Today we honor those who have fallen while serving our country.
"In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." —Martin Luther King, Jr.
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The US department of Veteran Affairs confirms the disproportionate ratio of men to women in the military and shares eye-opening facts and statistics of the challenges women veterans encounter after they serve our country. Because we care about gender diversity and inclusion in the workplace, we spoke with three women veterans to see what has helped some of our fearless leaders transition from being women at war to women at work.
Just like with gender diversity, there are companies making great strides to increase veteran employment in the workplace. However, since women veterans are less likely to be employed, it's essential to hear directly from those working now. Our hope is that more women veterans find employment and that companies will implement appropriate support during their transition.
Here is what these women have to say:
What's the biggest challenge you've faced at Raytheon and how did you overcome it?
"The biggest challenge I faced was the transition from military to corporate aerospace and defense culture. I mistakenly assumed that the cultures (acronyms, terminology, processes, hierarchy etc.) would be similar and I didn't realize what a steep learning curve I faced. I came from a situation where I was experienced and knew what I was doing and transitioned into a very unfamiliar environment. Change is scary and so I struggled at first, but then I realized that it was fine to accept that I didn't have all the answers and that I was new and needed to learn. Fortunately there are lots of people here at Raytheon who wanted to help me learn, grow and be successful!"
—Deborah, Veteran.
More From Raytheon: "At Raytheon, we place an emphasis on diversity, inclusion and opportunities for all employees. One of the coolest things that Raytheon does is demonstrate that commitment to all women. There are five women directors on our board and four female vice presidents on the company's senior leadership team. In addition to those roles, there are women serving as vice presidents, senior managers, directors and several other leadership positions that number in the thousands. It's important that we talk the talk, but it's really cool to work for a company that walks the walk."
What do you miss about working in the military?
"When I was in the military, I wore a rank and occupational badge that let people know off the bat what I did and where I was in the Organizational food chain. Because of that, there was an automatic sense of deference that I received when it came to giving my opinion or ideas. However, when I took the uniform off, all people see now is a baby face and girl. Even though I am 31, I am still referred to as young lady and I have to battle my way through to be granted respect and a voice at the table. I sometimes miss the uniform because it showed my experience and expertise before I even opened my mouth."
—Jardin, USAF Veteran.
What's the coolest thing your company does to support women veterans?
"We offer a program called the "Heal Program" that heals a Veteran before they get into a crisis. We focus on healthcare, evacuation, advocacy and legislature. No Veteran gets left behind. We resolve issues concerning homelessness, unemployment, benefits, and suicides. However, the biggest problem I face is being one of a few female Veteran Executives. I'm usually the only woman at the table talking Women Veteran issues. I'm very confident and bold in stating my intent and advocacy for Women Veterans because I represent the speechless and hopeless. I overcome this challenge by waking up everyday knowing I fight for all Veterans and I can't quit or let them down. Advocacy is my passion and I live to make Veteran lives better."
—Cherissa, Retired Air Force Captain.
Here are some companies PowerToFly has teamed up with that have jobs and dedicated programs for veterans:
Most of us never had the chance to find pleasure in the learning process. But being a student again, as an adult, can actually be fun. With that in mind, we've decided to optimize the PowerUp experience by making it engaging and, most importantly, worthwhile.
Every time you take a new course on PowerUp, you will encounter a dynamic experience with different mediums, approaches, and pathways. On one hand, our original content focuses on developing skills and is organized to take you on a learning journey. On the other hand, you will come across a well-defined structure that is consistent throughout all courses on the platform. This combination of impactful content and cohesive structure makes learning and studying a pleasant experience, not a taxing one. When we learn, our brains appreciate impactful narratives and familiar structures so that we can recognize and navigate the content more easily.
The big secret to becoming a lifelong learner and, most importantly, enjoying the process, is creating pleasurable and rewarding connections during your moments of study. With that said, we've prepared seven tips to help you get the most out of this journey; and hopefully, help you fall in love with studying and become a lifelong learner. After all, learning has no end date. Even after diplomas – from basic education, college, masters, or PhDs — an open attitude toward knowledge is key. So let's dive in!
7 ways to maximize your learning on PowerUp
1. The journey starts with you: Setting the environment
The first thing to do before sitting in front of your screen is to set up a study environment that makes you comfortable. It doesn't have to be anything major. Think of things that you enjoy, such as a cup of tea or coffee, slippers on your feet, incense, or instrumental music. Minute adjustments can make a significant impact in creating a better learning environment. By including this step before taking a course, you are teaching your brain and body to associate learning with feelings of pleasure and ease. The more you do this, the more fear and procrastination give way to eagerness and satisfaction of learning.
