Thankfully, that’s not the case any more. Toys to inspire your little girls are out there — though they might be difficult to find. Here’s a few of our favorites.

Barbie’s Inspiring Women

Mattel believes that a girl imagines everything she can become with Barbie. This explains why I always thought I’d grow up to have an 18-inch waist! But now, they’re building better dreams. In June of 2018, the longtime doll manufacturer released a diverse line of Barbie “sheroes” which honor groundbreaking women like Amelia Ehrhart, snowboarding champion Chloe Kim, and artist Frida Kahlo. You can bet this computer geek preordered her Katherine Johnson (Hidden Figures) doll as soon as it became available.

Girls of all ages benefit from having a hands-on representation of their role models. And while Mattel has long offered career Barbies, they’re continually enhancing the line. Dolls are less than $10. So instead of the usual nurse or veterinarian, get the girl in your life the Barbie pilot doll and inspire the world’s next Tammie Jo Shults.

GoldieBlox Zipline Action Figure

What kid doesn’t want a zipline in their bedroom? The Goldieblox Zipline Action Figure comes with everything your budding engineer needs to endlessly create and re-create a 13-foot zipline. Plus, there’s a fully articulated action figure to ride on it!

GoldieBlox founder Debbie Sterling spent a year researching how to make an engineering toy for girls that went beyond the “make it pink” mentality that has guided toymakers for ages. She discovered that girls engage with stories and characters rather than just “building for the sake of building,” and the GoldieBlox line provides character-driven problem solving for girls ages four and up.

Karina Garcia DIY Slime Kit

Any parent of an eight-year-old girl can tell you: slime is the new Easy Bake oven. It’s also chemistry. And, it’s just plain fun. YouTuber Karina Garcia released this 15-piece slime kit which includes everything your budding chemist needs to make crunchy, clear, or glowing slime. Plus, there’s glitter. Need I say more?

Lego

In the 1980s, a box of Legos came with a letter reminding parents Legos were a creativity-building toy for both boys and girls. Sadly, by the 1990s, 90% of its users were boys, following years of Star Wars and action-movie sets.

Lego put tremendous research into finding out how to make toys that appealed to girls. They learned that, while all kids enjoyed building, boys and girls wanted to do different things when they were done. Boys were content to leave their creation as a backdrop, but girls were frustrated by their inability to “get inside.”

In 2012, Lego launched its Friends series, designed to engage the roleplaying aspects and interior engagement that appealed to girls in their focus groups. The line doubled sales expectations in the very first year and since then, it’s only continued to grow.

Roominate Alice’s Mansion

Speaking of engaging a girl’s interest, Roominate has developed a line of toys that will enable the girls in your life to architect the world’s coolest buildings. When she’s done constructing it, she can furnish and wire it. Your budding electrical engineer will build confidence and develop spatial skills, while adding such touches as a working elevator or a rotating swimming pool. Endlessly customizable, Roominate’s toys provide real-life lessons in circuitry and structural engineering.

Why Does It Matter?

My dad bought me a truck for my third birthday. When I was ten, we’d spend our Saturday afternoons assembling electronics kits. By the time I was twelve, he and I sat down to learn our first programming language together.

Would I have grown up to be a computer programmer if he hadn’t done those things? No one can say, but I do know doing those things gave me confidence to tackle anything later in life.

So head to your nearest toy store and pick up one of these fantastic toys. Sit down with your daughter, niece, or neighbor. You may be building the confidence that will shape her future.

The post Five Toys To Inspire and Empower the Women of Tomorrow appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

While STEM students are most likely to be employed, women with math degrees are still more underemployed than men with the same degrees — both in their first job, and their job five years later. With this data in mind, how do we combat underemployment, the ever-looming challenge of the pay gap, and other obstacles women face in the workplace?

STEM has been an important part of my life since I was young, and I’ve been lucky enough to witness and be part of seismic shifts in the STEM world throughout my studies and career. While women in STEM are being recognized for their work and are changing the industry, we cannot become complacent; there is a long way to go in terms of equity for women across disciplines and cultures in the science and tech space.

As someone who has steadily worked her way up in the male-dominated industry to Senior Vice President of Operations and General Manager of The Software Guild, I’ve learned a great deal. If you want to really stand out in a STEM vocation, these are the strategies that make all the difference.

