BWC, BEEP give advice to women

Black Women for Change sponsored the Black Executive Exchange Program Women's History Month panel discussion "Sister to Sister: Do Nice Girls Finish Last" in R. J. Reynolds Business Center March 31.

The topics discussed were workplace socializing and networking, making a mark in the corporate world, developing a personal brand and balancing work and life.

The discussion panel included Kaniche Cezar, a group training manager for the North Carolina Group; Lisa Gardner, a subject matter expert for the CIA; Denita Hedgeman, a director of career services at LeMoyne-Owen College; and Jessica Roberson, a leadership development program recruiter at BB&T.

Soncerey Montgomery, the director of Honors Program was the moderator for the discussion.

The panelists gave advice on how students should know who they are and what skills they have.

"Being consistent is important no matter what career field is chosen," Hedgeman said.

"Improve the areas of what you need to develop."

The panelists also talked about how students can balance work and their personal lives. They said finding a company that gives tools to allow people to balance their work and personal life can help people be less stressed.

Time management is a key to having a successful career.

Workplace socializing and networking involves making smart relationships in the work place while networking.

Be mindful of the content on social networks that are viewed by possible employers can prevent making a bad impression.  

The panelists provided insight about not letting emotions affect their work performance.

"Women should not forget to be aggressive in the workplace," Gardner said.

The panelists discussed how people should want to learn more and be innovative.

Roberson said she was grateful to be able to speak to the students and hopes that the students learned many things from the discussion.

"Know your value and what you are worth," Roberson said.

"The discussion panel was very motivational and inspirational, and it encourages me to stay in school and have a job that I love," said Darica Waller, a senior English education major from Durham.

BEEP was created in 1969 to encourage African-American executives to act as visiting professors and give lectures about their career to students at HBCUs.