2. Pay attention to the course overview
All PowerUp courses start with an Overview page. Look at all of its parts (modules, lessons, assessments, takeaways, resources) and try to make sense of the course structure. What is implied by the way modules are divided? And the lessons within each of them? Try to identify the general messages covered in each of them. The Course Overview and introduction video are like a movie trailer. They give you clues on what’s coming next and why. Although it may seem like a spoiler, this part has a fundamental function in attracting your attention and giving insight into the journey to come. So take some time to watch and think about it.
3. Writing to remember: Take notes
Most of the things we listen to aren’t stored in our long-term memory. As the saying goes: If you don't use it, you lose it. Taking notes is crucial to help our brain remember important stuff. It’s also a good way to start putting what you’ve learned into practice — and it will help you organize your thoughts so you can more easily locate them in the future. Try to make connections to your reality and think critically about what you watched or read.
Good note-taking doesn’t mean writing down everything you hear. Copying down information doesn’t engage your brain and is not a strong strategy for learning and retaining concepts. So write notes in your own words. Or try to do it from memory. If you are taking notes digitally, you can use apps like Evernote, OneNote, or Google Docs to make it easier. And make sure to keep them organized using bullet points, folders, highlighting, or any other strategy.
4. Finding your flow: How to take the course
Now that you’ve set up your learning environment, understand the course structure, and are ready to take notes, it's time to start taking the course. You don't have to take lessons according to our proposed order. It's up to you. Just pay attention to the content map in the course overview. You can decide if the lessons are independent or ordered sequentially. This can change from course to course, depending on the subject.
We strongly recommend that you do not leave the lesson texts and assessments to the end. As you finish each lesson, read the corresponding lesson texts and answer the Knowledge Checks. These steps are designed to reinforce your learning process.
Some lesson texts also link to resources at the end. Resources can have different purposes. Some present more in-depth content on a subject addressed in the video lesson. Others have a more practical dimension, presenting tools, templates for implementing actions, lists, and prompts. Take a look before moving on to the next lesson and assess whether it's the right time to break the course flow to delve into a specific topic or if it's something you can return to later.
5. Keep track of your time
There is no rule or limit for course completion time. Although all PowerUp courses have the same structure, with very similar lengths, the time dedicated to completing a course can vary significantly from person to person. And don't be fooled by the idea that the faster, the better.
The biggest challenge is being attentive as you take the course. With your full attention, the more time you dedicate, the more effective and intellectual your involvement with the content will be. Don't hesitate to watch a lesson video twice if you feel the need, or reread a text, take a detour to research something relevant on the topic, or access interesting references suggested in the video or text lessons.
As long as you stay focused and know how to measure your limits — of time and energy — everything will be fine, no matter how long it takes you to finish.
This is not to say drop out of the course for weeks, as this will hinder your learning. Other than that, take your time. And enjoy.
6. Assessments: Testing your learnings
Many of us get the chills when we hear the word ‘assessment.’ Memories of school days can be traumatic. But don’t worry. The assessments prepared by our team were designed to function as an evaluation instrument through which you can understand your level of knowledge acquisition. Knowledge Checks and Module Quizzes occur at the end of each lesson and each module, respectively. Try to answer without looking back at the lesson. Trust your memory and your ability to understand complex subjects. If you get them wrong, you might want to review and go over the basic concepts to improve your understanding. If you took notes, it might be enough to go over them. If not, go back to the lesson and clarify any questions.
The Final Assessment is more in-depth. If you feel unsure about it, do a brief review before starting. And remember: assessments are a tool for you to evaluate your performance. Don't be too hard on yourself if you didn't pass on the first try. Take the opportunity to understand what you can improve on and expand your learning.
Another form of self-assessment that is of enormous importance within the learning structure of the courses is the Reflection Questions. The idea here is to encourage you to reflect and take notes on applying what you learned — either in your personal life or your organization. We have prepared brief comments to help you bridge the gaps along with the questions. Every question has space for notes, where you can write down your thoughts and ideas at the end of the course. This is another opportunity to use your notes.
7. Make the most of what PowerUp has to offer
In addition to course materials, our platform has a number of features to empower you through DEIB knowledge and skills. You can follow the latest news related to DEIB in the News tab. Our team expertly curates these titles to keep you up-to-date on what has happened in the DEIB world.
