Thursday, March 4, Women in AI panel hosted by Austin Women in Technology (AWT) at Indeed Tower brought together leaders across machine learning, enterprise AI transformation, cybersecurity, and marketing innovation to explore how artificial intelligence is evolving from experimentation to real production systems.

The panel featured Melis Ozturk Erdogan (IBM), Noopur Gupta (SparkStorm AI), Sumaya K. Owens (Present Moment Media), and Numa Dhamani (iVerify), moderated by Emily Gupton, President of AWT.

KEY INSIGHTS

• Tools Change, Core Capabilities Endure: Melis Ozturk Erdogan emphasized that AI tools evolve rapidly, but foundational capabilities remain constant. Problem identification, clear goals, and unbiased data will outlast any platform or model.
• Human Expertise Remains Essential: Noopur Gupta highlighted that human-in-the-loop AI only works with domain knowledge. AI augments expertise, it does not replace it. This becomes even more critical as organizations move toward agentic AI systems, where AI agents automate workflows and decision-making.
• Prompt Literacy is Becoming a Baseline Skill: Sumaya K. Owens noted that the ability to effectively interact with AI systems is becoming essential across industries. Prompt literacy is quickly becoming a core professional skill.
• Your Data is Your Responsibility: Numa Dhamani reminded the audience that commercial AI systems often log and monitor interactions. Organizations must be intentional about what data they share and how it is protected.

FROM POCs TO SCALABLE AI
One moment that sparked a great discussion was a question about ROI accountability in AI initiatives. The panel emphasized that proofs of concept (POCs) are the right starting point to validate value before scaling AI initiatives across an organization.

AI AND CAREER TRANSITIONS
Another important theme was career transition in the age of AI. As Noopur Gupta shared, many professionals are shifting into AI-enabled roles by combining domain expertise with AI tools. The future workforce will increasingly be AI-augmented rather than replaced by AI.

Blog written by: Noopur Gupta

It's important to periodically review Oauth access granted to various third-party apps from your gmail account.

WHAT IS OATH ACCESS AND HOW DOES IT GRANT THIRD-PARTY APP ACCESS?

• When faced with a decision to login to an app - we are presented with an option to either create a username and password or use our google/gmail account credentials to login.
• To reduce the cognitive overload of having to remember yet another username+password combination, we opt to login using our existing google/gmail credentials. 

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO PERIODICALLY REVIEW THE ACCESS GRANTED TO THIRD-PARTY APPS?

• If a connected app is breached, attackers can access whatever Gmail‑related data that app stored or can still access via its token.
• If someone compromises your Google account, they can also use “Sign in with Google” relationships and existing tokens to pivot into many other services. 

HOW DO I REVIEW MY THIRD-PARTY APPS?

• Step1: Go to https://myaccount.google.com/permissions (or My Account → “Third‑party connections”) 
• Step 2: Click each individual app/service and choose “Delete all connections you have with app” to revoke an existing OAuth token of those apps that no longer serve you. 

BELOW IS AN EXAMPLE FLOW WITH SCREENSHOTS

1. I granted Oauth access to an app called Zapier.

2. I reviewed the access I granted to various third-party connections on my google account

3. Below I can see that I granted access to three different apps.



4. I clicked on the app and selected “Delete all connections you have with app.”



5. Confirm to delete the token (connection with the app). This does not delete your actual gmail account.

Remember safely granting OAuth access is about minimizing trust and scope: only connect apps you truly need, give them the least data necessary, and keep their access easy to revoke.

When possible, choose options that share a limited subset of data (for example, just Calendar, or basic profile), instead of full account access

For more tips on Data Privacy, please follow me, Swati Popuri, on Linkedin and subscribe to my newsletter Privacy Pointers on Substack.

Austin Women in Technology gathered for our annual Galentine’s celebration at The Cathedral Art Gallery and the room was buzzing with connections, knowledge-sharing, love letters and good music. The highlight of the event was an inspiring panel on the power of community before closing the night with a DJ and plenty of time for meaningful networking and new friendships.

