Launching the Women’s Initiative Network (WIN)

The Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) is launching to engage the over 93,000 Montclair State University alumnae in the intellectual, cultural and educational life of the University. We are looking to form a vibrant community of alumnae and friends to inspire and empower women to become leading volunteers and visionary donors.

“We are excited to launch this community and grow a supportive network for each other and the mission of Montclair State University,” says Jeanne Marano, assistant vice president for Annual Giving and Alumni Engagement. “Join us as we embark on this journey. We are looking for representation across all professional disciplines and from every career stage – from senior executives to young professionals to entrepreneurs.”

The objective of the group is to increase the number of women meaningfully engaged in University programs, empower the next generation of leaders and strengthen ties between and among alumnae and the University through a strong network of women committed to supporting Montclair.

Individuals interested in joining the Women’s Initiative Network are encouraged to attend the event to be held on Thursday, January 19, featuring career and executive coach Tara Chiari presenting a Leadership Development Workshop: Negotiation in the Workplace – Strategies for the Career Advancement of Women.

The program will focus on negotiation as an essential skill for getting what you want in your career and in your life. While many understand its importance, the idea of promoting ourselves often feels uncomfortable. Shouldn’t proving one can succeed in a position be enough to get promoted into it? Studies have shown that men tend to get promoted based on their perceived potential while women are promoted after proving they can do it. This “potential vs. performance” obstacle is often the result of unconscious gender bias. In this engaging presentation, participants will gain new insights and understandings about how to negotiate effectively (and authentically) on their own behalf and break the cycle of the ‘potential vs. performance’ roadblock.

The presenter, Tara Chiari, is a Certified Executive Leadership & Career Coach and founder of Smile Across The Finish Coaching LLC. She specializes in coaching business executives and creative professionals in areas of leadership and career development.

Following this workshop, the Office of Alumni Engagement will host a networking session for participants to grow their contacts. In addition, team members from the Office will gather input and feedback from attendees to develop next steps in forming the planning committee and creating additional programming.

“As we move forward with planning, we will tap into the extensive experience of Montclair State’s accomplished alumni to provide networking and learning opportunities designed to empower women to realize their career goals and to increase the number of women meaningfully engaged with the University,” adds Marano. “Whether you are located close to campus or far away, please let us know your interest so that we can look to create new engagement opportunities.”

If you are interested in joining the network or serving on the planning committee, please complete this brief survey to tell us a little bit about yourself, your interests and thoughts on developing future activities. Show your support!

Questions?
If you would like additional information regarding the Women’s Initiative Network, or would like to serve on a planning committee, please contact Linda Kavan at kavanl@montclair.edu or 973-655-4141.