the WWLF Connection

Dear WWLF Friends,

I am excited about the future of WWLF! I hope that each of you would consider participating as an active member and a contributor to the future of women in the wireless industry. In the last two years as Vice President, I have seen women shaping their futures by learning what it takes to move into the positions they are qualified, desire, and deserve. Women are now more than ever advocating for themselves and surrounding themselves with mentors from our industry (both men and women) who are experts in their fields.

I am honored to have had the chance to serve our members and I look forward to supporting the new Officers in any way I can.

All the best wishes to you and for your future endeavors,

Beth Martindale

WWLF Vice President, 2021-2022
Executive Director of Business Development for Broadus Services

How ESG is Shaping the Future of Business

Written by Kristen Beckman

You may have seen the acronym ESG floating around, especially in earnings reports and company updates. This relatively new concept is gaining momentum and shaping the way many companies are doing business.

What is ESG? ESG stands for ‘Environmental, Social and Governance,’ and it describes factors many companies are now using to guide their operations with responsibility and ethics toward society in mind. The theory behind ESG is that a focus on these three tenets of company behavior, including hiring practices and operational processes, makes the company more attractive to investors, customers, regulators and employees. ESG also is thought to reduce various risks and increase company success.

Environmental factors generally refer to how a company safeguards the environment, including energy consumption, emissions and equipment end-of-life. Social factors refer to how the company manages relationships with employees, suppliers, customers and the community. Governance addresses the company’s leadership, executive pay, internal controls and shareholder rights.

ESG considerations can vary widely among industries. In the wireless industry, for example, infrastructure that connects individuals, companies and governments typically consume about 1 percent of a country’s total electricity consumption, according to PwC Partner Rolf Meakin in an interview with Financier Worldwide. The ongoing rollout of the next generation of ultra-high-speed communications networks will enable greater economic inclusion and have the potential to improve energy efficiency, he said.

Several companies in the wireless infrastructure ecosystem are already forging ahead with ESG initiatives.

American Tower reports on its ESG initiatives annually. For 2021, the company pointed to its efforts to reduce emissions, expand its portfolio of solar capacity, continue to establish digital communities, distribute nearly $6 million in workplace giving and matching programs and become a signatory to the United Nations (UN) Global Compact and the UN’s Women’s Empowerment Principles.

 Read the full article on the WWLF website

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Salary Negotiations

Written by Akhila Sivakumar

According to a 2022 Deloitte article, the technology and telecommunications sectors are set to close the gender gap in the years ahead. Both industries are expected to see an increase in women in the industry and in more senior roles. As more women begin to join the telecommunications industry it is important that they are equipped with the knowledge to ask for and negotiate the compensation packages they deserve. A few keywords to keep in mind when approaching a salary negotiation are time, research, and expectations.

Taking your time prior to a negotiation goes a long way. During my first few professional negotiation experiences, I was impatient, so I took whatever amount was offered to me. I was eager to start at the company and insecure in my abilities, so I wanted to get the paperwork completed as soon as possible. In retrospect, I could have positioned myself into a better deal if I was more comfortable with taking my time. When a compensation package is offered to you, ask if you can take some time to think about it. Even if you know what to counter with or are happy with the initial offer, asking for some time to think about the offer allows you the opportunity to do additional research and set your expectations. The negotiation phase is your opportunity to take your time before you move forward with a company. The highest salary increases are often seen when joining a new company versus moving upwards within your current organization.

WWLF Director Debra Mercier’s number one tip when it comes to salary negotiation is “do your research”. Research is the second keyword to think about when preparing for a negotiation and it extends beyond just looking at what a company typically offers for a certain position. The first step of completing research starts with using tools such as LinkedIn Premium or Glassdoor to see what the company typically offers for the position you are applying for. Next, look at similar positions in the company and the positions that are above the one you will hopefully be accepting.  Understanding the base salary for numerous positions in an organization allows you to be knowledgeable about what you can potentially earn as you promote within the organization. The next step is to engage with your professional network. Reach out to professionals you know in the industry and ask them “what would you expect the salary range for this position to be?”. The members in WWLF are great resources to field this information. Many of the women in this organization are well versed in the salaries for different positions and have most likely been in similar positions as you. Another tip is to look at different job titles that have similar responsibilities. The job titles between companies may vary but taking the time to research the salaries tied to positions that have similar objectives to the one you are applying for leaves you better equipped in your negotiation. 

