Day 3 of the Summit was spent discussing hard-hitting topics such as overcoming failure, setting healthy boundaries, and energy management. Read on to check out our sessions for the day and key takeaways from our attendees.
Thank you to Gusto, Box, Teal, The Energy Project, and NextArrow for sponsoring the WEST Summit! Thank you also to our WEST volunteers - Kelli Rockwell, Henry Beaudin, Guadalupe Emigdio, and Danielle Walker, for their support!
Overcoming Failure to Make Way for Success
Panel Discussion featuring Ekta Aggarwal, Head of Product & Design, Docker; Allison McHenry, CTO, Kos Media; and Parul Shorey, Sr Director of Product Management, Head of Data and AI Products, SeatGeek. Moderated by Megan M. Yee, Senior Manager, Product and Solutions Consulting, Kaiser Permanente.
Key Takeaways:
So many good nuggets in this session. The biggest pattern I’ve noticed so far is prioritizing mental and physical health, which helps in all other aspects of career and failure.
Mindset and self-talk are incredibly helpful. Failure is inevitable, but embracing setbacks and understanding how to keep moving forward is crucial at any stage of your career.
Getting laid off is not a global statement of your worth.
You don’t have to frame things that go wrong as failures. They are moments to learn about yourself and/or go in an unexpected direction. These kind of moments can amount to the great success, ultimately
Go for it! Take risks, and if you fail it’s a learning experience
Advancing Women's Health through Wearable Tech
Featuring Neta Gotlieb, Ph.D., Product Manager, Reproductive Health, Oura.
Key Takeaways:
Love, love, love Oura ring, so glad you did this session, it’s great to not have everything be just tech, love the reminder about health!
interesting topic, definitely worth more research
It was great and I learned a lot about women’s health!
Amazing insights about oura ring and what it does. Really enjoyed knowing more about the product.
Neurodivergence as a Superpower in the Workplace
Featuring Ai (Aimee) Sakura, Founder of Buildup Coaching, BAEDN Board Director and AJ Beard, Owner Operator, Lone Oak Farm & Technology.
Key Takeaways:
This is a GREAT topic for community discussions, and it's not taboo. We should talk more about the benefits of the conditions themselves as well at the positive impacts of these individuals on our teams.
Promoting acceptance and inclusion; recognizing strengths and abilities; shifting the narrative for our gen, the next-gen, and beyond
It's really important to meet neurodivergent people where they are and make accommodations that will unlock their special gifts. Doing so can actually have benefits for neurotypical people as well.
Making workplaces more welcoming for neurodivergence helps everyone be better.
You Get to Say No: How Saying No Will Lead You to Time and Emotional Freedom
Featuring Emma Pineda Fortin, Ph.D., Founder & CEO, Guerrera de La Luz Leadership
Key Takeaways:
Very healing session! We so need to relax in this stressful world, I learned some techniques to say no.
It was awesome and by far the most interactive session. Wish it was longer!
The exercise was very helpful; visually drawing the boundaries between what I want to accept and what I don’t want to accept was a tangible takeaway.
It’s okay to say no, and it is respectable.
Your boundaries are already there, even if you don’t articulate them to others or yourself.
Leading in a World of Overload
Featuring Laurie Coe, Managing Director of Organizational Consulting, The Energy Project.
Key Takeaways:
You are only responsible for your own energy.
There are tools to rebalance my energy levels and they are available to me!
Energy and capacity will wane over time without conscious effort.
Loved the assessment tool. I want to continue to use that scoring rubric to check in and see how I’m doing and if I’ve been able to improve in any areas.
Loved the session & wish it was longer :)