Non-Linear Career Paths of Women

May 29, 2008: Sponsored by ING Insurance Americas

For so many women today, career paths are not a straight line; women often "opt out" of the workforce when their families are young and then find themselves trying to "on-ramp" back in.

The panel at the Non-Linear Career Path event brought together views from the employee and the employer side. These personal and professional stories and experiences helped provide depth to the "on-ramping" conversation.

The moderator Michael Melcher, a partner in a leadership development and executive coaching firm, spoke about the importance of maintaining a network of people during these life changes; both those that are "strong ties", the people we trust and who know us well, and those that are "weak ties", the people who may not know us well but are available to advise us along the way.

The attendees of this conversation-changing event walked away knowing they were one among many women whose careers may not be considered "traditional," but that women and employers are creating a new, and better, definition of "traditional."

Panelists:

Monica McGrath, Wharton
Known for her contribution to an influential study led by Wharton "Back in the Game: Returning to Business after a Hiatus", Monica is on faculty for the UBS-sponsored three-day Wharton program designed to facilitate women's returns to the workplace after multi-year breaks.

Debbie Holcombe, ING
Recently named Head of US Workforce Diversity, Debbie has been with ING for over 12 years. Debbie is responsible for further developing ING's workforce diversity framework and strategy - which includes talent recruitment, retention and development. She partners with executive leadership, business management, stakeholders and employees to foster a diverse and inclusive work environment. ING's efforts were recently recognized by Catalyst.

Shari Solomon Esq., WolfBlock
A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and the Wharton Graduate School of Business, Shari is an attorney who returned to her position in the Real Estate Practice Group of WolfBlock LLP after a ten year hiatus to raise her four daughters. Her re-entry story has been featured in several legal periodicals, including The Legal Intelligencer, the New York Law Journal, and The Pennsylvania Lawyer.

Moderated by Michael Melcher, Next Step Partners
A graduate of Harvard College, Stanford Law and the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Michael is the partner in charge of the New York office of Next Step Partners, a leadership development and executive coaching firm. He has helped hundreds of individuals transform their careers into platforms that are fulfilling and personally meaningful.
If you are an attorney, a must-read is Michael's latest book: The Creative Lawyer: A Practical Guide to Authentic Professional Satisfaction.

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