Personal Branding w/ Alexandria Eisenhardt Tomorrow

Good evening everyone,

Join us tomorrow, Monday, November 9 at 7pm EST for a meeting hosted by alumna and former WiB member Alexandria Eisenhardt! She will discuss personal branding and how she has accomplished this through her own blog and other social media platforms. Check out her website and blog here. You won't want to miss this meeting!

Zoom link: https://umass-amherst.zoom.us/j/98498212975
Meeting ID: 984 9821 2975

Reminder: Marketing committee meeting Wednesday, November 11 at 6:30pm

A Note from WiB

Kamala Harris is the first woman and the first person of Black and South Asian descent to be the Vice President Elect of the United States. This is a historic moment for womxn, and as Kamala said in her speech last night, "I will not be the last." WiB respects differing political opinions, but we hope to celebrate this progress together.

Additional Opportunities

Holdette LinkedIn Workshop
"How to Make the Most of LinkedIn During COVID-19" will be on 11/12 at 8pm. Recruiters from Morgan Stanley, Deloitte, and Slalom will share advice. Register here.

Liberty Mutual D&I Roundtable
"The Importance of Allies" roundtable will be on 11/11 at 5pm. Register here.

Inspirational Female Leaders Who Have Paved The Path To Success

By: Annette Sebastian 

“Because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, ‘She doesn’t have what it takes.’ They will say, ‘Women don’t have what it takes.’” ー Clare Booth Luce

Throughout history there have been numerous women who have overcome obstacles and allowed more women to take steps into fields that are male dominated. These women have shown society that women are capable of doing what they set their minds to and have encouraged other women to follow their footsteps. 

Here are a couple of powerful women who have changed society and the lives of many women

1. Ruth Bader Ginsberg 

She was an American lawyer whose career focused on gender equality and women’s rights. She co-founded the Women’s Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). She later became nominated as the second woman to become a Supreme Court Justice. Ginsberg entered law school as one of the only females and proved that a woman could be a successful lawyer. Her accomplishments and dedication to fighting against sex discrimination allows future generations like us to experience fair treatment. 

2. Indra Nooyi 

Nooyi was the CEO of PepsiCo and has consistently been ranked among the world’s most powerful women. She broke down the traditional view that business is for men, proving that women can be in charge and excel in business. She was one of the few minority women who held a CEO position in a high profile corporate company. Nooyi focused on a healthier and more sustainable initiative for PepsiCo. She was a key player in raising PepsiCo’s net profit and focused on long term goals even though they were controversial at the time. 

3. Sheryl Sandberg 

Sanberg is the COO of Facebook and the first woman to serve on Facebook’s board of directors. She was also one of the first workers at Google and grew their advertising team. She has also proved that women can achieve great feats if they try. She is fighting for equal representation and is the founder of LeanIn.Org, a global community focused on helping women achieve their ambitions. 

4. Kamala Harris

Recently, Kamala Harris has become the first female Vice President-Elect of the United States. It is such a huge accomplishment because she is a woman of color who is in a position that has always been filled with White males. It is the highest position in the United States that a woman has held and it proves that women are capable of reaching and leading these positions. This is a very important moment in history and just as Harris said, “I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last.”

These are all women who are not afraid to follow their dreams and change society. There are also many other women that I have not mentioned who have paved the way for future generations of females to succeed. Women need to fight harder to hold positions of power but as we can see from the examples above, it is possible. As society advances, female leaders will not be an exception anymore. 

Sources: 

https://www.oyez.org/justices/ruth_bader_ginsburg

https://www.businessinsider.com/indra-nooyi-pepsi-ceo-2018-8

https://www.businessinsider.com/fabulous-life-of-sheryl-sandberg-2014-7

https://www.forbes.com/sites/maggiemcgrath/2020/11/07/kamala-harris-makes-history-what-the-first-female-vice-president-elect-means-for-women/?sh=34eaef686455

Companies that Market Themselves as Ethical, But Really Aren’t

By: Caroline Tierney

Greenwashing, is the notion that countless companies market themselves as more ethical and environmentally friendly than they truly are in order to reach a greater audience. The list of greenwashed companies goes on, many focused on large profits without regard to the impact their businesses create.