Real talk on the Importance of Community

Our Galentine's panel featured some incredible female leaders from our Austin community to share their advice and own experiences around building community. Panel speakers included:

• Heather Trumpfheller, ATX Community Ambassador of What She Said

• Carlisha Robinson, CEO of CBR Ventures

• Cherie Werner, Founder of F.I.E.S.T.A.

• with Emily Gupton, AWT President and CTO of SKG Texas, Inc.

Tip #1 Network early and often

Heather challenged the common habit of networking only when we need something. Instead, she encouraged consistency and intentionality. Show up, set a simple goal like meeting three new people and then follow up afterward.

Conversation starters can be as easy as “what do you do?” or “how are you?.” However, Carlisha advised on asking questions that you also want to answer like “What have you been creating lately?” or “What’s a goal you’re working toward?” 

If networking or joining a new community feels intimidating, our panelists discussed how volunteering can act as a low-pressure on-ramp to building community. Volunteering gives you a role, a reason to talk to people, and repeated exposure that makes networking feel more natural. 

Tip #2 Pivots Happen

Career pivots came up again and again. Pivots aren’t always chosen; sometimes they’re triggered by layoffs, shifting priorities, or life circumstances. What matters is how intentionally we respond.

Carlisha offered advice on focusing on what you can control. We can’t control everything about a transition, but we can control our actions and how we show up, how we communicate, who we ask for support, and what we do next. “When you focus on the 10%…the things that are in your control,” you stop burning energy on the other 90%.

This idea tied directly into community-building. Your network isn’t just “contacts,” it’s momentum. It’s sponsors, mentors, former teammates, and the people who will still pick up the phone when your LinkedIn headline changes.

Tip #3 Come with an Ask

While the first step to building community is showing up, the next step is having an ask. Having an ask, like an introduction or a coffee chat, makes it easy for someone to help you.

Cherie shared a story about someone she met at FoundHERs who was looking for advice on a pitch deck. That conversation ultimately helped the founder secure significant funding. The takeaway was, “If you don’t ask, nobody is going to be able to help.”

The panel also offered practical “how-to” guidance that made asking feel less daunting. Practice until it’s normal, keep the request succinct, and build follow-up into your routine. Emily shared how she sets aside time to follow-up weekly.

Until next time…

A heartfelt thank you to our event sponsor, What She Said, for helping make this Galentine’s celebration possible! We hope you left with new names in your phone and confidence in your next steps. If you missed Galentines, we hope to see you at some of our upcoming AWT events:

• Jan. 27: Tactic Tuesdays

• Mar. 5: Women in AI panel 

• April: Members Only Happy Hour

• May 12: InnoTech Austin (Bonus: AWT will be giving away one Innotech ticket at each AWT event leading up to the conference)

Austin Women in Technology (AWT) kicked off the year with our biggest career-focused gathering, “Who’s Austin Hiring.” The event included a meet-and-greet with potential employers, panel conversation focused on what employers want in 2026, and how candidates can stand out in a crowded market. 

If you attended the event, hopefully you left with a clearer picture of how hiring is shifting in 2026 and concrete steps to stand out. If you missed it, we captured some of the key insights and tips here!

A big thank-you goes out to our event sponsor, Western Governors University (WGU), to Austin Energy for hosting us, and to our partners: Apex Systems, Wise, Association for Talent Development Austin, Workforce Solutions Capital Area, Luna Data Solutions, The Unbuzzed Club, and Athletic Brewing Co to making this event possible.

Panel Perspectives: What “Who’s Hiring” Really Means in Austin 2026

The panel featured leaders across public sector, recruiting, and workforce development:

• Anh Selissen, CIO, Texas Department of Transportation

• Gilbert Zavala, VP of Education & Talent Development, Opportunity Austin

• Amber Tarrant, Head of Recruitment, Wise

• Bryce Chernyha, District Leader, Apex Systems (Emerging Technology Team)

• Moderated by Emily Gupton, President of Austin Women in Technology

One consistent theme: hiring may feel slower, but it hasn’t stopped. Our panelists discussed a market with lower turnover, more competition, and employers being more intentional because they’re seeing higher application volumes. The takeaway wasn’t “panic.” It was about refining your approach, showing clearer impact, and leaning into the soft skills for differentiation.

