Last week, women leaders celebrated International Women’s Day, which was Sunday, March 8, at the Women’s Network by giving advice and sharing insights from their careers, encouraging attendees to build confidence, strengthen connections, and remain open to new opportunities.
UCOR’s Samantha Dolynchuk, Jill DeMella, Kala Dickerson, Renee Salazar-Romero, and Ashley Saunders; Amentum’s Cheryl Cabbil; and OREM’s Teresa Robbins discussed recognizing your personal value in professional spaces, getting outside your comfort zone, leaning on each other, and maintaining a work-life balance.
Trusting your abilities, working hard, and remembering you belong at the table was a big takeaway, as this will cultivate both competence and confidence. Members of the panel mentioned that women naturally bring mentorship, coaching, and thoughtful decision-making to the table, fostering an environment where diverse ideas are heard and strong outcomes are achieved.
Panelists mentioned that valuable learning opportunities and career advancement come from uncomfortable or difficult situations. Trials and discomfort will help you grow, but you don’t have to do it alone. You should build relationships, seek mentorship and confide in trusted colleagues for support and guidance. Leaders said they lean on each other, and you should too.
Members of the panel shared that good leaders listen, coach, and empower their teams to create an environment where people can do their best work and a company can truly succeed. Panelists suggested that outside of work, you should dig into your interests and what fulfills you to support your long-term well-being, resilience, and authenticity.
Throughout the session, panelists had an overarching message: focus on doing meaningful work, support those around you, and remain authentic in yourself.
If you would like additional information from the panel session, or have any questions for the panelists, reach out to womensnetworkshared@orcc.doe.gov.