Lush

This one hurts. Plenty of people, including myself, love the luxurious products Lush puts out that instantly fill your bathroom with a delightful aroma. They have made significant strides to be more sustainable in recent years, but have fallen short in some areas. Lush currently uses palm oil in some of their products, despite announcing their commitment to eliminating it a couple years ago. Palm oil is heavily derived from the Amazon and can only be obtained through deforestation, which clearly signals a huge environmental red flag. Secondly, Lush claims to include two or less preservatives per product, but critics argue that it is unlikely a mostly natural product emits a scent that can be smelt from around the corner of the store. This beauty company markets themselves as cruelty free, committed to testing none of their products on animals. Despite this, they do use milk and beeswax in some of their products, a possible alarm for the animal friendly community. Considering the dairy and beekeeping industries have been severely unethical in the past, this raises a few eyebrows. Overall, Lush does a decent job of practicing more sustainable business operations, but there are a few important segments that could use some help.

Oatly

Oatly is an oat milk provider widely known for its use in urban coffee shop Alfred’s Los Angeles and coffee powerhouse Starbucks. They have made notable efforts to maintain sustainable practices as the popularity for plant based milk has increased. In order to grow with the company’s rising demand, Oatly recently sold a share of their company to Blackstone, an international business firm, for $200 million. Oatly executives hope that this investment will build company capital and create production plants across the US, Asia, and Europe. Consumers fear that the involvement of Blackstone in the Oatly corporation will open the door to unethical practices. This is a valid claim considering Blackstone has investments in all sorts of industries, including deals that participate in the deforestation of the Amazon. They have shown great interest in funding the construction of a highway spanning the forest, an intense operation that will result in serious loss to the world’s environment. Oat milk lovers consider whether this investment reflects Oatly’s true core values and their ignorance to involving a company with minimal environmental consciousness. These companies have clashing environmental agendas, and the two will have to reach an agreement that will likely sacrifice Oatly’s dedication to being eco-friendly. 

Starbucks

Lastly, we examine a global company that remains favored by a large majority of coffee drinkers. From the store ambiance, to the music, to the psychology of the store layout, Starbucks has an impressive business model. One of their most prominent claims is that 99% of the coffee you drink from Starbucks is ethically sourced. Not surprisingly, experts say otherwise. In Brazil, an investigation of a large coffee plantation certified by Starbucks highlighted some intense ethical concerns. It’s laborers were documented working inconsiderate lengthy hours, living in filthy conditions, and being paid unfair wages. Starbucks has stated that they do not hire individuals under the age of 15, but as you may presume, this was found to be false at a few of their suppliers. It is easy for Starbucks to market their business as ethical and environmentally savvy in stores, but the discrepancy lies within the company’s supply chain. With such a strong lead in the coffee industry, Starbucks should be able to maintain their ethical standards without complication. It shouldn’t be unreasonable to expect a corporation like Starbucks to not support plantations like these ones. These findings have raised the question of whether Starbucks actually cares to source ethically made coffee beans, or if they solely care about making profits, truly defining the idea of greenwashing.

Sources:

https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/company-profile/lush-cosmetics-ltd

https://greenisthenewblack.com/the-conscious-scoop-oatly-controversy/

https://fairworldproject.org/starbucks-has-a-slave-labor-problem/

Differentiating Marketing, Advertising, and PR

By: Aisling Gigandet

When it comes to the business world, people commonly confuse Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations as synonymous. While in our fast-paced world, the lines between Marketing, Public Relations, and Advertising are more blurred than ever, the truth is the three functions are still distinct. Even as someone studying Marketing, I didn’t understand each job function until I researched and took classes in each! So, what exactly are the commonly recognized differences between Marketing, Advertising, and PR?

Marketing

Marketing is defined by the Chartered Institute of Marketing as “the management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably.” Marketers usually focus on the exchange of money for products or services between an organization and its customers. The role of a marketing department within an organization is generally focused on effective outreach to current and potential customers, and ultimately works to increase leads and sales numbers.

Advertising

Advertising is often considered a subset of marketing that makes the product or service known to the marketplace, usually through paid channels. You can name advertising as a component of the marketing activities, but you would not task an advertising team with marketing activities like research, product management, pricing, or creating a marketing plan. Both marketing and advertising consider how to approach and appeal to the target market, but marketing extends beyond advertising.

Public Relations

The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) defines PR as “a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.” PR is not focused on communicating solely with consumers and increasing sales, but rather is focused on communicating with key public stakeholders in an honest way to create positive outcomes for all parties involved. Key stakeholders that PR professionals communicate with include customers, but also extends to internal employees, community members, members of the media, governmental/regulatory bodies, and more.

