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          The Pinnacle Awards is the premier event for women in business, and honors incredible leading women for their outstanding contributions to the workplace and commitment to enhancing the quality of life in the region.

          01/27/2023

          11:00am - 1:30pm

          Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport

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          City Awake: BIPOC Young Professionals Coffee Networking

          Stay connected with Boston's entrepreneur, business, and innovation community! This event is hosted in partnership with Innovation Studio.

          02/13/2023

          8:30am - 10:30am

          Roxbury Innovation Center

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          Cook & Bake with City Awake

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          02/27/2023

          4:45pm - 8:00pm

          Cambridge School of Culinary Arts

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          Join our Transformational DEI Certificate! Our comprehensive learning & development offerings are designed to connect and grow strong leaders who lead both inside and out of the office.

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          Economic Inclusion

          Our Economic Inclusion Committee provides strategic support around research, policies, and programs that are focused on building equal opportunity.

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          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

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          Fierce Urgency of Now Festival
          2023 Fierce Urgency of Now Festival

          The Fierce Urgency of Now Festival brings Boston’s diverse young professionals together with business leaders, organizations and their peers to build connection, advance careers and ignite positive change.

          09/12/2023 -

          09/15/2023

          Greater Boston

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          City Awake

          City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.

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          BIMA

          BIMA (the Boston Interactive Media Association) serves a vibrant community of like-minded professionals from agencies, brands, publishers, and ad-tech companies with business interests in the New England market.

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          Women’s Network

          For more than 25 years, the Chamber’s Women’s Network has connected female professionals of all background and career levels. Today, our Women’s Network is the largest in New England, strengthening the professional networks of women each year.

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          MITX

          Through MITX (the Massachusetts Innovation and Technology Exchange), we’re building valuable connections between the people and ideas behind technology and its impact on the future of customer experiences, all to create a community that’s finding tomorrow’s solutions together.

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          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

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Bostonchamber
Boston Chamber
  • Events
        • Events

          • Overview
          • Events Calendar
          • Chamber Awards
        • ...
          Women's Network
          2023 Pinnacle Awards

          The Pinnacle Awards is the premier event for women in business, and honors incredible leading women for their outstanding contributions to the workplace and commitment to enhancing the quality of life in the region.

          01/27/2023

          11:00am - 1:30pm

          Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          City Awake
          City Awake: BIPOC Young Professionals Coffee Networking

          Stay connected with Boston's entrepreneur, business, and innovation community! This event is hosted in partnership with Innovation Studio.

          02/13/2023

          8:30am - 10:30am

          Roxbury Innovation Center

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          City Awake
          Cook & Bake with City Awake

          Join City Awake for our first social experience event of 2023!

          02/27/2023

          4:45pm - 8:00pm

          Cambridge School of Culinary Arts

          arrow-go
          Read More
  • Learning & Development
        • Learning & Development

          • Overview
          • Call for Nominations
          • Resources
        • Boston’s Future Leaders

          Our Boston’s Future Leaders (BFL) program provides emerging leaders with a socially conscious and civically engaged leadership toolkit, as well as the opportunity to apply their knowledge through experiential assignments.

          Read More
          Transformational DEI Certificate

          Join our Transformational DEI Certificate! Our comprehensive learning & development offerings are designed to connect and grow strong leaders who lead both inside and out of the office.

          Read More
          Women’s Leadership Program

          Our Women’s Leadership Program enables you to take your leadership to the next level by arming you with the most in-demand leadership toolkit.

          Read More
  • Economic Inclusion
        • Economic Inclusion

          • Overview
          • Economic Inclusion Committee
          • Fierce Urgency of Now Festival
          • Pacesetters
          • Resources
        • ...
          Economic Inclusion
          Economic Inclusion

          Our Economic Inclusion Committee provides strategic support around research, policies, and programs that are focused on building equal opportunity.