Using AI in Your Job Search (Without Letting it Erase You)

The topic of AI came up early and often especially as more candidates use tools to generate resumes, summaries, and cover letters. The panel’s consensus was to use AI as a tool, not as a replacement for your voice and story.

Ways AI Can Help:

• Refining your LinkedIn bio and sharpening your messaging

• Proofreading and clarity edits

• Helping you organize experience into tighter accomplishment statements

Where Candidates Need to be Careful:

• Don’t become overly dependent on AI to write everything from scratch

• Avoid generic, overly polished “AI-sounding” language and grammar. For example, remove the em dash!

• Your materials still need the human and personal oversight

Resumes and LinkedIn: Telling Your Story, Strengths, and Impact

Your resume should do more than list tasks, it should tell the story of who you are and your strengths. When recruiters are choosing between qualified candidates, interpersonal skills often become the differentiator.

Tips Shared by Our Panelists:

• Reflect on your personal value-add and tie it to what leaders care about: Revenue, efficiency, change management, measurable impact, and business goals

• Strong candidates are storytellers and change agents, people who can connect what they did to why it mattered

• Make sure your LinkedIn is robust and accurate, and that it matches your resume (misalignment is a red flag)

• Recommendations: Not essential. Most recruiters assume recommendations are positive in nature, so they don’t rely on formal recommendations and prefer to gather informal recommendations from mutual connections, if anything

• Cover Letters: the sentiment leaned against providing letters, but it can vary by company and role

The Austin Hiring Landscape: Where are the Opportunities?

On the market side, the conversation highlighted Austin’s continued strength as a tech hub and growing sectors worth watching in 2026. The panel pointed to growing demand in:

• Advanced manufacturing, supply chain, and logistics (especially automation support)

• Aerospace

• Life sciences, such as biotech med tech

• Fintech and retail tech, including RPA and AI-driven personalization

• Energy

What Should You Do Post-Application and Post-Interview?

One of the most actionable topics was what to do after applying and interviewing. Here are some tips discussed:

• Go a step further than the cold application and consider reaching out to the hiring manager

• Find someone inside the organization who can advocate for you

• Send a thoughtful follow-up email after interviewing

How Important are Degrees and Credentials?

Degrees, certifications, and credentials can absolutely be value-adds and door-openers for a candidate, but experience matters more and especially your ability to articulate it.

Practical Ways to Demonstrate Experience:

• Build a simple portfolio site (even a clean GitHub-hosted page)

• Link your GitHub, portfolio, or website on LinkedIn and your resume

• Use projects to show how you think, not just what tools you’ve touched

• One Standout Tactical Insight: If you can identify a current problem the company is facing and clearly explain how you’d help solve it, you communicate ways you’ll add value immediately

Keep the Momentum Going

AWT and our partners offer more opportunities to build community, expand skills, and keep growing your networking. Austin Women in Technology members gain free access to all AWT events, exclusive discounts to Austin’s top tech events, and more! Interested in joining AWT? Learn more here!

 Upcoming events include:

• Jan. 27: Tactic Tuesdays, our monthly professional workshops geared towards anyone pivoting their career, and navigating the job search. This is a supportive environment where you can share insights, swap resources, and learn practical tips from others on a similar path.

• Feb. 12: Galentine’s celebration, featuring a panel discussion on community and how showing up for one another fuels growth, confidence, and success. We’ll have a DJ, food + networking.

• May 12: InnoTech Austin, featuring a full day of networking opportunities, professional development presentations, tech demos, and more (Bonus: AWT will be giving away one Innotech ticket at each AWT event leading up to the conference)

Austin Women in Technology (AWT) is powered by a dedicated group of volunteer board members who work behind the scenes to support, grow, and strengthen the organization. 

While members often experience AWT through events, programming, and partnerships, much of the impact happens behind the scenes and is led by a dedicated group of volunteer board members who bring this mission to life. Representing a wide range of roles across the technology sector, including executives, founders, marketing, operations, engineering, and more, these individuals contribute their time and expertise to ensure AWT continues to provide meaningful opportunities for women in tech.  