The PowerUp calendar is another feature that can be very useful, especially to guide your organization's DEIB programming. You can access the calendar through the Resources Menu and find a complete list of dates related to DEIB globally, access definitions, general information, and related resources. On the PowerUp homepage, you will also find a carousel dedicated to upcoming events and calendar highlights, so you know what's coming up.
Apart from the course resources, we offer you a vast set of resources covering different subjects ranging from reports to templates and short videos called Quick Takes, among others. You can use the search bar and find the ones that most interest you. Many were made in connection with the PowerUp Calendar and courses, bringing essential ideas and information for your DEIB programming.
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We hope you now have a good idea of what awaits you on PowerUp. Now, you can navigate through the platform, take the course of your choice, and make the most of it. Are you ready to become a lifelong learner?
Meet Meta’s Krista Rae Szaflaraski (Manager, Global People with Disabilities Recruiting Programs, based in Austin, Texas) and Maria Achieng Onyango (Director, Global DEI Recruiting Enablement & Programs, based in London, UK). Krista Rae and Maria are passionate about disability awareness and champions of inclusivity at Meta.
As women with ADHD diagnoses, they’ve both been through the - often challenging - process of getting diagnosed as adults and learning to navigate their careers through a new lens. But beyond their diagnoses, they have also tackled the nuances of their various identities — from being women to mothers to immigrants, and more.
During our Visible & Invisible Disabilities & Neurodivergence Summit, we sat down with Krista Rae and Maria for a coffee chat about disability through an intersectional lens or, as Krista puts it, “Just the kind of stuff we like to talk about!”
Experiences with ADHD
“I was diagnosed at 33,” Maria shares, reflecting on the moment that transformed both her view of herself and the world. “I don't think it's that late in life, but for a diagnosis like ADHD, it is later than most people are diagnosed. And it certainly came at a time when more women were being diagnosed.
I think back to me as an eight-year-old in Kenya, and I just don't think it was on the radar. And then as a 12-year-old in an all-girls secondary school that was very, very focused on academia, the conversations around mental health and neurodiversity just didn't happen.”
Krista also received her ADHD diagnosis as an adult.
“When I went through my diagnosis, they had to call my mother and have her on the line because they explained they don't have an adult version of the ADHD test,” she shared. “A lot of times, these tests have been focused on what you're like as a child, and having my mom there was just fascinating.”
Both women agree on how difficult it was to navigate their career growth while managing the symptoms of ADHD — this is known as masking: hiding symptoms and acting in a “socially acceptable” way to fit in and form better connections with others. And even when they were able to do so, the emotional and psychological costs of trying to conform often came at a high price.
“I had my son when I was 22, and I just focused on him,” says Maria. “I knew that I was the least organized person in the world. I knew I had to get my act together. I knew I was still growing up.”
Maria shares how, in caring for her son, she ended up neglecting many of her own needs, including missing every single dentist appointment over four years.
“My son, on the other hand, has been to every single appointment every six months since he was three years old. So even in that context, it's absolutely possible for people with ADHD to focus on the most important things and to prioritize, but often at the expense of the basic things that you should be doing for yourself.”
Viewing disability through an intersectional lens
As a biracial woman, Maria also explored how her multiple identities coexist, and what that might mean for others.
“I think generally in the UK, young Black kids are more likely to be seen as disruptive rather than people thinking, ‘Oh, there might be something else going on here’,” she comments. “So gender, race, and then also presenting with other mental health issues can kind of lead to adults crossing ADHD off the list, particularly if you're masking.
If you are academically able (for example, if you’re able to crush your natural instinct for an hour and get through a lesson) there's a lot that goes on behind that mask.” — a lot that others might not recognize. The ability to mask neurodiverse conditions may delay or sabotage diagnosis. In turn, internalized conditions including anxiety or depression, might develop as a consequence of undiagnosed, untreated, and hidden neurodiverse conditions.
Maria also believes that many medical systems lack an intersectional lens during the process of diagnosis.
“There is a failure of healthcare provision for people that don't fit the mold,” she explains. “The current DSM-5 criteria for ADHD was built with a 12-year-old Caucasian boy in mind, right? That's what it's describing. So I think medical professionals are more likely to diagnose women and Black women with more stereotypical: diagnoses like depression.”
