How To Build Confidence In Yourself As A Woman In STEM

Lessons from Season 2 of Take a Break

There were so many pearls of wisdom shared by this season’s guests, Caroline and Lennis share their favorite takeaways as they reflect on the brilliance of the women who shared their stories in STEM. From authenticity in the workplace, to building courage and confidence, this episode covers the importance of self-reflection and how you can use the stories from other women to inspire you to move forward. Here’s what you can expect:

• Showing up authentically and breaking the mold in STEM
• Authenticity as a key component to high performing teams
• Creating systems of support as you navigate your career in STEM
• Managing your personal energy to show up at your best
• Closing tips/habits to try at home

And we’re excited to open up the opportunity for you to be a guest for Season 3.

If you’re interested, fill out this form:

https://forms.gle/o74Uqp7m48fThcEf9

Caroline & Lennis will get back to you a few days after reviewing the application.

If you have any questions or suggestions, you can email us at takeabreakstem @ gmail.com

To learn more about Lennis, visit www.lennisperez.com.

To learn more about Caroline, visit www.miltoncc.com.

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Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace with Sumedha Ganjoo

When you think about emotional intelligence at work, there’s been a big shift in the past decade on the importance of cultivating a culture where leaders can demonstrate it as part of their skill set. This week we had the pleasure of talking to Sumedha Ganjoo, founder and CEO of Quimby App, a tool created to help employees and organizations with emotional resilience. Cultivating a psychologically safe team is key to the success of any organization, and this is Quimby’s intention. Here’s what you can expect from today’s episode:

• Understanding the inherent bias from evaluating your career from the gender perspective
• Helping leaders reflect on their team’s diversity and inclusion culture
• The power of responding versus reacting to stress
• Evaluating the stigma of emotions at work
• Closing tips/habits to try at home

To get in touch with Sumedha & Quimby, visit:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sumedha-ganjoo-37485068/

Website: https://www.quimbyapp.com/

If you have any questions or suggestions, you can email us at takeabreakstem @ gmail.com

To learn more about Lennis, visit www.lennisperez.com.

To learn more about Caroline, visit www.miltoncc.com.

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Inclusion in the workplace: How to retain employees with Rebecca K. Andersen

This week Rebecca joined us for a very passionate discussion about transforming the tech and stem spaces to retain more diverse talent, especially women. The episode includes personal anecdotes from our guest, plus a series of practical strategies that leaders and employees can use to support their career journey. Here’s what you can expect:

• Navigating the unwritten rules (aka politics), as a woman in STEM
• Understanding how to advocate for yourself and finding sponsors who’d advocate for you in the rooms when you’re not present
• Developing a pathway to retain diverse talent in STEM
• Create spaces for women to share their experiences and structured mentorship opportunities
• Closing tips/habits to try at home

To get in touch with Rebecca:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccakandersen/

If you have any questions or suggestions, you can email us at takeabreakstem @ gmail.com

To learn more about Lennis, visit www.lennisperez.com.

To learn more about Caroline, visit www.miltoncc.com.

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Many times we find ourselves conditioned to external validation, which leads us to be people pleasers, making sure that everyone likes us. This week we talked with Gina Covarrubias about this challenge as she shared how it impacted her career as a woman in STEM and beyond. Her work as a coach is very inspirational and we hope you enjoy today’s episode. Here’s what you can expect:

• Debunking the myth of finding a dream job
• Avoiding making your career and job your whole identity
• How lack of confidence doesn’t discriminate based on gender
• Using your emotions to propel you forward
• Closing tips/habits to try at home

To get in touch with Gina, you can reach out via:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginacovarrubias/

Email: gina@deliberatedoing.com

Website: https://deliberatedoing.com/

If you have any questions or suggestions, you can email us at takeabreakstem @ gmail.com

To learn more about Lennis, visit www.lennisperez.com.

To learn more about Caroline, visit www.miltoncc.com.

Like and subscribe to catch all of our content!

