privilege of being able to use my voice.

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