• Embrace the Puzzles – An inevitable part of working in STEM are the puzzles, and they can be daunting. However intimidating, don’t shy away from these challenges; rather, proactively identify problems and find solutions. This attitude will help your company — and your career. Whether it is a seemingly impossible math problem, or coding a website from scratch, diving in is the best option. Get lost in the details, utilize your puzzle-solving skills, and becoming a problem solver. Become invaluable! Embrace puzzles and pursue creative solutions, and you will certainly stand out in STEM.

• Look to the Future – Staying up-to-date on trends in your industry (and outside it!) and being mindful of the possibilities of the future unlock creativity and innovation. When Dorothy Vaughan saw men setting up a computer in Hidden Figures, she learned the FORTRAN programming language and trained a group of women to work the computer with her, making them invaluable. You can become indispensable too, by looking forward — which can be as simple as reading articles on the Future of Work to participating in seminars and training courses. Aiming to be ahead of the curve marks you as a leader and asset in business.
• Learn to Code – Coding is a skill that has become vital across industries – from healthcare to marketing. In fact, it is a practical skill in which all women should invest; our world is being built with code! The more you know about it, the bigger difference you’ll be able to make — and the more valuable you’ll be to your boss. What’s more, coding can continually be built upon if the coder takes initiative. It can provide a stable, exciting career across industries — but especially in STEM.
• Invest in Your Employees – For female leadership, it is natural to foster the careers of our female employees. It is our duty to provide encouragement and avenues for our employees to grow, whether that be implementing in-office programs or sending employees to outside programs. Many companies invest in their employees through training partnerships with companies like The Software Guild, and as an office leader, you can build those partnerships for the benefit of your employees.

While I can provide tips, it is up to you to practice them. I challenge you to begin using one of these strategies in the next week. Change will not come overnight; determination is key. By persevering, we can make STEM a place where women really thrive.

Rachel McGalliard has devoted her education and career to STEM and expanding the pathways of STEM education. She is the senior vice president of operations and general manager for The Software Guild, and serves on the Learning House Leadership Team, where she works to expand Software Guild initiatives into the university space to close the gap on the tech talent shortage. 

The post How Women Can Stand Out In STEM appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

However, as Cristal Glangchai, PhD, understands it, kids will have jobs in the future that we can’t even imagine today, and she’s on a mission to develop the next generation of creative leaders and entrepreneurs.

Glangchai, a scientist, entrepreneur, mentor, and author of Venture Girls: Raising Girls to Be Tomorrow’s Leaders, founded VentureLab to provide an opportunity for girls to learn about the STEM fields and to apply those concepts to create new products and companies. So far, VentureLab has been such a success in connecting STEM with entrepreneurship that it has since added programs for boys to learn as well!

She founded VentureLab in San Antonio, TX, in May of 2013. “I was inspired to launch the company by my own experiences as a woman in STEM, and my frustration with the lack of women in these fields and many others.”

At the time, she was teaching at Trinity University in San Antonio, and discovered that it was difficult to get female students to take her entrepreneurship classes – and those who did would often end up dropping the classes. “They seemed intimidated and unconfident in their abilities, both in STEM fields and as potential business leaders,” Glangchai explains.  “I thought about my experiences in college, being one of the few girls in mechanical engineering, and I reflected on my time doing investor pitches for my nanotechnology company.” In these male-dominated settings, women were a rare sight.

Challenging Gender Stereotypes

But instead of just wondering and reflecting, Glangchai decided to take action. “From my experiences, I realized that girls really need a certain type of confidence and risk-taking that’s not specifically taught to them.” So how did she manage to be successful?  “I feel like I had learned this entrepreneurial mindset and immigrant mindset from my dad, who had 3 daughters, but had always wanted sons.” He ended up treating his daughters as though they were that son he always wanted. “We grew up playing sports, building things, fixing cars, etcetera, and never realized girls ‘should not’ do certain things — because we always thought we could do anything.”

As a result, Glangchai was never afraid to ask questions in school, didn’t hesitate to join the engineering club, and thought it was normal to be different.

In fact, when she was teaching in San Antonio, Glangchai started sharing entrepreneurial concepts with her daughters and sons, who were all under the age of 8 at the time. “My daughters’ teachers would come up to me after school and ask what I was teaching them,” she says. “The girls were more confident, speaking up more in class, trying new things, and coming up with creative ideas and solutions to problems.”