How to develop self awareness with Melanie Richmond

When you look at your career trajectory, have you ever thought about your intention? This week, we sat down for a conversation with Melanie Richmond who shares her own experience as a woman in STEM and how developing her self-awareness led her to have more joy and authenticity at work. Here’s what you can expect from today’s episode:

• Navigating the challenges of experiencing lack of support at work and how to find your voice
• Balancing the masculine and feminine traits to show up more authentically
• Experiencing burnout and using mindfulness practices to overcome it
• The importance of intentionality and aligned living
• Closing tips/habits to try at home.

To get in touch with Melanie, visit: https://gotruenorth.net/

To learn more about Tapping: The Tapping Solution Instruction video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAclBdj20ZU

If you have any questions or suggestions, you can email us at takeabreakstem @ gmail.com

To learn more about Lennis, visit www.lennisperez.com.

To learn more about Caroline, visit www.miltoncc.com.

Like and subscribe to catch all of our content!

Life Leadership with Leila Sing

What does life leadership look like for you? This week we had the pleasure of sitting down with coach and NLP expert Leila Singh. Leila got into Tech through an unconventional path, and after decades in the industry, she has been working with highly motivated individuals bring their best selves into the workplace and beyond. Here’s what you can expect during this episode:

• Looking at Tech from the lens of a dynamic and innovative space
• Taking personal branding BEYOND the online space
• Leila’s 3-step formula to becoming more visible and achieving your goals faster
• The importance of coaching as you develop life leadership and your self-awareness muscle
• Closing habits & tips to try at home!

To get in touch with Leila Singh head over to LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-singh/

If you have any questions or suggestions, you can email us at takeabreakstem @ gmail.com

To learn more about Lennis, visit www.lennisperez.com.

To learn more about Caroline, visit www.miltoncc.com.

Like and subscribe to catch all of our content!

How to be more productive with Pauline Ochieng

Productivity is typically top of mind, how can we accomplish the most in the shortest amount of time? There are many ways we can improve productivity at work and one of the key elements is to be “innovative”. That’s what Pauline Ochieng shared with us during our recent chat for Take a Break. This is what you can expect from today’s episode:

• Why it’s important to think about not fitting into the traditional career box
• Shifting your focus on becoming a more fulfilled person
• Productivity through projects in innovation with “intention”
• The importance of innovation and adaptability to bring empowerment into your life
• Closing habits & tips to try at home!

To be part of the Productivity Playshop, visit: https://www.productivityplayshop.com/playsp

If you have any questions or suggestions, you can email us at takeabreakstem @ gmail.com

To learn more about Lennis, visit www.lennisperez.com.

To learn more about Caroline, visit www.miltoncc.com.

Like and subscribe to catch all of our content!

New Year Reflections with Caroline & Lennis

As we come to the close of the year 2022, we’re sharing some personal insights about approaching the new year where you continue to prioritize your well-being. This is what you can expect from today’s episode:

• Sharing end of year reflections with a key question to ask yourself
• How you can pay attention to new year expectations and why we don’t recommend using constraining resolutions
• What are some practical things you can do if you’re in the midst of burnout
• Using self-assessments to help you show up more authentically, including the Four Tendencies assessment as shown through the link below
• Closing habits & tips to try at home!

Access the Take a Break Energy Tracker: https://www.canva.com/design/DAFV96ePCSY/S89rGkjRXvuahFlfhrtNdQ/view?utm_content=DAFV96ePCSY&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

Personal Energy Management Episode with Evelyn Pacitti: https://youtu.be/JovqZlu4ID8

Self-Assessment: The Four Tendencies https://gretchenrubin.com/quiz/the-four-tendencies-quiz/

The Four Tendencies Book (Amazon Affiliate Link): https://amzn.to/3v87Tby

If you have any questions or suggestions, you can email us at takeabreakstem @ gmail.com

To learn more about Lennis, visit www.lennisperez.com.

To learn more about Caroline, visit www.miltoncc.com.

Like and subscribe to catch all of our content!

