Acknowledging Professional Contributions

Dr. Clarice Phelps became the first Black woman to help discover an element on the periodic table — and the story of how she did it is absolutely incredible. 🧪✨ The periodic table has been around since 1869, and it took until 2010 for this barrier to finally break. The element? Tennessine. Element 117. Dr. Phelps was part of an international team who worked for years to create this super-heavy element, which doesn't exist in nature and can only be made in a lab. The process involved smashing calcium ions into a berkelium target at incredibly high speeds — and it took 150 days of continuous bombardment to produce just a few atoms that existed for less than a second. Dr. Phelps wasn't handed this opportunity on a silver platter. She earned her degree in chemistry and spent years at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, one of the premier nuclear research facilities in the world. Her expertise in separating and purifying radioactive isotopes — including the rare berkelium needed for the experiment — made her essential to the team. 🧪 What she does: Dr. Phelps specializes in nuclear chemistry and radiochemistry, working with some of the most unstable materials on Earth. She's been involved in processing isotopes for medical treatments, national security applications, and groundbreaking discoveries like tennessine. The discovery was officially recognized in 2016, and tennessine was named after Tennessee. But Dr. Phelps's story isn't just about one discovery. It's about perseverance in a field where she's often been the only one who looks like her in the room. She's spoken openly about the importance of representation and mentorship for young girls and women of color in STEM. "I hope that my story inspires young people, especially young women and minorities, to pursue careers in STEM fields. Representation matters, and it's important for everyone to see that they belong in science." 💎 When girls can see women like Dr. Clarice Phelps — breaking barriers, making discoveries, and literally changing the periodic table — they start to believe that they can do it too. Want to read more? Check out the full article here! 👉 https://lnkd.in/enUpXt_A #WomenInSTEM #GirlsInSTEM #STEMGems #GiveGirlsRoleModels #BlackHistoryMonth ──────────────────────────── 💜🩷💙💚 Stories like Dr. Clarice Phelps's are exactly why STEM Gems exists — to give girls the role models they need to see themselves as scientists, engineers, and discoverers. For over a decade, we've been connecting girls with the stories of brilliant women in STEM, because representation isn't just important — it's transformative. Learn more about our decade of impact and donate to STEM Gems here: https://lnkd.in/ed-nJVsN

You've probably heard of Marie Curie or Albert Einstein. But in a world where breakthroughs often make headlines, how do some of the greatest innovators stay invisible? Take, for example, an Indian scientist whose research shaped the very medicines we rely on today! In 20th-century India, Dr. Asima Chatterjee reshaped the field of medicinal chemistry. Yet, many have not heard her name? Born in 1917, Asima’s curiosity about the world around her started early, thanks to her father’s love for botany. Growing up in Calcutta, she excelled in science and mathematics — an unusual path for women in a time when societal expectations steered them towards domesticity. Graduating with honors in chemistry, she went against societal expectations and became one of the first women in British India to receive a Doctorate of Science in 1944. Chatterjee's research focused on the immense potential of plants in medicine, a field known as phytochemistry. And this led to her most significant contributions: the development of antimalarial and anti-epileptic drugs. To put her achievements into context, let’s look at the figures: ▶️ Malaria: According to the WHO, there were over 249 million cases of malaria in 2022, leading to 608,000 malaria deaths in a single year. While Dr. Chatterjee’s work primarily involved natural compounds, the antimalarial drugs stemming from her research have been instrumental in controlling this disease over the decades. ▶️ Epilepsy: Around 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, making it one of the most common neurological diseases globally. The anti-epileptic drugs she worked on resulted in the development of 'Ayush-56,' a critically acclaimed anti-epileptic medication still used commercially today. For me, what makes her story even more remarkable is the era in which she lived! In the mid-1900s, women in India rarely ventured into higher education, let alone into the rigorous world of STEM. She authored over 400 research papers, making significant contributions to the field of organic chemistry. Her dedication to scientific progress led to the establishment of the Centre for Advanced Studies in Chemistry of Natural Products at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, where she nurtured the next generation of scientific minds. While her research continues to shape the medical landscape, Dr. Chatterjee’s name is far less known than it should be. This post is a part of a series on Unsung Heroes of India's Science and Innovation. Image Source: @povmumbai (Twitter) #inspiration #science #womenleaders #India #innovation

