AWL Alumni Spotlight

What did the AWL experience mean to you in terms of your journey as a leader?
It provided a safe space to prepare for the challenges of leadership. Being part of a cohort of women in similar roles, with whom I can discuss and share experiences related to both work and family life, makes me feel supported and reassured that there are other women going through something similar.

Describe the six months you spent in the Bloombase experience for Advanced Women Leaders.
A valuable experience that explores leadership from a scientific perspective. This experience involves understanding the leader not just as an individual, but also in relation to their environment. This approach considers how both the leaders are influenced by their surroundings and how they, in turn, impact those around them.

What did you walk away with from AWL and what are you continuing to learn about yourself?
I learned the "three questions:" How are you feeling? What do you need? How can I help? I use these constantly in every situation from professional to personal. The questions shift my focus so I can thoughtfully consider how someone else is experiencing the moment. I am able to continue the work of AWL in my everyday life - it's more than a leadership program. It really is a program for a better approach to working with others.

Describe the benefits of the AWL experience.
— Collaborate and learn from women in similar roles.
— Develop skills to enhance my leadership abilities.
— Understand what is most important and how to prioritize effectively.
— Emphasize the significance of prioritizing wellbeing as a foundational step in leadership.
— Help me to think about how to cascade my experience to my team.
— Contribute to creating and maintaining a safe environment for my team and within the workplace.
— Connect with others who are navigating the rewarding, but sometimes challenging aspects of leadership.
— Gain better control over my emotions and understand their impact on my team.

What was it about AWL that made you feel you had an ROI from the experience?
Confidence.
Having a close experience with women that hold similar positions and being able to share experiences, to talk openly about insecurities, challenges, and daily experiences help me to build confidence in myself, ensure that I am not alone, and that I am perfectly capable to be a high performer. Makes me realize that I am not inferior by any means to any of my peers in the industry.

I feel like I am fulfilling my purpose when… I witness others growing, when they feel comfortable to speak out and talk openly. Additionally, I find fulfillment in achieving goals from my projects.

My favorite way to spend an afternoon by myself is... is alone is to work out, treat myself to a delicious snack, read outdoors in a beautiful setting, and occasionally indulge in some shopping.

The kind of work I am passionate about is… dynamic and varied, offering daily new challenges and opportunities. I thrive in environments where I can continuously learn about different subjects and engage with a diverse range of people to gain fresh perspectives.

Something that makes my life ridiculously fun is... my family, my friends, and my job.

The values/behaviors that are most important to me are... integrity and respect. I believe in being genuine and transparent—what you see is truly what you get.