CEO Skills - How to become a CEO with Erica Buxton from Hello Bello

Caroline & Lennis are excited to share with you this week’s episode. We had the opportunity to speak with Erica Buxton, current CEO of Hello Bello and fellow engineer. Erica shared with us her journey to the C-suite and how stepping into scary territory has paid off tremendously in the professional journey. This is what you can expect from today’s episode:

• Prioritizing the things you’ll enjoy long-term as you navigate your early career in STEM
• The importance of finding opportunities that will develop your skill set, even if they scare you
• Getting very clear on your guiding light through your professional journey and asking yourself what gets you really excited.
• Misconceptions about making it to the C-suite
• Her experience setting new standards when it comes to role modeling prioritizing personal well-being as part of the culture at work.
• Closing habits & tips to try at home!

To learn more about Hello Bello, you can check out their website at: https://hellobello.com/

If you have any questions or suggestions, you can email us at takeabreakstem @ gmail.com

To learn more about Lennis, visit www.lennisperez.com.

To learn more about Caroline, visit www.miltoncc.com.

Like and subscribe to catch all of our content!

Women in the Tech Industry Breaking Barriers with Emma Cowling

There's a gift when you bring your authentic self into any space. But it’s so important, now more than ever, for women to bring their whole self into work, especially in tech. Emma reminds us of the many benefits the tech industry gets when women are involved. During this week’s episode you’ll hear:

• How important it is to understand your value in STEM and not fit into the mold
• What you can do to build up your confidence to speak out and share your ideas
• Getting clarity on what’s important for you and taking the risk to share it
• About the common barriers women in STEM face and how to overcome them
• Closing habits & tips to try at home!

Get in touch with Emma Cowling:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmacowling/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/authenticvisibilityforwomenintech

If you have any questions or suggestions, you can email us at takeabreakstem @ gmail.com

To learn more about Lennis, visit www.lennisperez.com.

To learn more about Caroline, visit www.miltoncc.com.

Like and subscribe to catch all of our content!

How to Become a Leader

Leadership means something unique to everyone. Some may define leaders as those who have followers and keep certain responsibilities to others. Some may define leaders as someone who lives through authenticity and a sense of belonging regardless of followers.

Caroline & Lennis are excited to sit down with Farnoosh Brock to discuss this topic of leadership for women in STEM. This is what you can expect from today’s episode:

• Navigating through the unexpected and building a resilience toolkit
• Creating a sense of belonging for women in STEM
• How you can start identifying yourself as a leader
• The importance of speaking up, setting boundaries, and creating an environment of respect
• Closing habits & tips to try at home!

Get in touch with Farnoosh:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fbahram/

Website: https://www.farnooshbrock.com/

If you have any questions or suggestions, you can email us at takeabreakstem @ gmail.com

To learn more about Lennis, visit www.lennisperez.com.

To learn more about Caroline, visit www.miltoncc.com.

Like and subscribe to catch all of our content!

Playing to Your Strengths with Anne Trobaugh

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This week we had the opportunity of sitting down with Anne Trobaugh. Anne is the creator behind My Best Friend at Work, a platform that supports women in STEM through visibility work and connection so they can too have a seat at the table.  This is what you can expect from today’s episode:

• Finding connection in a world of differences (environment, culture, people, etc)
• Anne’s inspiration behind “My Best Friend at Work”
• Importance of visibility for women in STEM
• Finding resources for mentorship and how critical male allies are to the success of others, especially for gender equality
• How you can play to your strengths using self-assessment tests
• Closing habits & tips to try at home!

Get in touch with Anne:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mybestfriendatwork/

If you have any questions or suggestions, you can email us at takeabreakstem @ gmail.com

To learn more about Lennis, visit www.lennisperez.com.

To learn more about Caroline, visit www.miltoncc.com.

Like and subscribe to catch all of our content!

STORYTELLING POWER WITH GAYATHRI SHUKLA

Why are stories important? In this episode, Gayathri shares with Caroline and Lennis about the power of storytelling and how using guided autobiography can lead to more inclusion and belonging in the workplace. This is what you can expect from today’s episode:

• How to tackle the overwhelming feeling of being “the only” as women in STEM
• External validation versus self-acceptance
• Intersectionality of women who’ve built resilience from their struggles as immigrants
• Storytelling as a medium for inclusivity
• How to take the diversity and inclusion work from awareness into action
• Closing habits & tips to try at home!