This is when it dawned on Glangchai that kids in general, and girls in particular, must be taught to be creative and confident at a young age – before they are exposed to preconceived notions of what girls and boys should be and do. “I wanted to teach them to have confidence that they can create things, and yes, even create their own company,” she says. “I wanted to teach them to have the courage to get in front of an audience and show their accomplishments – and overall, I wanted to create an environment that felt safe for girls to reach their fullest potential.”

She knew she was the perfect founder for VentureLab. Previously, Glangchai had founded NANOTaxi, a drug-delivery company that developed disease-responsive nanoparticles for cancer therapy. While at Trinity University, she was director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and assistant professor of Practice. Currently, she is the director of the Blackstone LaunchPad at the University of Texas at Austin, and director of the Texas Entrepreneurship Exchange. Founding VentureLab was completely in her wheelhouse.

VentureLab works with schools and nonprofit partners to provide free K-12 curricula, programs, and teaching training.  The curricula integrates ESTEAM (Entrepreneurship, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) concepts, and VLab helps young people learn how to harness technology to turn their concepts into real-world products and services, or pursue other ESTEAM-based careers.

Why Girls Need to be Involved in STEM at a Young Age

STEM skills – especially technology – are critical in a variety of industries ranging from healthcare and manufacturing to education and hospitality. “Unfortunately, we are leaving girls behind: in elementary school girls excel at math and science, and 74% of girls are interested in STEM,” she says. “However, by the time girls reach their teens, only about 20% are interested in pursuing STEM careers.” Even as tech careers increase, she says the gender gaps are also increasing in these industries.

But if girls can be taught STEM principles such as curiosity, creativity, and solving problems at a young age, she believes they’re more likely to retain these traits when they reach the peak of peer pressure as teenagers. “That is why we need to give girls the confidence to believe that they can do anything; they can 3D print an engine, create software, or start a company beginning in pre-school.”

Glangchai doesn’t think every girl needs to pursue a STEM career, but she does believe that all girls should feel comfortable around STEM and have a basic understanding of these subjects. “And it is critical that we engage them in STEM at a young age, so that we have a world where both boys and girls are creating the future.”

Entrepreneurship is a fun way to introduce girls to STEM and STEAM. “To me, entrepreneurship isn’t just about starting companies — it is a skillset and a mindset that includes the ability to seek out opportunities, create opportunities, problem solve, and think laterally and creatively.” A variety of skills are needed to bring products and services to market, including website design, financial analysis, etc. And, as Glangchai explains, “It’s all of these attributes that make [entrepreneurship] the perfect gateway into creating STEM-curious and confident girls.”

The post How To Get Girls Involved in STEM? Cristal Glangchai Has A Plan appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

This article salutes some of the first, best, groundbreaking, utterly badass, world-changing women of STEM from the past two hundred years.

Ada Lovelace: Prophetess of Modern Computing

1815-1852

When Charles Babbage designed the Analytical Engine, few people understood it. That’s where Ada Lovelace came in, basically schooling every scientist of her time on the potential of modern computing.

She recognized Babbage’s machine could be more than just a calculation engine. A visionary, she believed its functionality could be applied to words, pictures, and music. In other words, she foretold modern computing.

If that weren’t enough, she also wrote the first computer program to go with it, using looping and conditional branching techniques still in use today.

Marie Curie. Because science.

1867-1934

No discussion of groundbreaking women of STEM would be complete without mentioning two-time Nobel prize winner Marie Curie.

Curie (along with her husband Pierre Curie) discovered two elements: polonium and radium. Her work forms the basis for x-ray technology and cancer treatments which have saved countless lives.

Not content to just be the first lady of science, she also began a prize-winning science dynasty: her daughter Irene Joliot-Curie won the Nobel prize in 1935. And Marie’s granddaughter, Hélène Langevin-Joliot, is a nuclear physicist who still consults for the French government today.

Lillian Moller Gilbreth, Industrial Engineering Pioneer

1878-1972

Perhaps you grew up watching or reading Cheaper by the Dozen, the story of twelve kids growing up with efficiency-expert-parents — but you might not have realized the real-life scientist behind the story was Lillian Moller Gilbreth.

Gilbreth has been called a “genius in the art of living.” An engineer and doctor in psychology, and considered to be the first industrial/organizational psychologist, she took her knowledge of the scientific process and combined it with her husband’s passion for efficiency. Together, they revolutionized industrial engineering. Her daughter later wrote a book on how they applied that knowledge to their family life, which was made into the film you know and love today.