Need some energy for the new week?
 Get ready for high voltage. Innovation moves faster than the news cycle.
 These women build what the climate demands.
 Solar, fusion, carbon capture, real tools, real impact. Welcome to the energy revolution. 📌 Dr. Rose M. Mutiso The power strategist electrifying Africa’s energy future. PhD in nanotechnology, fluent in policy and physics. Co-founded Mawazo to train African women in STEM. Champions energy equity through African-led solutions. 📌 Dr. Esther Takeuchi The chemist who turned batteries into lifesavers. Holds 150+ patents in energy storage tech. Powers millions of implantable medical devices. Built lithium batteries that last—and save lives. 📌 Dr. Jodie Lutkenhaus The polymer pioneer building soft, smart power. Creates batteries from recyclable organic materials. Invents flexible energy for wearable tech. Designs storage systems that bend, not break. 📌 Dr. Sarah Kurtz The solar scientist who raised the efficiency ceiling. Developed cells that power both satellites and cities. Set global standards for solar performance. Made sunlight a stable, trusted energy source. 📌 Dr. Olga Malinkiewicz The physicist who printed power onto plastic. Invented perovskite “solar ink” for any surface. Made solar cheaper, lighter, and scalable. Turns windows and walls into power plants. 📌 Dr. Anne White The physicist decoding the chaos inside a star. Leads fusion research at MIT’s Plasma Science center. Maps turbulence inside reactors for stable energy. Builds the science behind limitless, clean power. 📌 Kirsty Gogan The advocate bringing nuclear back—with reason. Co-founded TerraPraxis to modernize nuclear solutions. Drives clean heat for heavy industry and grids. Pushes climate strategy beyond renewables alone. 📌 Dr. Betar Gallant The chemist trapping carbon with battery precision. Leads an MIT lab rethinking CO₂ as a resource. Designs materials that store energy and clean air. Builds new chemistries for a livable planet. 📌 Susan Petty The pioneer drilling for Earth's hidden power. Co-founded AltaRock to scale geothermal energy. Engineers tech to tap deep, constant heat. Builds baseload power beneath our feet. 📌 Katherine Hamilton The connector translating tech into law and markets. Co-founded 38 North to guide clean energy policy. Advises governments on grid, storage, and access. Builds bridges from labs to legislation. 📌 Audrey Zibelman The executive rewiring how nations use power. Modernized grids in New York and Australia. Now builds smart systems at X (Google’s moonshot lab). Designs grids that think, learn, and adapt. 📌 Nancy Pfund The VC who bet on green before it was hot. Early backer of Tesla, SolarCity, and Beyond Meat. Proved clean tech could win in the market. Funds founders building the climate economy. They build grids, not headlines. They power solutions, not slogans. Feeling energised already?

Corporate Soul Stories — Episode 309 “#Quiet hands often hold the whole structure together.” Every workplace has its noise — the meetings, the chatter, the updates, the dashboards, the constant motion that fills our days. But beneath that surface, something far more powerful is at work. Something steady. Something calm. I’ve seen this everywhere across my journey — from Indian Express to Citigroup, GE, Hitachi, Pactera, and now Centific — a pattern that repeats itself no matter the industry, country, or culture: The people who make the deepest impact are not always the loudest. Often, they are the quietest. The analogy of the “fish” and the “chicken” paints this clearly. The Fish Employee They swim beneath the noise. They don’t seek the spotlight. They don’t announce every move. They don’t run behind credit. Instead, they bring depth. They bring clarity. They bring a kind of calm execution that anchors the team. They don’t break into applause for themselves — their work speaks long after they’ve moved on to the next task. And then… The Chicken Employee Energetic. Visible. Always in motion. Every task is broadcast, every achievement amplified. There’s nothing wrong with that — visibility matters, energy matters. But it’s a different kind of contribution. A shorter burst. A smaller radius of effect. It made me reflect on something we often forget: Real value is not always visible. Real contribution is not always loud. Real leadership is not always on the stage. Some of the finest minds in any organization don’t say much in meetings — but when they do speak, the room changes. Some of the strongest team players work quietly behind the scenes, stitching gaps, steadying the flow, and carrying responsibility without fanfare. They don’t “perform.” They deliver. Day after day. Without applause. Without noise. And here’s the truth many leaders learn late: Quiet #productivity is often the backbone of great teams. It doesn’t seek attention. It seeks progress. It doesn’t create drama. It creates stability. It doesn’t shout. It builds. So today, this episode is for the quiet warriors — the ones who hold everything together but rarely claim the credit. The planners. The thinkers. The doers. The ones who stay calm when everything else is chaos. The ones who work with purpose, not performance. You are not unnoticed. You are the quiet engine of forward motion. And teams rise higher because you choose consistency over noise. Keep moving with that steady strength. You’re shaping more than you realize — quietly, deeply, permanently. — DC* To be continued…