Get in touch with Gayathri:

Website: https://campfirekinship.com/

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hearth-2-heart-stories-of-purpose-and-belonging/id1579260488

Book (Amazon Affiliate Link): https://amzn.to/3U09FWq

If you have any questions or suggestions, you can email us at takeabreakstem @ gmail.com

To learn more about Lennis, visit www.lennisperez.com.

To learn more about Caroline, visit www.miltoncc.com.

Like and subscribe to catch all of our content!

HOW STRESS AFFECTS YOUR BODY WITH JESSICA MARCY👀

There is a tremendous impact from stress, on our bodies, our hormones, and our overall health. This week we sat down with Jessica Marcy, Environmental Engineer and herbalist to talk about her journey as a woman in STEM plus her current work helping other women regulate their hormones and reduce stress using herbalism.

This is what you can expect from today’s episode:

• How the idea of “being moldable” early in your career can be harmful when the organizations has a toxic working environment
• Being the first and navigating when there is a lack of role models
• Her shift into herbalism as a natural progression from her experience as an environmental engineer
• How her project management skills have been key to helping her clients
• Closing habits & tips to try at home!

Get in touch with Jessica:

Website: https://www.oldwisdomwellness.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oldwisdomwellness/

If you have any questions or suggestions, you can email us at takeabreakstem @ gmail.com

To learn more about Lennis, visit www.lennisperez.com.

To learn more about Caroline, visit www.miltoncc.com.

Like and subscribe to catch all of our content!

INFERTILITY FOR WOMEN IN STEM WITH PRIYA SANTHANAM👇🏽

What can you do when you are dealing with an invisible struggle? This week we had Priya Santhanam, PhD, share with us her infertility journey as a woman in STEM. These struggles led to a desired outcome from her infertility problem, her two young children, but it also opened her to focus on supporting women who may be going through a similar journey.

Here is what you can expect from today’s episode:

• What can you do when you receive disempowering advice, especially early in your career as a woman in STEM
• Using compassion and patience to speak up
• The real isolation that comes from infertility
• The importance of belonging through invisible struggles that lead to true transformation
• What are the tangible things you can do to help yourself and others through the struggles of infertility as a team member
• The one key question you can ask that leads to resilience
• Career clock vs. Biological clock for women in STEM
• Closing habits & tips to try at home!

If you would like to support Priya with her mission of speaking with 100 women in STEM about their infertility journey, you can reach out to her via:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priyarsanthanam/

Blog: http://www.scientistengineermom.org/

Also, she is part of the book Empowering Women in STEM, which you can pre-order here: https://www.routledge.com/Empowering-Women-in-STEM-Personal-Stories-and-Career-Journeys-from-Around/Mathura/p/book/9781032373317

If you have any questions or suggestions, you can email us at takeabreakstem @ gmail.com

To learn more about Lennis, visit www.lennisperez.com.

To learn more about Caroline, visit www.miltoncc.com.

Like and subscribe to catch all of our content!

PERSONAL ENERGY MANAGEMENT WITH EVELYN PACITTI ⬇️

When trying to get an energy boost for women it is important to track how this energy is varying day in and day out. In this week’s episode of Take a Break, we have the pleasure of speaking with personal energy expert, Evelyn Pacitti, as she shares her journey from working as an engineer to becoming a work-life engineer and supporting clients on this journey.

Here is what you will find on this episode:

• Finding your footing as a woman in STEM when surrounded by masculinity
• Why integration is a key element to energy management
• Using energy tracking as a tool for awareness
• Creating buffer zones for the “hyper energy” periods of your day
• Giving different measurements to your day versus your energy
• How cultural differences influence what is “common practice” for burnout prevention
• Closing habits & tips to try at home!

Get in touch with Evelyn:

Website: https://www.measurablewellness.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evelyn-pacitti/

If you have any questions or suggestions, you can email us at takeabreakstem @ gmail.com

To learn more about Lennis, visit www.lennisperez.com.

To learn more about Caroline, visit www.miltoncc.com.

Like and subscribe to catch all of our content!

