In honor of Women's History Month, ATD Buffalo Niagara celebrates the talented, brilliant, and unique women leaders that make up the Board of Directors. We asked the board to share some of their favorite accomplishments during their tenure...and more! As the month comes to a close, we encourage you to think about the women that inspire you in your own life, and what contributions can be made towards furthering women's equity.

What accomplishment are you most proud of during your time as an ATD board member?

I am proud and immensely grateful to serve alongside the talented board of ATD Buffalo Niagara. Their commitment to the Chapter inspires me daily. 

How can women support other women in their organization?
Women can support women by intentionally advocating for their upward mobility in society and organizations. The first part of this journey is awareness and discovery about women’s talent and career development journeys and staying in touch with resource like Equal Pay Day Today. 

What accomplishment are you most proud of during your time as an ATD board member?
Successfully helping to execute a virtual conference this past December. The entire conference team worked so hard on the conference for over a year and through a pandemic. As a chapter, we were able to provide quality programming to talent development professionals in the WNY region. I am proud to be part of a chapter with such dedicated and passionate talent development professionals.

What advice do you have for young women just starting in your industry?
When someone approaches me about joining the industry of talent development, I always tell them to do their research first. It's so important to learn what the industry is about by studying ALT, Bloom's Taxonomy, Kirkpatrick, etc. Start attending local chapter events to network and learn directly from people currently doing the work. If they decide they want to pursue a career in training, then join a chapter and get involved. Attend local Toastmaster events to get some experience in public speaking if you lack that skill. Attend conferences, invest in a power membership or ATD national certification. Get a job as a new trainer to further facilitate the growth of your skills. Lastly, never stop learning, continue to cultivate and expand your knowledge and expertise in the field.  

What accomplishment are you most proud of during your time as an ATD board member?
There are numerous achievements I am proud of as a chapter leader, yet most recently, I am most proud of being part of an amazing team that facilitated our first ever full day virtual conference. It was an amazing success!

What advice do you have for young women just starting in your industry?
My advice is to get involved! Although you will learn and grow as a member of the organization, you will absolutely accelerate your development by being actively engaged as a volunteer, board member, presenter, etc. The hands-on experiences helped me surpass any and all learning where I was a passive participant. Dig in! You won’t regret it!

What accomplishment are you most proud of during your time as an ATD board member?
I joined the Board of Directors for ATD Buffalo Niagara Chapter in 2020 right after the pandemic started. I am fortunate and grateful to have worked with a talented team to not only overcome the financial challenges we encountered, but brought our chapter to another new level of commitment to our members and the community by connecting and supporting each other with our strong vision and values.

What advice do you have for young women just starting in your industry?
The job market today is competitive, dynamic, and diverse. It’s important to recognize that some things may not go exactly to plan as you embark on your career. Stay positive, cultivate a robust professional network, and embrace life-long learning opportunities. 

What accomplishment are you most proud of during your time as an ATD board member?
I am most proud of getting to know many incredible professionals around WNY, expanding my network to include so many people I would never have met without ATD Buffalo Niagara!

Who has inspired you most?
The women who have inspired me most in life are my mom, my aunt, and my grandmothers. All these women are so resilient and strong, but never let life harden them against being kind souls. All these women are intelligent and wonderful conversationalists, full of charisma. Most importantly, they taught me never to take myself too seriously.

What accomplishment are you most proud of during your time as an ATD board member?
I am very proud that I have met and worked with the people that I share ATD responsibilities with. I love helping the group with ideas and organizing the ATD requirements that are necessary for making our chapter successful. I am proud to be working with our entire group, meeting and knowing each other, and working together for our love of learning and creativity.  

How have you built confidence and/or resiliency over the course of your career?
I have worked with many different people for a few different companies and each experience has given me the opportunity to understand and learn about different personalities and perspectives. Having passion for my work and my career has taught me that not everyone works the same way with the same passion. Tempering and understanding my talents and passion to work with the unique talents of others have given my confidence in my ability to work well with people. Collaboration is a great gift but it is at its best when you share your passion and understanding with others

What accomplishment are you most proud of during your time as an ATD board member?
I am most proud of having the opportunity to collaborate with such a creative and passionate group of talent development professionals. I have learned so much during my time on the board, and really enjoy seeing the successes of our teamwork. Serving on the ATD board is a uniquely valuable experience that I am grateful to have.

How have you built confidence and/or resiliency over the course of your career?
I have built confidence and resiliency through making mistakes and overcoming obstacles, as well as committing to a path of continuous reflection and self-improvement. Setbacks are always part of your journey, but they don't have to define it. Staying open-minded towards feedback and leveraging it from the perspective of a 'teachable moment' has helped immensely. Surrounding yourself with supportive peers and mentors that help navigate career complexities is invaluable.