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Economic Inclusion
          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Fierce Urgency of Now Festival
          2023 Fierce Urgency of Now Festival

          The Fierce Urgency of Now Festival brings Boston’s diverse young professionals together with business leaders, organizations and their peers to build connection, advance careers and ignite positive change.

          09/12/2023 -

          09/15/2023

          Greater Boston

          arrow-go
          Read More
  • Policy & Impact
        • Policy & Impact

          • Overview
          • Leadership Councils
          • Amicus Advisory Board
        • GET INVOLVED IN OUR POLICY FOCUS AREAS

          Business Climate
          Read More
          Climate & Energy
          Read More
          Health Care
          Read More
          Housing & Development
          Read More
          Talent
          Read More
          Transportation
          Read More
  • Our Networks
        • GBCC’s Networks

          • Overview
        • OUR NETWORKS

          City Awake

          City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.

          Read More
          BIMA

          BIMA (the Boston Interactive Media Association) serves a vibrant community of like-minded professionals from agencies, brands, publishers, and ad-tech companies with business interests in the New England market.

          Read More
          Women’s Network

          For more than 25 years, the Chamber’s Women’s Network has connected female professionals of all background and career levels. Today, our Women’s Network is the largest in New England, strengthening the professional networks of women each year.

          Read More
          MITX

          Through MITX (the Massachusetts Innovation and Technology Exchange), we’re building valuable connections between the people and ideas behind technology and its impact on the future of customer experiences, all to create a community that’s finding tomorrow’s solutions together.

          Read More
          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

          Read More
          Small Business

          We support small business through public policy initiatives, events designed to connect small businesses in Greater Boston to their peers and established business leaders, professional development offerings, and free small business advising.

          Read More
  • Membership
        • Membership

          • Overview
          • Membership Benefits
          • Membership Levels
          • Member Stories
          • Request a Meeting
          • Join Today
        • Our Impact
        • About Us
          Our Impact

          Explore our mission and values to better understand how we are leading the business community forward.

        • Membership Directory
        • Membership Directory
          Not sure if you’re a member?

          Our member directory is your resource to discover, connect, and engage with Boston’s businesses from every industry and sector.

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A Lesson in Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

July 13, 2021

Hello everyone and congratulations to my fellow cohort members and cohort B for successfully completing the 2020-2021 Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Simmons University Women’s Leadership Program which we call WLP. A few weeks ago, I learned that I was selected by my cohort members to speak at our graduation. This is truly an honor and I greatly appreciate it. 

When I think back on my WLP experience it starts with my EVP, Deirdre Evens presenting the opportunity to me. I felt honored and overwhelmed at the same time. All of the But’s came to mind. But we’re in a pandemic! But what about my day job? But what about me swearing off never going back to school? My thoughts quickly shifted to yes, I’m applying for this program. I have a great team, and this is the perfect way for me to get out of my comfort zone. I was so happy when a couple of months later, I received the acceptance email. I was instantly hooked after session one, Your Leadership Identity. This continued throughout the eight-month program.

This has been an invaluable experience. I will continue to apply the lessons learned throughout the remainder of my career. I hope to continue the relationships I’ve built with my cohort members and peer mentor group members Kaitlyn, Melanie, Heather, Nicole and Erica. 

A big thank you goes to Rachel Benjamin and Alyson Weiss of the Chamber’s leadership and talent development team for leading us on this journey.

And in conclusion, I challenge all of the graduates to expand yourselves and grow so much that you can’t find your way back to your comfort zone. 

Let’s all go out and put what we learned in WLP into action to make an impact on our companies, communities and all those we come in contact with.

ABOUT THE WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

Women’s Leadership Program empowers women leaders with the skills and network they need to excel in their careers and to create the conditions for other women to thrive. In partnership with Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership, participants learn to identify and maximize their leadership style, build a strategic network, manage teams and perceptions, and negotiate. Nominations for the Class of 2022 are now open! You may submit a nomination here.

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