Together, they help shape AWT’s strategy, foster inclusive spaces, and ensure the organization continues to evolve alongside the community it serves. We recently voted in our new board and want to introduce and highlight the amazing team that makes it all possible! 

Executives & Vice Presidents 

Emily Gupton, President

Emily is a Chief Technology Officer at SKG and co-founder of a SaaS company called FOLIO. Emily started as an events chair on the AWT board before building out the Community Partnerships team prior to becoming president. Emily is passionate about supporting other women on their personal and professional journey, and hopes to provide the same supportive network and community to others that Emily found through AWT and her tenure on the board. She is humbled and excited to serve as the president through 2027. 

Fun fact: Emily did three triathlons in 2026. 

Sharyn Leyendecker, Treasurer

Sharyn is a Cybersecurity Architect who works for the City of Austin. She has been a board member and AWT treasurer for over 8 years and is passionate about supporting women in tech. 

Fun fact: Sharyn's favorite hobby is knitting.

Maya Walker-Reich, Secretary

Maya is a Project Manager, Marketing Consultant, and Community Builder looking for new opportunities. She started as a Marketing Chair for AWT before stepping into the Secretary role. Being on the board has allowed her to create the same welcoming, growth-centered environment for women navigating tech careers that she has experienced. She’s excited to continue building meaningful partnerships, elevating women’s voices, and expanding AWT programs. 

Fun fact: She has traveled to 19 different countries. 

Ellen Cox, Vice President of Technology & Operations

Ellen is a Senior Product Marketing Manager, AI at Epicor where she blends digital strategy, product marketing, and content leadership to support AI innovation across the business. She’s also the co-founder of CO.LABx, a future-focused collective helping professionals navigate what’s next in their careers. She joined the AWT Board because she was passionate about contributing to the professional growth of women in the workspace in the same way others have invested in her.

Fun fact: She ran a 50-mile ultramarathon in 2024.

Nicole Pletka, Vice President of Programs & Events

Nicole is a CEO of Wispr, a local Austin start-up, while also practicing Program and Product Management for companies that focus on custom software and AI implementations. She joined the AWT Board to ensure her kids could envision a future with more women in tech leadership. 

Fun fact: She was an archaeologist. 

Kelly Jorg, Vice President of Marketing

Kelly is the Co-Founder and Marketing Director at Nalo Seed helping businesses grow with clear strategy, smart marketing, and custom AI software solutions. She joined the board after being a long-time member and supported the launch of the refreshed AWT brand in 2025. 

Fun fact: She has three young children—two daughters (born in 2021 and 2022) and a son (born in 2023)—and speaks some Tagalog, Japanese, and American Sign Language with them.

Lisa Bounds, Vice President of Sponsorship & Membership

Lisa is a Principal Product Marketing Manager at Epicor specializing in go-to-market strategy, brand messaging, and cross-functional collaboration that drives product success. She joined the AWT Board because she’s experienced how vital a community is for professional growth and personal resilience and wants to grow that impact for others. Next year, she’ll be focused on building strong committees for both sponsorship and membership to expand AWT’s reach and deepen member engagement. 

Fun fact: She read 60+ books in 2025. 

Hanna Busekrus, Vice President of Partnerships

Hanna is a Senior Recruitment Operations Specialist with experience spanning recruitment operations, business development, and enterprise-level TA process optimization. She is looking forward to expanding partner relationships, programming, and learning opportunities for members. 

Fun fact: She is Advanced Open Water (AOW) scuba certified. 

Directors 

Tamarra Roquemore, Director of Operations

Tammy is a Senior Project Manager at Diasorin helping teams solve problems and removing obstacles in the way of getting projects done. She believes AWT gives women a chance to gain exposure to different areas of tech and a community to accelerate growth. 

Fun fact: Her workout of choice is pole dance. 

Rachel Richey. Director of Programs

Rachel works in Sales Leadership at Eagle Eye Networks helping shape the company’s first formal direct sales function. At AWT she directs the events team to expand opportunities for accessing high-impact learning, networking, and community for women across the tech ecosystem. She joined the AWT Board to help build systems, programs, and communities that help women thrive. 