It's not about the money you offer. It's about whether your employees feel valued as human beings. As an executive coach and consultant, I've seen countless organizations that are struggling with employee engagement focus on the wrong things, whether it's throwing money at the problem or coming up with a better mission statement. Nearly 1 in 3 workers report feeling invisible at work. Here's the Workhuman study: https://lnkd.in/g6g_Dxk6 What people really need to know is that leadership values *them*. This shows up in four fundamental ways. (I wrote about it a while back in an article in Harvard Business Review that I co-authored with my wife, Alexis Redding.) ✅ Feeling seen - They matter as individuals, not interchangeable cogs ✅ Feeling heard - Their ideas and suggestions actually get consideration   ✅ Feeling valued - Their contributions are appreciated and recognized ✅ Feeling encouraged - Their long-term career development is supported The reality that most managers miss? They systematically overestimate how much appreciation they're conveying. We think we're being clear, but our people aren't getting the message. The post-pandemic era has made this even more critical. Employees who feel genuine belonging don't just stay longer - they bring better ideas and more effort. Purpose matters. But without these four elements, even the most inspiring mission becomes hollow words on a conference room wall. When you get this right, you don't just reduce turnover. You unlock the discretionary effort that separates good teams from extraordinary ones. ➡️ Save this post if you're rethinking your approach to engagement ♻️ Send it to a leader who needs to hear this message

When I speak with people, especially in the Family Office world, the first thought on my mind is how I can help them. Sometimes that means introducing one Family Office to another, connecting people who share values, or sharing knowledge without expecting anything in return. These contributions compound over time and return in powerful ways. In this community, relationships come before transactions. The first questions are about trust, integrity, and whether values align. Once that foundation is in place, everything else follows. Offering value without expectation changes the dynamic. A thoughtful introduction, a timely perspective, or even the willingness to listen builds trust faster than a pitch ever could. Over time, these gestures create reputations that open doors and deepen partnerships. The principle is simple. The more you give, the more you get. Generosity builds momentum, signals authenticity, and encourages others to share opportunities and build together. This matters even more as the next generation steps forward. They care deeply about values, impact, and the character of the people they work with. Aligning with that mindset requires consistency, honesty, and the willingness to give first. By focusing on what you can contribute, you strengthen relationships and create opportunities that last. In the Family Office world, giving builds trust, and trust remains the currency that matters most.

Don’t Just List Tasks—Showcase Your Value on Your CV Your CV should not be a list of the jobs you’ve held—it should demonstrate the unique impact you’ve made throughout your career. Yet, so many CVs end up being little more than task lists. Take a look at this. 👉 Instead of saying, “Managed social media accounts,” Say, “Increased social media engagement by 45% in six months through targeted campaigns.” See how one focuses on tasks and the other highlights results? Employers want to see the value you bring, not just what you were told to do. A Client’s Success Story: I recently worked with a client who was in marketing. Her CV initially read like a job description: “Created email campaigns” and “Collaborated with sales teams.” While this is great for using key works and incorporating the job description, it just doesn't have any impact. We reframed her experience to focus on results: ✅ “Launched email campaigns that boosted open rates by 25%, contributing to a 15% increase in sales leads.” ✅ “Developed cross-departmental strategies with sales, resulting in a streamlined funnel and increased conversion rates by 10%.” The result? Not only did her CV stand out, but it led to interviews where she could discuss her real contributions. Here are some ways you can showcase value on your CV: 1️⃣ Use numbers, percentages, or metrics to quantify your achievements. 2️⃣ Highlight the outcomes and benefits of your work, not just the actions. 3️⃣ Start bullet points with strong action verbs like boosted, increased, reduced, streamlined, or led. Make it clear why you’re the one who can deliver results. www.joanneleecoaching.com 👉🏻Employers - let us know in the comments what you are looking for on a CV in 2025. #cvwriting #careercoaching #careerdevelopment #jobsearchtips