The DSM-5, the medical diagnostic criteria for ADHD, was first developed in 1980, when the ratio of boys to girls diagnoses was 25:1. And, the symptom threshold or “cutoff” for a diagnosis of ADHD was based on field trials that included more boys than girls.
Today, Maria looks back at many of her childhood systems and recognizes the presence of ADHD. But, her doctors never could.
“Despite me having a lot of contact with psychotherapists and psychiatrists, none of them ever thought that there might be an underlying cause [for my issues], and it was never understood why medication for depression didn't necessarily work,” she says. “I was in front of the medical community pretty regularly from the age of 10 to probably about 22, and yet it was never picked up.”
The journey to acceptance
After getting her diagnosis, Maria’s next step was to figure out how this was going to impact her work life.
“I spoke to my diagnosing psychiatrist about the pros and cons of being open with Meta about it,” she says. After much thought, she decided to talk to the human resources department as well as her manager at the time.
Their response was a welcome relief.
“I sent this long email saying I don't need any accommodations because the way that we work here at Meta is already quite good. We document everything and meetings are recorded. But the team came back and still wanted to offer accommodations,” Maria explains with a smile.
Her manager allowed her to open up to the rest of the team at her own pace, and she was inundated by supportive feedback. To this, Krista remarks, “Fun fact, Maria is my manager. Her openness allowed me to learn more and start opening up and talking about my diagnosis. It was really nice to see not just senior leadership living with ADHD, but also another woman talking about it. I know that [Maria’s openness] has made a huge impression on a lot of folks.”
3 ways to apply an intersectional lens on disability
Maria leaves us with a few suggestions on how we can implement an intersectional lens when viewing disability and, in turn, better support all employees in the workplace.
Understand that your teams represent various identities: “I would encourage folks to look at their pillars. It could be ethnicity, gender, LGBTQIA+, etc. And even within those groups, you have people that have such different experiences from each other. For example, within the Disability@ group here at Meta, we have a separate ADHD group because we have very specific things that we talk about. Being given that space and that allowance to have those conversations and to know that the organization understands that you might have more than one thing going on at any given time is really, really key.”
Encourage involvement in more than one employee resource group: “Make sure that you are making provisions for employee resource groups so that employees can be part of more than one in a very meaningful way. I'm a member of Black@, Disability@, Women@, and ADHD@, and they all work together.”
Allow voices of color to be heard across intersections: “Voices of color within the neurodivergent community have not always held a microphone. So, I think we have this responsibility as the ones building those communities to make sure that we include the perspectives of different voices to be able to bring that intersectionality of why your lived experience is different than my lived experience.”
To listen to the full conversation with Krista Rae Szaflaraski and Maria Achieng Onyango, watch the recording here. And if you’re interested in joining an organization that values an intersectional lens on disabilities, explore opportunities with Meta here.
If you’re an account manager who’d love a company driven by creating a sustainable world, then watch the video to the end to learn how to thrive at Novelis.
Looking for a position as an account manager? Madeline Noll, senior account management specialist, alongside Eris Jackson and Syndi Holmes, account management specialists at Novelis, share their experiences with you!
For the account manager role, Novelis seeks dedicated individuals who can play a pivotal part in a sector that collaborates closely with industry giants like Toyota, Tesla, and Ford. If you're passionate about building strong customer relationships and driving business growth, this is the place for you.
As an account manager, you'll embark on a daily journey of connection and collaboration with customers. Your mission is understanding their unique needs and working in synergy to accomplish their objectives. This role offers a job and a chance to make a real difference in the automotive industry.
A typical day for an account manager
In the fast-paced world of automotive account management, your days run oh dynamic interactions. You'll engage in two to three daily meetings that require cross-functional coordination with various teams. These meetings serve as a platform for sharing updates and aligning efforts to meet customer demands. Novelis ensures seamless communication with its valued customers by keeping everyone informed about inventory levels and priorities.
Are you interested in joining Novelis? They have open positions! To learn more, click here.
Get to Know Madeline Noll, Eris Jackson, and Syndi Holmes
If you are interested in a career at Novelis, you can connect with Madeline, Eris, and Syndi on LinkedIn. Don’t forget to mention this video!
More About Novelis
Novelis is driven by its purpose to shape a sustainable world. As a global leader in innovative products and services and the world's largest recycler of aluminum, championing the vision of closed-loop recycling, they partner with customers in many industries to deliver extraordinary solutions that will delight their customers of today and tomorrow at a very fast pace.
