Mentorship plays a large role in #LifeAtATT. Ask any of our leaders about their experiences, and you’ll likely hear about the mentors who helped guide them. During our #WomenInBusiness Twitter Chat, those stories came to the forefront as women leaders inside and outside of AT&T shared their professional journeys. If you’ve never joined our chats before (follow @attjobs to catch the next one), they’re an opportunity to break down barriers. Participants give candid career advice while sharing their perspectives on the future of business.
Check out some highlights below from the chat:
We Asked: What are some of the most common obstacles women in business must overcome to be successful?
Women are held to an exceptionally high standard with the expectation that we should be able to juggle competing priorities flawlessly, at work and at home. To overcome it more women have to support women in all stages of their career. WE need to help each other! #WomenInBusiness https://t.co/NpBxbCNbGD
— Alexis Glick (@AlexisGlick) December 11, 2019
One common obstacle for women is overcoming the fear of failure. No one goes in with a guarantee for success. Sometimes the biggest challenge is getting out of your own head. #WomenInBusiness @ATTJobs https://t.co/ySzQ8roIQX
— ✨Sarah Groves✨ (@sstoesser) December 11, 2019
We Asked: What are some strategies that can help women be more successful in the business world?
#WomenInBusiness need to think about being their own publicist. Figure out your elevator pitch and then practice giving it – fearlessly 🦸♀️ In fact, we can start right now if you want! What are you good at? Reply and let me know 🗨️ https://t.co/HW37Yh4IgM
— Romy Newman (@RomyNYC) December 11, 2019
Advocate for yourself! Nominate yourself for awards! Submit talks to conference! Ask for that raise! The worst thing they can say is no, and no does not mean never. Those opportunities that are outside your comfort zone are the ones you need to apply for. #WomenInBusiness https://t.co/4CKMZ9CSXC
— Alexandra Marlette 🇵🇷 🏳️🌈 (@alexmarlette) December 11, 2019
We Asked: Who helped you along the way? What part did mentorship play?
I have been blessed with several mentors who have been willing to share knowledge and expertise. They have taken personal interest in my career growth. #WomeninBusiness. Mentoring programs also helped me identify my strengths even before I realized them as strengths. #lifeatatt
— Mara Thrailkill (@MaraHandled) December 11, 2019
Sponsors, Champions, Mentors, Coaches, business & thought leaders take a bow. We model what we see. That can be good or not good. Mentorship gives guidance, removes roadblocks and provides alternatives to solutions beyond our personal/professional limitations. #WomenInBusiness https://t.co/YeeDDum6Gh
— Yusha King (@yking6) December 11, 2019
The meaning of work-life balance
Midway through the chat, one question struck a chord. We asked about work-life balance, a topic that is top-of-mind in an age where many feel they must be “always on”. AT&T Sales experts, Vice Presidents, and even our own CEO of AT&T Business dug deeper into the question: what, exactly, does balance mean?
Work-life balance? There is never a balance. It’s more like a swinging pendulum, and that’s okay. Ensure that you set expectations w/your management & leadership that flexibility will be important to you #WomeninBusiness https://t.co/QrTRR8pAWE
— Lauren Cooney✨ (@lcooney) December 11, 2019
I’ve always felt that work-life balance is bogus. Life is an optimization equation, and at each stage of life, we are optimizing to different priorities. What is that perfect equation? Can you have it all? We CAN each have it al, just not all at the same time. #WomeninBusiness https://t.co/qDJayZ6O1g
— Anne Chow (@TheAnneChow) December 11, 2019
A5: I don’t believe in work-life balance. =) #blasphemy lol… Instead, I commit to life entirely on my terms & instead of pursuing balance, living according to PRIORITY. Balance is unsustainable, but living according to your own priorities is beautiful… #womeninbusiness https://t.co/DbpNN3XUH1
— Women Who WOW! (@MichellePippin) December 11, 2019
Advice for achieving work life balance is – first, understand there’s no real “balance.” Instead it’s about priorities. Determine what your priorities are and understand how they need to flex based on what is happening in your life at that moment. #WomeninBusiness
— ✨Sarah Groves✨ (@sstoesser) December 11, 2019
Continuing the conversation
The Women in Business chat lasted an hour, but the topics remain ever-present as the definition of a career continues evolving. On LinkedIn, we shared our most popular questions for everyone to explore (because sometimes, 250 characters isn’t enough.) Outside of the social world, participants like Alexis Glick shared their thoughts on the value of connecting with business leaders she would have never met otherwise. Anne Chow, CEO of AT&T Business, often explores her thoughts on balancing work and life in additional articles on LinkedIn.
Through events like the #WomenInBusiness chats, our people have the opportunity to build new bonds as mentors or mentees. Check out how #LifeAtATT is bringing our people together, no matter who they are or where they come from.
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