WOMEN IN STEM - SOCIETY OF WOMEN ENGINEERS WE22 RECAP⬇️

Surprise! Caroline and I recorded this episode together, in person, while attending the Society of Women Engineers Annual Conference WE22 in Houston TX.

We are excited to share our favorite moments plus some key takeaways.

Here is what you can expect from today’s Take a Break:

• Collaborating and teamwork to present a panel at SWE WE22
• Becoming a contributor in the workplace
• Hints about our panel “Busting Burnout: Conscious Leadership for the Reimagined Workplace”
• Importance of connection and community
• How to reduce large group anxiety after being at home
• Ideas on how to approach your next large conference
• Closing habits to try at home!

If you have any questions or suggestions, you can email us at takeabreakstem @ gmail.com

To learn more about Lennis, visit www.lennisperez.com.

To learn more about Caroline, visit www.miltoncc.com.

Like and subscribe to catch all of our content!

CONFIDENCE IN LEADERSHIP ⬇️

Building self-confidence with special guest Danielle Francis

In this episode of Take A Break we have a special guest, Danielle, founder of BCoached share her experience working in a predominantly masculine energy environment, having to prove herself constantly, and her current work helping leaders build confidence to drive their teams to success.

Here is what you can expect in this episode:

• Navigating through the male-dominated field of engineering
• The constant need to prove yourself to earn respect and trust from your peers
• Building confidence in leadership
• Imposter syndrome and what to do with your inner questioner
• Framing failure in a productive way
• Danielle answers our burning question
• New tips and closing habits to try at home this week!

Get in touch with Danielle:

Website: https://bcoached.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-s-francis/

Do you have questions about stress management or burnout prevention you'd like Caroline and Lennis to tackle? Drop a comment on this video to let us know!

You can also email us at takeabreakstem @ gmail.com

To learn more about Lennis, visit www.lennisperez.com.

To learn more about Caroline, visit www.miltoncc.com.

Like, subscribe, leave us a review and catch our content from season 1!

HOW TO STAND UP FOR YOURSELF AT WORK ⬇️   

Self-advocacy with special guest Stephanie Slocum  

In this episode of Take A Break we have a special guest, Stephanie, founder of Engineers Rising LLC share her early career advice, what she wished she knew in her early career as an engineer, how to advocate for yourself at work and finding that professional fulfillment.   

Here is what you can expect in this episode:   

☑️ Career advice for women in STEM 

☑️ Demystifying the belief that a STEM career is the “safe route” 

☑️ Paying attention to your other interests and how to prevent losing yourself in your career 

☑️ Tactics to experiencing more fulfillment at work 

☑️ The importance of mindset work 

☑️ Stephanie answers our burning question 

☑️ New closing habit to try at home this week!   

Get in touch with Stephanie: 

Website: https://www.engineersrising.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieslocumpe/

Amazon Book (Affiliate link): She Engineers   

Do you have questions about stress management or burnout prevention you'd like Caroline and Lennis to tackle? 

Drop a comment on this video to let us know!   You can also email us at takeabreakstem @ gmail.com   

To learn more about Lennis, visit www.lennisperez.com.   

To learn more about Caroline, visit www.miltoncc.com.   

Like, subscribe, leave us a review and catch our content from season 1!

When it comes to the discussion of burnout, there are many misconceptions that can impact your healing from burnout journey. In this week’s episode of Take a Break, Caroline and Lennis are sharing details of common misunderstandings that you may encounter on your burnout recovery journey.

Here are the topics covered today:

✔️ How perfectionism sabotages your recovery from burnout

✔️ Importance of creating a toolkit for your recovery journey

✔️ Busting the timeframe for burnout recovery

✔️ The link between trauma and burnout

✔️ Management, leadership, and why burnout is not an individual experience

✔️ Closing habits/tips to try at home

And with this episode we are closing season 1 of Take a Break!

We are looking forward to seeing you during season 2.

If you have any questions or suggestions, you can email us at takeabreakstem @ gmail.com

To learn more about Lennis, visit www.lennisperez.com.

To learn more about Caroline, visit www.miltoncc.com.

Like and subscribe to catch all of our content!