Fun fact: She loves karaoke, experimenting with new recipes, and researching ways to live to 100. 

Jourdan James, Director of Outreach

Jourdan is a Lead Technical Account Manager at Rapid7 helping organizations build stronger, more resilient security programs. She joined AWT to be part of a supportive community of women and allies working in all areas of technology. 

Fun fact: She is restoring an antique convertible. 

Milissa Day Director of Mentorship

Milissa is a Change Management Consultant and Co-Owner at MKE Consulting with a passion for helping organizations and their people navigate complex transformations. She joined the AWT Board to uplift other women in their own tech paths. 

Fun fact: She has a YouTube series called “Tuesday Tips with Maverick & Goose” featuring her two co-worker pups. 

Noopur Gupta, Director of Technology

Noopur is the CEO of SparkStorm AI where she is pioneering Intelligence-as-a-Service, making advanced AI accessible to businesses and communities everywhere. She aims to bring more AI education and hands-on learning to the AWT community so women feel confident using these tools in their careers and businesses. 

Fun fact: She can talk for hours about AI and productivity. 

Yousra Magouri, Director of Partnerships

Yousra is the Director of Marketing Technology at RGA, the founder of multiple education and mentorship initiatives, and the creator of the ELLEvate Summit, the first Female Leadership Summit in North Africa. She joined the AWT Board because she believes in the power of community as a catalyst for growth, confidence, and opportunity. 

Fun fact: She speaks three languages. 

Maddie Tooley, Director of Marketing

Maddie is a Client Success Manager at Luna Data Solutions connecting top talent to essential IT projects across the public sector. She joined the AWT Board because supporting and uplifting women in tech is something she’s deeply passionate about. 

Fun fact: She teaches Pilates. 

Leslie Dill, Director of Public Relations

Elissa Fox, Director of Sponsorship

Chairs 

Ericka Lu, Marketing & Communications Chair

Ericka is a Senior Marketing Specialist at AMD shaping content strategy and development for B2B go-to-market initiatives. She joined the AWT Board to play a more direct role in raising awareness of the resources and events AWT provides to elevate more women in tech. 

Fun fact: She is an art enthusiast and knows Banksy’s real identity (it’s her dog). 

Shea Railey, Marketing & Communications Chair

Shea is an Executive Assistant and Operations Manager at OpsLab supporting leaders and keeping teams organized. She views AWT as an opportunity to get involved in the community, grow professionally, and meet like-minded people. 

Fun fact: She has a chi-weenie dog named Garlic. 

Mara Herdic, Community Partnerships Chair

Mara is a Compliance Engineer at the Texas Reliability Entity where she supports regulatory compliance and risk oversight. She joined the AWT Board to support women in the tech community and is looking forward to meeting more members this year. 

Fun fact: She plays soccer. 

Deirdre Barg, Website Chair

McKenzie Bell, Sponsorship Chair

Jennifer BRAZZELL, Sponsorship Chair

Amal EL EBRAHIM, Sponsorship Chair

Taryn Wise, Programs & Events Chair

Kathleen Brunner, Programs & Events Chair

Rachel Leaf, Job Assistance Chair

Powering AWT Forward 

Each of these board members volunteers their time alongside their full-time roles because they believe in the power of community and shared growth. Their collective efforts help ensure Austin Women in Technology remains a place where women can connect, learn, and lead. From planning events and guiding strategy to supporting members behind the scenes, this group of leaders makes AWT what it is today. 

Interested in getting more involved? Whether through volunteering, attending events, or exploring future leadership opportunities, there’s always room to grow with Austin Women in Technology. Reach out at info@awtaustin.org. 

Whether you’re actively job hunting, considering a career pivot, or simply looking to sharpen your professional strategy, Tactic Tuesdays is an opportunity to connect with a community of people who may be on a similar path.  

Hosted on the fourth Tuesday of every month by Austin Women in Technology (AWT) in partnership with CO.LABx, this series is designed for current and prospective members of Austin Women in Technology to connect, learn, and gain actionable tools to navigate the evolving job landscape. 