Gilbreth was the first to meld psychology, the scientific method, and industrial design — giving rise to entirely new disciplines. This science is at the forefront of making our work and play better, and we have her to thank for that.

Grace Hopper, Because Necessity is the Mother of Modern Computing Language

1906-1992

Many people don’t realize it was women who were at the forefront of early programming. One of these women was Dr. Grace Murray Hopper.

In those days, programming required heavy math skills, something many businessmen didn’t possess. Hopper envisioned a user-friendly computer language which would make it possible for businessmen to program. FLOW-MATIC was born.

FLOW-MATIC is not just a great name for a rap album—it was the first English-like data processing language. Her work gave rise to COBOL, a computer programming language designed for use in commerce, which is still in use today.

Hedy Lamarr, Technology Ninja

1914-2000

If you’re reading this article on your Bluetooth-enabled tablet over WiFi, you can thank Hedy Lamarr.

Many people know her as a sultry 1930s film star, but she was also an inventor. Self-taught, she was the sort of nerd who would rather stay home inventing than attend a Hollywood party — even though she most certainly had invites to all of those Hollywood parties.

At the beginning of World War II, she came up with the idea of using frequency-hopping to keep Axis powers from intercepting communications. This technology matured into the Bluetooth and WiFi we use to this day! Her ideas have improved everything from television, to printers, to those in-home virtual assistants we’re finally getting. All because of the glamorous Hedy Lamarr.

Erna Hoover, Revolutionary Software Designer

1926-

You may not know her name, but Erna Hoover revolutionized the communications industry — while she was on maternity leave.

After earning her Ph.D at Yale, Mrs. Hoover took a job at Bell Labs. A few short years later, while in the hospital recuperating from the birth of her second daughter, she had an epiphany.

You see, up until then, phone systems were hardwired and frequently became overloaded. Hoover envisioned a way to use software to manage it — basically revolutionizing modern communications.

Hoover received one of the first software patents ever for her design, and the principles of her invention are still in use today.

Roma Agrawal: Tomorrow’s Engineer, Today.

1983-

Roma Agrawal is only at the beginning of what is becoming an illustrious career in Structural Engineering. Only 35 years of age, Agrawal has already worked on major projects like London’s Shard.

Born in Ithaca and raised in Mumbai, Agrawal came to London to complete her degree. Since then, she’s built a towering list of achievements, including Young Structural Engineer of the Year.

Though women comprise only 8% of engineers in the UK, Agrawal is working to change that. With a long career still ahead of her, she’s one to watch in the coming years.

The Next 200 Years

The world is better because of the work of these women — women who’ve challenged stereotypes and entered fields previously dominated by men. They came with their own fresh insight, bringing new understanding into existing fields. Whether it’s by combining disciplines, or by making unparalleled contributions, they’ve given rise to the tools and technologies indispensable in today’s world.

Rock on, women of STEM.

The post These Women Built Your Wifi: A Salute To The Historical Women In STEM appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

Putting yourself out there can be incredibly exciting, but it comes with some downfalls. We’ve all experienced these attacks in one way or another, but how do we move past it? How do we survive an e-lashing from such hurtful, mean-spirited critics? I’ve had a few of these experiences myself, and there are a few tips that have gotten me through the worst of it.

Find your voice: Stick up for yourself, but do not personally attack your assailant.

• I have dealt with some harsh haters when posting on my business page for RedHead Wine.  I once had someone tell me that I deserve to be sexually assaulted — um, excuse me?  What kind of person says that?!  I’ve debated whether I should respond to comments that encourage the degradation of women or endorse sexual harassment. I was bullied in high school and I did not have the self-confidence to stand up for myself; I was too afraid back then, but now that I’m badass business woman, I chose to use my voice! Tell your attacker they are being disrespectful, and you have a zero-tolerance policy for negativity. Call them out for their behavior.  Your followers will see that you have class and will stand strong with you.

Keep your head up high! Haters will always hate, but know only you can dull your shine!

• It is extremely hard to ignore negative comments when it comes to your personal brand or business.  I’ve heard repeatedly that “business should not be personal,” but it is personal when you are pouring your heart into it. Trolls use words to drag you down below their level. I want to emphasize that you are good enough.  The fact that you are trying to create and build something is a huge deal! It takes courage and strength to even try — so you should be proud of that. Life has some very rough roads and at times can feel lonely.  But it truly shows the type of person you are when you are putting yourself out there and taking risks — it’s amazing, and you’ll never forget it.

