Join us for our installment of the Pacesetters Doing Business series featuring Mass General Brigham on August 7, 2025.
08/07/2025
1:00pm - 2:00pm
Virtual
The BIMA Summer Sizzler is a chance to network with your digital media industry peers from the agency, publisher, and adtech community!
08/14/2025
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Fenway Park
Join Boston’s leading educators and industry experts to explore career-aligned high school programs, in-demand workplace skills, and innovative school partnerships driving student success
07/17/2025
9:00am - 11:00am
Omni Boston Hotel Seaport
This program is in redevelopment. Click this page for DEI resources.
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.
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.
In this highly interactive workshop with Strategic Career & Leadership Coach Carole-Ann Penney, you’ll define your professional identity and develop strategies to confidently navigate workplace dynamics.
City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.
We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).
Small businesses are the backbone of the Boston economy. Learn more about the resources available through the Chamber.
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.
For over 30 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.
The Massachusetts Apprentice Network convenes employers, training providers, and talent sources interested in developing and implementing apprenticeship programs in occupations across industries and statewide in fields such as tech, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and more.
Explore our mission and values to better understand how we are leading the business community forward.
Our member directory is your resource to discover, connect, and engage with Boston’s businesses from every industry and sector.
Being a woman in a male-dominated field can be tricky. We wanted to know what words of wisdom women in upper-management positions would pass on to those who are just starting out. One of the biggest pieces of advice they had to offer was be open to every possibility. “Don’t be limited by a prescribed career path you may have in mind for yourself,” says Debbie McGonigle, Chief Customer Officer. “There are jobs today that didn’t even exist five years ago and your ‘perfect’ job may be something you haven’t even thought of yet.” Senior Vice President and Comptroller Alison Erbig agrees. “I’ve found that by saying yes to opportunities presented to me, I’ve not only uncovered that I like certain responsibilities more than I would have expected, but that so many new doors have been opened by taking on those roles. In fact, I wouldn’t be in the role that I am today if I hadn’t been open to trying a more traditional accounting job early in my career.
“Don’t be limited by a prescribed career path you may have in mind for yourself.” -Debbie McGonigle, Chief Customer Officer.
Other keys to success? Having a diverse professional network, with mentors who both inspire you and push you to succeed. Janelle Edem, General Manager of Distribution and Service, suggests including people outside your company or industry in your network. “This will increase your exposure to different opportunities as you grow your career, increase your resourcefulness as an effective professional and promote diversity of thought, experiences, perspectives and advice you can benefit from,” she says.
Many of these women have found this kind diversity through the Chamber’s Women’s Network. “The network provides a great opportunity to connect with women that one would not encounter in their regular professional circles,” notes Sheila Finnerty, Executive Managing Director. Deeksha Joshi, Managing Director of Corporate Strategy and Research has also found the Women’s Network to be a strong ally, providing access to senior leaders and role models outside her organization.
Although great progress has been made over the past decade and a half, these women know that real changes takes collaboration. “Women’s advancement is not just the responsibility of women- it’s everyone’s responsibility,” says Deeksha. Each woman noted that men can play a crucial role in creating an inclusive environment for women in the workplace. “I think there are men out there who want to be allies but don’t know how to start,” Debbie commented. A good first step is to listen to their female colleagues to better understand the challenges they face, and how those are sometimes different than challenges men face.”
“I think there are men out there who want to be allies but don’t know how to start.” -Debbie McGonigle, Chief Customer Officer
And, despite the progress that been made so far, these women noted that there is still plenty of room to grow. “Many companies are facing high rates of retirement, particularly at their senior levels which are often predominantly male,” Janelle notes. “Opportunities are opening up for women to assume some of these roles, creating better gender diversity at senior levels in our business community.” The past 25 years have shown a remarkable shift in the role of women in business, and if the past is any indication, #BosBizWomen will continue to rise.
Want to get involved in our Women’s Network? Sign up for our email list and join us on next Wednesday as we hear from sought-after chef and successful entrepreneur Tiffani Faison.
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