Our most recent Tactic Tuesdays was a special Holiday Hiatus edition that featured five different stations led by experienced facilitators. Attendees could choose which station to join to gain insights, resources, and tips that aligned most with their job goals. Here's a preview of what you could find at each station: 

1. Job Search & Mindset Motivation 

This station explored how to stay grounded and resilient throughout the job search journey as well as resources for finding job opportunities. Participants discussed ways to reduce stress, like exercise, podcasts, gardening, reading, decluttering, volunteering, and leaning on friends.  

2. Resume & LinkedIn Optimization 

LinkedIn can be an under-utilized platform for job seekers. Recruiters often reference LinkedIn to validate candidates, and we discussed how to build your LinkedIn presence by keeping information up-to-date, aligning with your resume, and staying actively engaged. We also reviewed resumes and talked about leveraging AI tools to refine your resume towards specific job postings at this station. 

3. Interviewing & Negotiation 

Interviewing and negotiating can feel overwhelming, but one tip we uncovered in this station was outlining 5 buckets of negotiable items that are most important to you and establishing your baseline. For example, your buckets could include base salary, benefits, travel percentage, stock, paid time-off, parking, or number of days in the office. Your baseline is the minimum range that you should keep in mind to ensure you enter every conversation prepared, empowered, and aligned with your values. 

4. Burnout & Confidence 

Job searching, especially after a layoff or big pivot, can take a toll on energy and confidence. This station offered tools to overcome burnout, rebuild self-trust, and show up fully in your search without losing yourself along the way. 

5. Networking & Accountability 

One of the biggest advantages of Tactic Tuesdays is the built-in accountability and community. Attendees swapped resources, shared experiences, and discussed ways to support each other in achieving goals. 

Why Tactic Tuesdays Matters 

Beyond the practical takeaways, Tactic Tuesdays also provides the value of community. Navigating a job search feels easier and more energizing when surrounded by others who understand the journey. Each month, participants can leave with new ideas, renewed motivation, and at least one actionable step to move their career forward. 

Whether you’re exploring new opportunities, preparing for a transition, or simply seeking professional growth, Tactic Tuesdays is a space built for you. 

Stay Connected With CO.LABx and AWT: Follow us for future events, resources, and real talk on job transitions, leadership, and the rapidly evolving world of work.

The 2025 Austin Women in Technology (AWT) Girlsgiving event was an inspiring evening dedicated to community impact and meaningful partnership. Hosted at CBRE Austin, the event brought together women professionals in technology, event supporters, and community partners committed to empowering girls and women across Austin. We extend our sincerest gratitude to every attendee who showed up to help make this an unforgettable night. Through a high-end raffle and showcases from our Community Outreach Partners, attendees enjoyed a fun evening while also directly supporting programs that fuel future opportunities for women and all folks in tech.

Recognizing Our Community Outreach Partners

During the event we heard from our exceptional Community Outreach Partners and proceeds from the night’s raffle went towards our partners: Dress for Success, Code2College, Girls Empowerment Network, and Girlstart. Each of these organizations plays a vital role in promoting education, confidence, career readiness, and long-term opportunities for girls and women. Their missions align closely with AWT’s commitment to building a stronger, more inclusive technology workforce, and we're honored to support and elevate their work.

• Girlstart's mission is to increase girls' interest and engagement in STEM through innovative, nationally-recognized informal STEM education programs. Girlstart aspires to be the national leader in designing and implementing innovative, high quality informal STEM education programs that inspire girls to transform our world.
• Girls Empowerment Network (GEN) focuses on building self-esteem, leadership, and resilience in girls. GEN helps young women believe in their capabilities and equips them with the skills needed to pursue ambitious career paths, including those in tech.
• Code2College bridges the gap between education and industry by increasing the number of diverse and low-income high school students who enter and excel in STEM undergraduate majors and careers. Through technical training, mentoring, and internships, Code2College creates direct pathways into technology fields.
• Dress for Success aims to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and development tools to help them thrive in work and in life. They are committed to providing services and opportunities to help disadvantaged women establish a work history and leave the cycle of poverty.