Read the full article on the WWLF website to learn the third key word for salary negotiations.

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WWLF Announces the Call for Nominations
for the 2023 - 2024 Executive Leadership Team

Candidate applications for the positions of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer are currently being received by the WWLF Nominating Committee. Those interested in serving in leadership with WWLF must meet certain criteria, will be elected by vote and will be installed in January 2023.

Nominations will be received October 31 – November 14, and voting for candidates will take place between November 21 – December 16.

You must be an active member in order to nominate and to cast your vote!

For more information about qualifications for nominations, please contact Amanda Cahill at president@wwlf.org.

For more information about joining WWLF or renewing your membership, please visit our website www.wwlf.org.

Upcoming Events

 

Monthly Networking Events!
WWLF Members Only

 

Please join WWLF for our Monthly Networking Event: Motivation and Mugs

The 1st Monday of every month.

Although times are getting somewhat back to normal, we are still not quite there yet.

So, let's come together and connect while enjoying our morning ritual of coffee, tea, lemon water or whatever your choice of drink!

During this Monday Motivation and Mugs, each attendee will have one minute to introduce themselves and talk about what they are looking for/needing during these times: job opportunities, connections, friendly support, etc..

November 7, 2022

10:00 AM - 10:45 AM (EDT)

Zoom link to be sent before the event

Registration closes the Friday before the event.

 
REGISTER HERE

WWLF Webinar - Should I Stay or Should I Go?

The Pull to Have Career, Home Life & Peace of Mind Simultaneously

 
 
 

What does it mean to really “have it all” in today’s world? Do you find yourself stressed by trying to balance both your home and work life, while finding some sense of peace for yourself? If these ring a bell, you will not want to miss this webinar titled: Should I Stay or Should I Go? The Pull to Have a Career, Home Life & Peace of Mind Simultaneously. This webinar will share insights into the myth of having it all, setting boundaries, open communication with management and recognizing burnout.

Join WWLF for the second of our webinar series, presented by Barb Teicher, CSP, Speaker, Educator, Author and Business Coach. Barb works to educate and promote women in management through leadership development. We look forward to seeing you there!

November 10, 2022
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM 
Zoom link to be provided prior to the event
(Member only event)

 
REGISTER HERE

Quarterly Event: Book Read! 

 
 

JOIN the WWLF for our Quarterly Event: Book Read!

This event will be an open discussion with an opportunity for everyone to share comments, questions, and insights!

As a result of the vibrant discussion, we will be re-reading "How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back from Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job" by Marshall Goldsmith and Sally Helgesen.

“Ready to take the next step in your career . . . but not sure what's holding you back?

Leadership expert Sally Helgesen and bestselling leadership coach Marshall Goldsmith have trained thousands of high achievers -- men and women -- to reach even greater heights. Again and again, they see that women face specific and different roadblocks from men as they advance in the workplace. In fact, the very habits that helped women early in their careers can hinder them as they move up. Simply put, what got you here won't get you there . . . and you might not even realize your blind spots until it's too late.

Sally and Marshall identify the twelve habits that hold women back as they seek to advance, showing them why what worked for them in the past might actually be sabotaging their future success. Building on Marshall's classic bestseller What Got You Here Won't Get You There

Registration closes on November 28th.

November 30, 2022
7:00 PM - 8:30PM (EST)


REGISTER HERE

All events open to WWLF members

Become a new member of WWLF or renew your membership today!


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WWLF is committed to creating an inclusive environment where diverse voices are welcome in all aspects of our organization. WWLF values the knowledge and perspectives that our members bring to our organization from their diverse backgrounds. While all members are welcome to participate in both regional and national events, WWLF remains committed to the design and delivery of content to support the development of women in the wireless communications industry.