Elpha

"In early 2021, I was the epitome of “making it” by conventional standards. I was a lead designer at a top AI startup, a speaker, and I was in a stable, long-term relationship. My routine included ticking off self-care checkboxes, from workouts to regular meditation. Yet, beneath that shiny surface, I was exhausted, and my mental health was hanging by a thread. I started losing sleep, watching my productivity slip away while everyone around me seemed effortlessly in control. I clung harder to my work, mistakenly thinking that pushing through would save me, but it only accelerated my breakdown. It wasn’t until my manager suggested I take time off that I realized something had to give. Burnout was a word I hadn’t fully grasped until it hit me, not as a minor setback, but as a complete, mind-body shutdown." Manon Gruaz, Director of UX, Innovation and Product Design, shares her journey of redefining success while prioritizing self-compassion, mental health, and balance over endless productivity and perfectionism. 👉 Read full story: https://bit.ly/3Vex49X

Hey there, everyone! I'm excited to be joining the Elpha community and hosting an Ask me anything session this week. I'll answer your questions on impact investing, sustainability, how to measure the contribution of your investments to the SDGs, and more. Join Elpha to stop by and ask me a question https://bit.ly/4g6moCp #askmeanything #sustainability #sdgs #impactinvesting

"“Before you say yes, I do have to mention that I’m three months pregnant.” “In that case, no, it wouldn’t be a fit.” “Ok, then.” That was the day I was rejected from joining the marketing team for my birth country’s vice presidency – because I was pregnant. A job, that according to the person at the other end of the call, I was a perfect fit for. Many women face this kind of discrimination, though it’s rarely stated so bluntly. Usually, it comes with a nod and a smile that doesn’t reach the eyes. And, then with time, changes come. Suddenly you are not enough. The usual, “We are thankful you got us from A to B, but we don’t think you could get us to C.” As I lowered my phone on the kitchen table, my husband asked me, “Why did you tell them?” I replied, “If it’s an obstacle now I don’t want to be part of that team long-term.” And boy, did I take it to heart." Mila Grandes shares her recipe for career success and finding a work-life balance as a working mom. 👉 Read full post: https://bit.ly/4hXaXP6 #womenintech #workingmom #worklifebalance

"I was laid off by email at 5 in the morning. In their defense, my company was East coast-based and had sent the email at 8 am their time—but the fact of the matter was, I no longer had a job. Now what? I felt discarded and alone like the work I’d poured my soul into no longer mattered. I’d spent 15 years working my way up from human resources assistant work to now managing a large talent acquisition team, but it hadn’t been easy, even before this unexpected end. In reality, I’d never quite felt secure in my role. As much as I loved the company and the work I did, I’d struggled with impostor syndrome since the scope of the role tripled right after I started. I certainly knew I was capable of success, but I often felt unmoored and like perhaps others didn’t see that same capability in me. Add in the high (sometimes unrealistic) expectations of the tech industry, and it was a whirlwind." Krystin Morgan shares how switching to self-employment from middle management made her a better worker, a happier person, and a more present parent. 👉 Read full post: https://bit.ly/4fuSnMr

"My journey started with a pivot that seemed, at first, like a huge sacrifice. I transitioned my master’s degree into an apprenticeship in the MarTech industry, trading off a higher salary for the chance to learn from within. That apprenticeship earned me a modest three-figure wage, barely enough to cover rent in Paris. But that decision paid off when it opened doors to MarTech, launching my career. Fast forward, and I made another pivot: I moved to the UK and started from scratch, leaving behind the network and financial expectations I’d built in France. These pivots were calculated risks. I didn’t let pride or a fear of starting over stop me. Pivoting strategically allowed me to step into new industries, acquire new skills, and broaden my career horizons without being boxed into a specific role or country. Each pivot brought me closer to a role with greater leadership opportunities and, yes, a bigger paycheck." Laura Kressmann, Product Boards & Communities Director, shares how she tripled her salary in tech by playing the long game. 👉 Read full post: https://bit.ly/4fkTsqg

Check out this week's Office Hours featuring Jamie Deveney! 🎉 Jamie is the Chief Data Officer & Head of Product at Chord. Ask her a question on Elpha by this Friday 11/15 👇

"I brought this idea to my boss. He wasn’t completely sold at first, which is understandable. I knew this would be a shift in our workflow, and change isn’t always easy. But I kept it simple and showed him how it could work. I also suggested splitting our team into smaller groups, which would have 1:1 check-ins with him while regularly meeting with each other to track progress and clear blockers." Diane Pesquera shares how to advocate for micro innovations in a team. 👉 Read full post: https://bit.ly/4ekh6lr

'Tis the season... of AMAs! ⛄ Ask me anything on Elpha this week. Happy to answer questions on leadership, problem-solving, hiring, cross-functional collaboration, or anything else! Join Elpha to stop by and ask me a question. https://bit.ly/3YPNFmN And while I'm here, raising the flag: I'll be #hiring leaders across functions, soon! Please DM if interested.

"On Memorial Day 2024, my dream job as COO of a social-impact technology company vanished overnight. After three years of pouring myself into the mission of the organization, our two co-founders were indicted on millions of dollars of investor fraud, our last paychecks bounced, and I went from "Having It All" to unemployed and terrified. My first instinct was to find a new job, and fast. But there was a nagging thought I realized I'd been pushing aside that started getting harder to ignore. What if I was pouring all my energy into climbing the wrong mountain? I had made it to what I thought was the top, and yet there was always a part of me that wondered if this was "it"." Kristin Belden shares her journey and insights gathered in going from corporate to solopreneurship. 👉 Read full post: https://bit.ly/4fsKruH

"I was lucky in that some of my closest friends were also impacted by layoffs so we did our best to stay in touch and get together to cry, vent, or laugh about the whole thing. That said, I was also navigating the job hunt with a toddler and a newborn. I didn’t have the option of getting too downtrodden. I was distracted by my kids and also fueled by them. My daughters are my biggest motivation. I tried to think of what I would tell them if they were in my situation (one day, as young working women) – I would remind them that any company would be lucky to have them and that patience, persistence, and optimism can get you far." Caroline Stone Peters shares how she navigated the long job search and ultimately landed her current role. 👉 Read the full story: https://bit.ly/40k4iYU