Although these definitions are generally recognized, understandings of each field often vary person to person. In small organizations, oftentimes all three functions are performed by a single team- or even a single person. Many larger organizations tend to have more distinct teams and roles for each function. While experience is the best way to shape your own understanding, knowing basic info about each is helpful to further your awareness of organizational functions and communications as you prepare to enter the professional workforce.

Sources:

https://www.prsa.org/about/all-about-pr#:~:text=%E2%80%9CPublic%20relations%20is%20a%20strategic,PRSA

https://www.thensmc.com/sites/default/files/CIM%207Ps%20Resource.PDF

https://online.csp.edu/program-resources/marketing-vs-advertising/

How to Survive the Holidays: Budgeting and Sustainability

By: Rachael Doyle

As soon as the clock strikes twelve on November first, Halloween is forgotten and our minds begin to swell with the joys of the holiday season. Mariah Carey plays on loop in everyones’ subconscious (or maybe that’s just me) as they plan gifts for their friends and loved ones, a tone of excitement in the air. It is often normalized for people to spend thousands of dollars during the holidays, knowing that they can rely on their New Year’s Resolutions to pick up the slack in their savings accounts afterward. However, for some the holiday season is not that easy. The “season of giving” can be full of difficulty and even embarrassment for those unable to afford the extreme costs of the most popular gifts of the season. I am sure we have all experienced the disappointment of finding the perfect gift for someone, only to find that it is simply out of budget. This year, there is no need to worry. While it seems impossible, there are ways to show those we love just how much we care about them- without breaking the bank!

Savings are Your Best Friend!

If your bank account is not looking its holiday best, now is the perfect time to plump it up in preparation for some hardcore shopping. It is never too late to begin saving, so do not be discouraged if you feel as though you are late to the party. I have a few saving tricks that I have used for the past few years that will help you get on the right track. First, when receiving your income you should save your hundreds and stretch your 20’s. For example, say you receive 240 dollars in your next paycheck. You should put the 200 in your savings, and keep the 40 dollars in your checking for any weekly purchases. This trick has definitely worked for me to boost my bank account while also keeping my weekly spending in line. Another trick I use is setting “spending priorities” to prevent any unnecessary purchases. If I know I need to fill my gas tank this week, I will obviously do that instead of buying a new sweater or getting my nails done. I am certainly not perfect at this one, but even practicing this every once in a while can help save on small costs that will add up quickly.

Set a Game Plan (and stick to it)

Going holiday shopping is stressful enough, so try to make it a little easier on yourself by making a shopping game plan. It seems unnecessary but you will definitely be thankful for it once you hit the crowded shops. Before large holiday shopping trips I make a list of who I am shopping for, what my target budget is for each person, and any notes on gift ideas I may have. Shopping during this time of year can become really overwhelming really quickly, and it brings peace of mind to me that I can glance down at my little cheat sheet at any point to get myself back on track. For those who may procrastinate their holiday shopping (myself included) this is especially helpful, as you cannot afford to forget anything when the clock is ticking. Trust me, making a last minute trip to the pharmacy on the day of a forgotten Secret Santa party is a nightmare everyone should try to avoid. Make a game plan that works for you to put your wallet and your mind at ease. 

Homemade Gifts- Tacky or Treasured? 

If you are really struggling through the holiday season, remember that a homemade gift is a great way to show someone you care without breaking the bank. Simplistic gifts such as a mug with their favorite candy inside, a DIY snowman kit, or even a collage of your favorite memories with someone can go a long way to show what they mean to you. Think of The Office- for Christmas Jim found an inexpensive teapot Pam wanted and filled it with some of their favorite memories and inside jokes. To the others it did not seem like much, but Pam found it more valuable than the latest iPod. This is also a valuable gift giving method if you want to be more environmentally conscious this holiday season. Buying gifts for everyone can add up quickly, and as much as we don’t like to think about it some of our gifts may end up in dumps and landfills. By using your creativity to come up with a repurposed and thoughtful gift, you will be giving back in more ways than one. 

Hopefully these tips and tricks will help you (and your bank account) survive the holiday season and lead you into a more productive new year!!

Source:

https://www.discover.com/online-banking/banking-topics/6-tips-to-save-money-during-the-holidays/