Don’t Be Afraid to Hit “Block”

• Your page and your online profile is just that: yours. You get to decide who’s included in that community, and if someone is using that opportunity to spew hate, cruelty, threats, or just plain meanness, you are not obligated to keep that online relationship! Block them, and report them if they’re violating the platform’s terms of service. You don’t need that kind of negativity in your brand — for your own sake, and for the sake of your followers!

The internet is comprised of billions of community members – so focus on the individuals who build you up, not bring you down.  Internet trolls LIVE for internet battles, so if you shut down their banter with a concise warning, you are taking control and will feel better about it.  I know it’s helped me to act and take a stance. But, most importantly, be proud of who you are and what you are trying to accomplish. By staying positive and focused, you will only get further ahead.

Want to continue the conversation? Contact me on IG and Twitter: @MarisaSergi  

The post How To Deal With Internet Trolls appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

“Nothing can be further from the truth,” Shelley Westman, Principal, Cybersecurity at EY said. “Cyber criminals today are well-funded, organized, and operate like a business.”

Cybersecurity, and other tech fields, are filled with misconceptions. And they are filled with gender biases, such as the image of a hacker in a hoodie, or the masculine language used in job descriptions. According to the Huffington Post, more than 800 cyber jobs used the term, “ninja,” when describing their possible candidates. What’s the image in your head of a ninja? Is it a man or a woman? For most people, the stereotype is male.

“We have to be careful that we stress the collaboration and teamwork required in cyber security — skills women in the workforce do extremely well,” Westman said.

Collaboration and teamwork matter in all industries, tech and cyber security included.

And women’s presence in these industries matter as well.

When you search online for “Women in Tech,” you’ll probably find events in your area that you could attend. Conferences are certainly helping make an impact bringing more women to be a part of the tech world, but we need to do more to help change happen. Interested in getting involved?

Here are seven organizations actively working to involve women and girls in tech. Consider how you might join in and support them in their incredible work!

1. Girls Who Code: The best place to start improving gender parity in tech is with the youth. This nonprofit focuses on teaching girls K-12 to code. Although coding isn’t currently part of the Common Core, or found on typical, standardized tests, most students can now find opportunities to learn and be involved through their schools. This organization’s focus is getting more girls involved as well. According to their website, they’ve reached almost 90,000 girls of all backgrounds in all 50 states.
2. 2020Shift: This organization creates opportunities for women to move into tech fields without the typical backgrounds. For instance, they have a Beginner’s Guide to UX/UI Design on their site, which is an area where the job expectations are expanding without the experienced applicants to fill them.
3. Codecademy: If you’re more of a self-paced learner and ready to take on coding when it’s convenient for you, this site is what you’re looking for. Here, you can learn to code for free, which will be an invaluable skill no matter the job as we use technology in every industry and every career.
4. Black Girls Code: As their name makes clear, this organization’s goal is to provide tech learning opportunities for young and pre-teen girls of color. Their mission from their website is “to introduce programming and technology to a new generation of coders, coders who will become builders of technological innovation and of their own future.”
5. AnitaB.org: This organization continues the vision of Anita Borg, a computer scientist who founded a digital community for women — and she did it back in 1987! Today, AnitaB.org “works with technologists in more than 80 countries, and partners with academic institutions and Fortune 500 companies worldwide.” Their focus is on helping women in tech succeed through connection, inspiration, guidance and organizations.
6. The National Center for Women & Information Technology: this non-profit focuses on increasing women’s participation in “computing across the entire ecosystem.” Their programs help in recruiting more women, retaining female employees, and providing advancement for women, starting in grade school and continuing throughout their careers. It’s an incredibly broad focus, but that means you may find the right fit for you in one of their many programs.
7. TechWomen: This worldwide organization is through the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, launched in June 2011. Their site explains that their intent is to provide “opportunities for women worldwide to participate in cutting-edge training, professional development and exchange programs, and pursue higher education.” You could find programs there to join networks, find a mentor, or connect with experts in public and private industries worldwide.

In addition to working with or joining these groups, women entrepreneurs are in unique positions to make an impact for women in tech. What can you do to be a part of this movement towards gender parity? How can you help?

Westman provides some excellent strategies.