Gratitude to Our Venue Sponsor and Raffle Donors

We’d like to extend our appreciation to Caroline King and the CBRE Austin team for generously hosting this year’s Girlsgiving fundraiser. As a global leader in commercial real estate services and investments, CBRE’s partnership was instrumental in creating a welcoming and professional environment for the event.

A special thank-you also goes to independent Austin hair stylist Michelle Schee, who generously donated profits from her table of holiday beauty boxes to further the evening’s fundraising efforts. And finally, thank you to businesses such as Hai Hospitality, Danny Cohen, and The Flower Social who generously donated prizes for our raffle.

Looking Ahead

Girlsgiving served as a powerful example of what can be achieved when bringing together members of the community and our outreach partners. We’re creating a space to share gratitude while fueling future opportunities for women and all folks in tech. Together, we create a support system that helps girls and women at every stage of life thrive in technology and professional careers, and we look forward to building on this momentum in the year ahead.

Continued Opportunities to Engage

For those who weren't able to attend, it is not too late to become part of the amazing AWT community. We also encourage community members to explore and learn more about our Outreach Partners: Dress for Success, Code2College, Girls Empowerment Network, and Girlstart.

By Marny Lifshin, Author & Speaker

Nike, DELL, Tesla and JPMorgan are only a few of the employers enforcing their return to office policies, or TRO, in 2025. Many plan to implement a hybrid model, requiring employees to be at the office 3 days per week. Others are in favor of 5 days in the office. Employers list issues like productivity, culture, collaboration and innovation as the driving factors for this shift. 

Most surveys show that a majority of employees do not want RTO, and value the flexibility they've had for the past few years. Staff concerns include work/life balance, the commute to work, office politics and disruption to their daily routine. 

While there is certainly different opinions regarding RTO, everyone can agree that there is a fundamental difference in the way we handle relationship and communication with colleagues remotely and in-person.

 

If you are going to be working with colleagues in-person more often there are things you can do to ensure a successful transition.

I suggest you being by answering these 3 questions:

1. Who do you need to have good working relationships with? Which relationships are critical?

2. What problem do you often encounter? Is there a pattern?

3. How would positive, effective professional relationships help you? Your answer points to why "soft skills" are actually "essential skills"- it directly effects your job satisfaction.

Here are 3 strategies to improve your in-office relationships

1. Find a way to connect. Expand your relationships beyond the transaction-oriented, "gettin stuff done" mode. This often starts with just making the time to get to know them as a person and discover what you have in common. This is how you can build rapport, and then trust, and when you have trust you have a truly valuable relationship.

2. Embrace the power of adaptation. You can't use the same approach with everyone and expect to build successful relationships. Be comfortable with tweaking your approach and style, depending on who you are interacting with. For example, some like to be more casual, where others are all business. Thinking about the best approach ahead of time will help them, and you, feel more comfortable. 

3. Embrace diversity. Work on welcoming diversity of background, gender, generation, experience and personality. Sometimes it can be challenging to work with someone who is very different than you, but those very differences are crucial to having a versatile and well-rounded organization. Keeping an open mind and validating everyone's perspective is essential.

Here are 3 common mistakes to avoid.

1. Avoid domination. Any relationship where one person completely dominates is unhealthy. If people are being consistently dominated, they do not feel their their contributions or opinions are valuable and are likely to stop trying. One way to determine if there is a major imbalance is by paying attention to conversations. IF you are usually talking more than anyone else, try to encourage others to participate. If your voice is rarely heard, make a real effort to speak up more often. 

2. Don't take things too personally. Everyone gets their feelings hurt at work. It is important to realize that just because someone didn't like your idea or agree with your opinion it's not necessarily a personal attack. If we hold grudges when our feelings get hut, that will certainly impact the effectiveness of our relationships. Remember that if a colleague disagrees with you, it's generally not about you as a person, or whether they like you.  If, however, someone is extremely rude or demeaning, you may have a toxic work relationship that needs to be addressed. 

*Don't limit yourself with cliques. Cliques are by nature exclusive, meaning they exclude other people. While it's natural to spend time with the people we like, it's important to realize that you are missing opportunities to build relationships with other colleagues. By only going to lunch with the same few people you may unknowingly be damaging other professional relationships simply by leaving them out. Expand your circle! Including others for happy hour is a great way to build connections.

