Recent Career Articles
It's a story you may hear more often than you realize—women rethinking their career options in order to stay home with their children and family. Here, three West Michigan women offer a glimpse into what was behind their choice to change their path. Can you have it...
When working with clients at Stingray Advisory Group, I am often asked about social media. With its fast pace, many people quickly become overwhelmed and lost in a sea of information. As with most challenges, I recommend taking a step back and getting a better...
Are you doing all you can to get the message of your personal brand out in the community? Kim Bode, Principal at 8THIRTYFOUR Integrated Communications, has some tips for those who want to go further. I had a great conversation this past week with a good friend of...
Law enforcement is without a doubt a predominately male field—the number of women who go into policing, firefighting and paramedic-related careers is few and far between. However, Grand Valley State University notes 2018 is the first year in the history of the Police...
You probably love much about your job. And you probably have co-workers who get on your nerves. Or you're putting in too many late nights. Your job can test your patience, in many ways. You can't always control your work environment—sharing space with certain...
Hearing the audience's unified response was simultaneously validating and soul-crushing. You see, I was giving a talk to a group of 200+ people—primarily women—titled Step into Your Power. The slide they were viewing showed a spectrum, with DOUBT at far left and...
Some of the first lessons we learn have to do with etiquette and manners. From sharing to saying "please" and "thank you" to following the Golden Rule, it was made clear that there are certain rules of decorum. These all followed us into adulthood and, in turn, into...
Jennifer Jurgens, president of Grand Rapids-based software maker SalesPad, believes women are critical for the future of technology. "I am playing around with the idea of 'high tech and high touch,'" Jurgens said. "I think that's the future of technology. I think...
Twelve years ago, I (Jen) started my "dream job" teaching biology at a small liberal arts college. I wanted to be a professor ever since I took my first undergraduate genetics class with the professor who became my undergraduate mentor. She was knowledgeable, firm but...
Customer service always has been and always will be critical for business. Yet one local West Michigan business strives for customer service excellence by putting employees—not customers—first. Open Systems Technologies (OST) operates on an "employees-first"...