“I think women and men lifting up women in the workplace is key in making sure employees overcome imposter syndrome. A good place to start is to make sure female employees have mentors and are fully aware of the contributions they make to their organization. However, I also think overcoming imposter syndrome will eventually need to come from within.”

The post 7 Organizations Supporting Women in Tech appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

The online marketing world is a confused concoction of conflicting opinions. There’s no one, even the most influential marketing maestro, that can utter the words “I did this all on my own.” The most successful digital marketing influencers of this world are a sizzling hot cup of knowledge as they have developed their expertise and learned everything there is to know about the industry… from other people. The first step as an aspiring marketer is to seek knowledge from inspirational women in marketing who can offer you career-changing advice.  

We caught up with the strong female workforce at SEO company, Bigfoot Digital, for some advice on how to navigate the digital marketing industry and secure a position working for a business that values your expertise. Here’s the advice they offered to help kick-start your career in one of the most sought-after online industries:

1) Confidence is key 

This one may seem simple enough — but it’s super effective. Don’t let the fear of failure get in the way of pursuing a career that you can see yourself in for years to come. Have the courage to stand up for what you believe in a room filled with strong male leaders. The one-size-fits-all approach to digital marketing no longer works. There are so many ideas, strategies and proven tactics for success. So, when it comes to asserting your authority, this is your time to shine. Come prepared. 

2) Follow online influencers  

We don’t just mean the ones you come across during a frantic Google search for “top digital marketing blogs” minutes before your interview. It’s important to develop connections with people internally and externally that you can trust to deliver the best industry advice. Do your research, ask questions, and be prepared. Use your online skills to connect with business owners on LinkedIn and other professional networks. Read any posts, blogs, or shared content on their profiles to develop your understanding further. Be open to new ideas that will allow you to stand out from others in a challenging interview situation. 

3) Immerse yourself in all areas of digital marketing  

Research everything related to that business. What services do they offer? Do you have skills in one, or many, of these areas? SEO, social media, website design, paid advertising, and content writing are just some of the areas of digital marketing. Understanding the bigger picture will help you make smarter business decisions and having a broader skill set will always make you a more valuable candidate.  

4) Learn the buzzwords  

Digital marketers need to show a certain level of confidence using the critical digital marketing acronyms like PPC, SEO, CTR and SEM. So, what do they mean (no Googling)? They all have very different meanings and understanding them is a clear sign that you have the necessary level of knowledge and need no further training. The ability to speak with confidence about these areas of marketing without hesitation will show that you are up to speed with others in the industry.  

5) Personal projects  

While it’s important to indulge yourself in the latest marketing updates, don’t forget to test them out. Everything isn’t always black and white in the world of digital marketing (unless you are talking about hats) with many grey areas in between that are bad for business. Knowing the difference is essential when it comes to being a successful woman in marketing. It’s no good recommending an underhanded tactic you read about online that was good practice years ago. Keep your knowledge up-to-date, and don’t let those negative tactics trip you up in an interview.  

6) Digital development  

If you want to stand out in a room full of potential digital marketing masters, completing an industry course will do the trick. The difficulty is that anyone can get a qualification dated three years ago thinking they understand everything there is to know about marketing. The problem here is that nothing ever stays the same for long. As the industry matures, recruiters are becoming savvier about what separates people who can deliver on their promises from those who will end up costing them more money in the long run.  

At Bigfoot Digital, women make up over 90% of all full-time employees with opportunities for career progression frequently offered. It’s a supportive working environment that encourages women to take a leading role in the business and grow as professionals with industry-leading training provided at all times. They specialize in affordable SEO services, including social media marketing, website design and content management – employees are given a chance to expand their knowledge in these key areas of digital marketing. This is precisely the attitude you are looking for when connecting with professionals. Don’t settle for anything less than a business that will give you the best digital marketing experience. Show you are passionate, and willing to learn. The rest will fall into place naturally. 

The post How To Master Digital Marketing appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

I read this book during a weekend away at our family’s lake house, and it opened my eyes to just how addicted I’ve become. I am never so relaxed as I am at this lake house, and while reading, it dawned on me that it isn’t the crashing waves of Lake Michigan, or even the ability to sleep in, that keeps me so calm and present on these getaways. The lake house is a sanctuary for one special reason: there is no cell service, and thus, no distractions.

When was the last time you allowed yourself to totally unplug?