If you have any tips for returning to office and making meaningful connections, let us know in the comments, via LinkedIn or by contacting Leslie M. Dill at publicrelations@awtaustin.org.

By Nicole Pletka, President, AWT

I like to think of separating feedback into three aspects: the past, the present, and the future. Discussing the past entails going over the facts of what happened and making sure everyone’s version of history is understood. Discussing the present entails evaluating how things are currently going. Discussing the future is all about brainstorming what everyone should do moving forward.

Let’s say you’re showing appreciation for a project getting done early and under budget. Discussing the past will probably focus on what went well. Discussing the present may be comparing the completed project to other in-flight projects. Discussing the future might be finding ways to replicate the success.

It may seem easy to show appreciation, but even giving praise can be tough if the recipient can’t take it in. They may attribute success to other people or to some fortuitous anomaly. Similarly, people often can’t take in negative feedback and quickly blame others or blame circumstances. In either case, being clear and very specific can help a lot. Always be specific enough that it is easy to identify what the person should keep doing, start doing, or stop doing. Saying “You look great in that color” is more meaningful than “You look nice”. Saying “In the last team meeting, you interrupted several of your colleagues and it’s a pattern that needs to stop” is more actionable than “People find you aggressive in team meetings.”

Feedback can be showing appreciation, giving some coaching, or evaluating a performance. In any case, giving and receiving frequently are imperative to having a good relationship with any boss or employee.

If you have any tips for providing helpful and constructive feedback, let us know in the comments, via LinkedIn or by contacting Leslie M. Dill at publicrelations@awtaustin.org. 

By Mandira Venkat, DEI Chair, AWT

A/P Photo/Eric Gay via Texas Monthly

Amidst the heartbreaking news of late, many are searching for opportunities to support with no idea where to start. At AWT, we are committed to supporting our fellow Texans and sought to simplify the process of giving.

The key to resilience post disaster is social support, meaning one of the most powerful things you can do is simply show up and lend your kindness and empathy. Just looking at the donation notes on the GoFundMe pages you’ll see a showering of compassion, acknowledgement, and aid, even from strangers. Evidence that our community is full of strength, love, and solidarity.

Where are you eating? Going shopping?

Good news! Several restaurants are offering their support for the community. This includes franchises such as P. Terry’s, Raising Cane’s, and JuiceLand! 

For a more comprehensive list of restaurants showing their support and the days they will be donating a portion (or even 100%) of their profits check out this article by Eater.

Kendra Scott, The Houston Diamond Girl, and the Little Words Project are also selling jewelry and donating the profits to support.

GoFundMe

I’ve done some research on GoFundMe and have seen a few families with children seeking financial assistance. It’s not an all-inclusive list so feel free to search the platform, they have an easy to use search feature to specifically find folks affected by the floods.! All those listed are either Donation Protected (meaning if it’s fishy, you will get a refund) and/or Tax Deductible.

Sylvia and Pete | Luis Jimenez | Help Jenny Rebuild | Harley and Kids | Montana and Family | De La Cruz Family | Jasmine and Family

Animals, Wildlife, and Environmental Impact

The floods have damaged and destroyed several homes, creating safety hazards too dangerous to return to. 1% for the Planet is helping All Hands and Hearts get to these homes to remove these hazards and partnering with several other organizations to provide emergency housing, medical assistance, and distribute food and water.

As a result of the floods, many pets have been displaced from their owners and are seeking emergency fostering. AustIn Pets Alive is helping coordinate aid efforts.

The floods also affected our wildlife. As noted in the Help Wildlife Rehabilitators—Texas Floods, page, “Wildlife rehabilitators impacted by this catastrophe - whether directly, by having their facilities damaged or destroyed, or indirectly, by the massive increase in intakes of injured and orphaned birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians - need your help more than ever.”

Additional Resources

Looking for more? These articles provide additional details on all the ways you can help and list specific organizations providing direct relief aid. 

KXAN | CBS | Statesman | Inc.Com