Making a career pivot is an exciting challenge—but it can also feel daunting. One of the most critical steps is redefining your accomplishments to align with your new path. Here's how to craft a compelling narrative that resonates in interviews and on your resume: ❓ Start with the "Why": Be prepared to explain the reason behind your pivot in a networking conversation or interview. Is it a new passion, market opportunity, or a natural extension of your skills? A clear "why" shows intentionality and vision. 👊 Translate Your Impact: Frame past achievements in a way that highlights universal skills—leadership, strategy, problem-solving, and measurable results. For example: 🔑 Instead of "Increased market share by 20% in consumer goods," try "Led strategic growth initiatives, driving a 20% market share increase" 📈 Quantify Whenever Possible: Numbers don’t lie, and they build credibility. Be sure to share metrics that illustrate the scale and results of your contributions in a way that relates to the reader/interviewer. 🌉 Bridge the Gap: Connect past experience with the needs of your target industry or role. Identify transferable skills and explain how they solve pain points in the new context. 💪 Showcase Adaptability: Highlight moments when you’ve successfully embraced change, taken calculated risks, or learned new skills. This demonstrates you're not just capable of pivoting—you thrive on it. A pivot doesn’t mean starting from scratch; it’s about showing how your expertise evolves into a new chapter. Thoughtfully positioning your accomplishments will not only help you land the role but also ensure others see the value you bring to the table. What strategies have worked for you in defining accomplishments during a career shift? Share your insights below! 👇 #ExecutiveCareerPivot #Leadership #CareerGrowth #PersonalBranding #Careers

If looking like 40 million other job seekers is not the impression you want to make on hiring managers then it may be time to rethink your resume's career summary. It's not that career summaries are bad, it's more that they've become so generalized that they all blend in together. Let's consider a switch to a career snapshot. So what's the difference? Here's the intro to a summary: "Successful sales professional with 30 years' experience in retail..." This generic approach: - Does not answer the big 3 questions hiring managers ask in their initial scan - Focuses on generalities and years of experience that don't differentiate you - Blends in with every other qualified applicant - Wastes your 15-20 second window to grab attention Here's a career snapshot: "Award-winning chief financial officer overseeing $500M global operations expansion, saving $50M in YTD costs while increasing market share by 40%. Analyzes financial strengths and weaknesses of Fortune 500 companies and implements corrective actions to raise cash flow a minimum of 30%/year." This modern approach: - Engages readers with quantifiable achievements - Differentiates you from competitors with specific accomplishments - Highlights skills valuable to the position and company - Proves/validates what you've accomplished Here are my top 3 tips to help you write a compelling career snapshot: 1. Brainstorm Your Unique Selling Points Don't just list generic skills everyone in your field has. Identify your specific strengths, skills, and qualifications that make you different. 2. Showcase Accomplishments, Not Capabilities Instead of "Skilled in managing capital expansions," try "Managed $45M in capital expansions, raising Amelia Urgent Care from a level 2 to a level 3 trauma center in four years." The difference is dramatic—one is vague and forgettable, while the other communicates concrete value and achievement. 3. Add Power With Metrics and Results Quantify your achievements whenever possible. Numbers provide credibility and immediate visual impact: "Expanded market share 200% for more than 75 services in 15 states" "Increased year-over-year revenues 22% and reduced staff turnover rates 34%" These statistics transform you from a potential asset to a proven one. Read this article for two more tips (with examples) for how to write an impactful career snapshot: https://lnkd.in/ewHdvvzK 📌 Save this post for your next resume update. #Careers #Resumes #JobSearch