That is just one of the many questions you will answer for yourself as you flip through this book. In this quick read, author Tanya Goodin tackles our phone and screen addictions head on to bring us back to enjoying the present moment. Goodin is an award-winning digital entrepreneur and founder of digital-detox specialists group Time to Log Off, which runs digital-detox retreats and events for adults.

Goodin and Time to Log Off are on a mission to inspire both kids and adults to disconnect from their devices and re-engage with the world around them.

In the book, Goodin compassionately walks us through how technology is designed to be addictive, then how to reclaim control. This book could easily be read in a weekend, but is one I will keep coming back to every time I feel the allure of that glowing screen.

Technology Has Us Hooked

The reason we are reaching for our phones 2,600 per day is because they are designed to be addictive. Goodin explains that technology is designed to hook us, to keep us scrolling when we know we should be getting back to work or going to bed. Every ‘like’ and comment on social media is reinforcement that keeps us glued to the screen.

Take Back Control

In this book, Goodin gently guides us back to the driver’s seat of our own lives. We don’t have to let the notifications and private messages control our days. The habits Goodin recommends are simple and straightforward; the book will guide you through setting your own boundaries for screen time, as well as identifying your triggers for getting sucked in. Goodin recommends mindfulness practices such as meditation and walking in nature to help us reconnect with ourselves and others.

A Quick, Helpful Read

While the concepts in Off: Your Digital Detox for a Better Life are simple and almost obvious, the fact remains that we are addicted and need an intervention. Even though I knew that spending more time in nature was good for me, I didn’t take action until the book inspired me to do so.

If you have been feeling the pull to step away from the screens in your life, plan a digital detox and follow Goodin’s advice. While the thought of a complete detox is overwhelming, the beauty of this book is that it does not demand an all-or-nothing approach. Even shutting down your computer 30 minutes earlier each night will reap benefits. As Goodin says, “And as you discover for yourself the benefits of logging off, through improved sleep, focus, productivity, and mood, I know you’ll be inspired to do more and keep going.”

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One of the tools that has had the greatest impact on my success has been a Kanban board. Here’s why it can help your business, what it is, and the basics of creating one.

To begin with, think of attention like a commodity. Whether you’re selling your business to clients, investors, potential employees, or yourself, you want to deliver your strongest message right away. Making it visual is a powerful way to tell your story. Would you rather read a lengthy post or a professional image? Think of a Kanban board like creating a professional visualization of your business processes. You’ll grab people’s attentions (including your own), and you’ll keep it, because you’re getting to the core of your business without inundating with details.

Prior to launching my own businesses in writing and the music industry, I spent a decade working in IT departments where I learned and certified in Agile methodologies. When I left that career, I launched into solo project work as an entrepreneur. I worked with and for others, but it wasn’t in the same context. As a former Certified Scrum Master, I considered myself an expert in Agile methodologies and they worked very well for software development teams. As much as I wanted Scrum to organize everything in my new career, it wasn’t the best match.

That was when this Scrum Master dabbled in another Agile methodology and grabbed onto Kanban.

Kanban is a Japanese term that means “visual signal” or “card”. Is roots come from the way Toyota managed production lines. Their process was merged with ideas from varying thought leaders, creating today’s project management methodology. It’s often referred to as a “just in time” method. For an entrepreneur, its values are its visual organization, its resource limitations, and its flexibility.

One of its tools is the task board, or ‘Kanban’ board.

1. What it isn’t: it’s not complex; it’s not minute in detail; it’s not a one-size-fits-all template; and it’s not set in stone.
2. What it is: it’s a visual representation of work as it progresses, from left to right; it’s organized by columns, representing a stage of the process; in its simplest form, it’s a set of cards, representing tasks, and it displays what state they are in.

An example of the most basic board would be made up of three columns: to do; doing; and done. The “doing” column would be narrow, a visual representation of limiting that column. You are only allowed to have a specific number of cards/tasks in progress at once. This limitation rule is a big deal for me. My personality is a “starter.” I get really excited about new ideas and jump in with a lot of energy. Then, when things get messy and I’m in the middle of the hard stuff, I am easily distracted by other shiny, new things. The requirement of completing my work before moving on keeps me focused and on-task better.

