October 4, 2018
Years ago, I relocated to begin a new job. I was both nervous and excited to be moving to a new city, taking on the challenges of a new job and having the opportunity to meet new friends and colleagues. Under all the nervous energy was the commitment to exceed expectations and be someone my […]
September 20, 2018
I have a confession—I hate networking–especially at large events! Whether it’s one-on-one, attending business events or social gatherings, networking is a necessary part of life for both entrepreneur’s and professionals. I often tell the story about the time I was on a plane traveling back to the United States from a week-long business trip to […]
September 13, 2018
When I think about it, I’ve always had a personal board of directors. These individuals are trusted colleagues and friends I can always turn to for business and career advice. Each brings a unique skillset to the table. They challenge me to think “outside of the box,” when it comes to business and operations. I […]
August 16, 2018
When I began my first communications internship at Calgon Corporation, I was assigned a mentor as part of the Inroads Pittsburgh career development program. My mentor Jeff happened to be African American and head of the company’s IT department. He would check in on me from time to time. However, I didn’t quite understand why he […]
August 9, 2018
A good image and a positive attitude can go a long way. The image we are ultimately building in the workforce is a team player who is positive, flexible and a hard worker. No one wants to be around negative people no matter how well they perform on the job. I generally refer to these people as “Negative Nellies or […]
August 2, 2018
Approximately five years out of college, I was downsized from my marketing and public relations position at Calgon Corporation. I had interned with the company for three summers and was hired for a full-time position before college graduation. Hence, this was the first time I had to look for employment as a professional.
June 28, 2018
What do you do? Whoop there it is—the question that is asked on many occasions when meeting someone for the first time. And for those of us who might be going through a career transition, it can be an uncomfortable inquiry.
June 21, 2018
I’ve had the opportunity to work directly with about eight CEOs over my career. Some were great leaders, some not so much. I’ve also witnessed many good managers struggle after being promoted to leader. Mainly because they were uncomfortable releasing the day-to-day tactical responsibilities and moving into a more strategic role.
June 14, 2018
I’m often asked this question–What are the qualities of a strong personal brand? So this week I decided to revisit and publish one of my earlier blog posts on the subject.
June 7, 2018
This week I attended a younger cousin’s graduation ceremony at Princeton University. It was very exciting to witness her receiving her master’s degree in Public Affairs from such a prestigious university. All 22 of the relatives and friends who attended beamed with pride as she walked across the stage to receive her diploma and graduate […]
Often, when I tell someone to “Keep Dreaming,” it comes from a sarcastic place and means “this will never happen.” However, as I reflect on the crazy, challenging year we all experienced in 2020, I think it’s time to get back to our dreams literally.
At the beginning of 2020, I had big dreams. I had planned a February vacation trip to Thailand, a women’s conference in March, Florida in April, Aruba in June, and Hilton Head with cousins in October. All plans were canceled indefinitely. Getting refunds/credits from travel agencies, airlines and hotels became a significant challenge and took lots of energy.
[Read More]
Hi! I'm LaNella Hooper-Williams. Through my blog, my mission is to give you tips and practical tools that will help you build a powerful brand and accomplish your personal and professional dreams. You’ll learn strategies that help you manage your personal brand, get noticed and rewarded for your unique talents, and gain greater career focus.