Once you have your basic board setup, you can add complexity to it as needed. For my board, I added swim lanes to further organize my cards into “weekly,” “monthly,” and “project.” There are a number of tasks that I always do each week as well as each month. Then, there are bigger tasks that are a one-time effort and those get dropped into “project.” For example, every week I send out an invoice for hours worked on a current project, which is (obviously) billed hourly. Monthly, I send an invoice to a different client for the content writing I’ve completed for them. Under “projects” are the jobs we hire in the local music industry. This is what works for me.

When Agile methodologies were widely adopted, it would have been a good time to buy stock in 3M. Project teams managed their work using post-it notes. Many teams continue that today, using the tangible paper and pen to organize and communicate their projects.

There are also many software tools available now. For me, I use a cork board hanging on my office wall for my high level task board. For more specific details, I create Trello boards. It’s a good tool that’s free to start. Other alternatives include Wrike, Taskworld, Monday, Asana, Basecamp, even Microsoft Project or Team Foundation Server.

My final advice is to revisit your board frequently.

Continual improvement is big with agile, but it doesn’t happen simply because you set up your board. It happens because you use it as a communication tool and you check in. When I was a Scrum Master with an effective team, our retrospective meetings became my favorite meetings. I mean come on; who likes any meeting?! I enjoyed them because they were effective. We created serious change, which led to real improvement. I wish every other team could have been privy to our meetings. They worked so well because we found the format that fit our team the best. I could write an entire book on how we got there, but there are already great books on retrospectives. Why did ours work so well? Everyone gave input, everyone voted on our biggest wins and hardest challenges, we then focused on only the hardest challenge to create a focused plan to improve in that area, and we finished with specific recognition, thanking team members.

Retrospect your board. Whether you’re using it with others or yourself, take the time to check in and ask these questions.

1. What’s working well?
2. What’s not effective?
3. How can I fix the things that aren’t working?

I’ve revisited my board and changed it. I used to have a “daily” swim lane. A daily review was a must-have with large teams, but I found that it was overkill for my solo work. I moved those tasks from cards on the board to scheduled items on my calendar. That’s what works for me.

One bonus bit of advice: if you need to add a little spunk, pizzaz, and enjoyment… give yourself some stickers when you move a card to done. It works in preschool and guess what? That kid is still inside of you! Give yourself some motivation.

The post Creating a Kanban Board for Entrepreneurs appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

Live video is a unique opportunity to show your followers the behind-the-scenes of your business, your personality, and why you launched your business in the first place. Using live video to tell your brand’s story is powerful, so even if the thought of hitting that “go live” button gives you butterflies, this is your chance to give it a try. But, like any important venture, before you do so make sure you’ve got a plan in place. There’s a method to this madness, and a few important things to keep in mind. 

Know Who You’re Talking To

Before going live (or even launching a business), it’s essential to have a clear picture of who you’re serving. It is impossible to connect with everyone, so drill down to exactly who your ideal client is. This will keep your content authentic and engaging. When I go live, I imagine that I am speaking to one specific person. She is my ideal client, and everything I create is with her in mind. You could also imagine talking to one of your best friends. Forget the numbers; connect with one person.

Commit To A Schedule

You’re never going to get into better shape by going for one run and then never lacing up your sneakers again. Live video is powerful when you do it consistently. It also gets a lot easier with time. Commit to a schedule, perhaps every Wednesday, when your followers can count on you to go live. You will improve each week, and your customers will begin to look forward to the videos!

Write An Outline…

If you are new to live video, or even if you’re not, there is no shame in writing out some notes before going live. Come up with your title and write an outline of what you want to cover. This will make it much easier to jump in, because you’ll have that safety net sitting right there. However, you could spend an hour tweaking the outline, so don’t let yourself use it as an excuse. Jot down a few thoughts and then? Just do it.

…But Don’t Read It

A few notes are helpful for shooting a video, but don’t let yourself become too reliant on them. It’s okay to go off the cuff and share what’s on your heart. Just take a deep breath before going live and know that you can do this. I like to say a quick prayer asking for guidance; maybe meditation works for you. Do what works. Once I let go of my rigid outline and just share what comes up for me, I see the most engagement from my community.

Share Away!

Live video is an incredible way to interact with customers in real time, but you can keep using those videos long after you’re finished shooting. Share the video across your social media channels. Download the video to your computer and share it on your blog or newsletter. You could even group some of them together to create a free mini course. You’ve already done the hardest part of getting over your fear and shooting the video, so now let it work for you!

This story originally ran in our SPRING ISSUE! Click here to check it out! 

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