February 2025 Newsletter
February 20, 2025
Preparing Your LinkedIn for Corporate Board Roles
Recently on Quorum Live, we explored strategies for increasing the visibility of women on corporate boards. Moderated by Julie Livingston, the discussion featured two distinguished experts: Debra Boggs, Founder and CEO of D&S Executive Career Management, and Michelle Merritt, Chief Strategy Officer at D&S Executive Career Management.
They shared actionable insights on how women can optimize their LinkedIn presence and position themselves as strong board candidates.
Optimizing LinkedIn for Board Candidacy
LinkedIn is often the first place recruiters and board members look for potential candidates. Debra Boggs outlined three critical elements for optimizing a LinkedIn profile:
- Content: Clearly articulate your board aspirations and strategic expertise
- Optimization: Use relevant keywords and an effective headline to appear in searches
- Visual Presence: A professional headshot, well-designed background banner image (area behind your headshot), and curated Featured section enhance credibility
Michelle Merritt emphasized the importance of keeping headshots up to date, recommending an update every 18 months. She also advised against using selfies and stressed the need for professional, high-quality images.
Engaging Effectively on LinkedIn
Beyond an optimized profile, engagement plays a vital role in visibility. Debra encouraged candidates to actively comment on posts, share insights, and connect with industry leaders. Michelle added that board candidates should focus on content relevant to governance, leadership, and industry trends.
Mastering Career Negotiation: Strategies from Wies Bratby
Empowering Women to Navigate and Negotiate Their Careers
At Quorum Initiative, we are committed to equipping women with the tools to advance their careers with confidence. In our latest Speaker Series session, we were honored to welcome Wies Bratby, founder of Women in Negotiation and former President of Lean In Switzerland. Wies is a negotiation expert with a passion for helping women leverage their skills, advocate for their worth, and build thriving careers.
Introduced by Quorum member Tara Cleary-Gaillard, Wies captivated our audience with powerful insights into the myths that hold women back and the strategies that lead to career success.
Breaking Myths: What’s Holding Women Back?
1. “If I Work Hard, the Rewards Will Follow.” Many women assume that delivering strong results will naturally lead to promotions and raises. Research suggests otherwise. A study found that only 7% of women negotiate their first job offers, compared to 57% of men.
Wies emphasized that workplaces—largely designed by and for men—often don’t reward silent hard work. Women must actively communicate their achievements and advocate for their value instead of waiting for recognition.
2. “I Have to Sell Myself to Get Ahead.” Many women feel uncomfortable promoting themselves, believing they must sell their worth to employers. Instead, Wies suggests flipping the approach:
- Become wildly obsessed with understanding what the other party (your boss, hiring manager, or organization) needs
- Ask questions about their challenges and opportunities
- Position yourself as the solution to their needs
This shift transforms conversations from uncomfortable self-promotion into powerful value-driven discussions.
3. “I Can’t Have It All.” The belief that women must choose between success and balance leads to self-imposed limitations. Many assume that a high salary means sacrificing personal time or that meaningful work means accepting lower pay.
Wies debunked this myth by highlighting a startling truth: Women in full-time roles still do two-thirds of household labor and nearly all emotional labor. This additional stress affects mental and physical health.
Quorum launches two exciting initiatives!
A Gender Smart Investing Club
Quorum Invests is a gender-smart investment club designed exclusively for Quorum Initiative members. This initiative empowers individuals to take their first—or next—steps in investing with a gender-lens approach across asset classes, ensuring their investments align with their values.
Why Join Quorum Invests?
- Align your money with your values
- Overcome investing roadblocks and build confidence
- Gain financial knowledge and grow your wealth
- Be part of an impactful community focused on systemic change
Elevate Your Leadership Journey
Quorum is excited to launch Mentoring Circles, a dynamic new initiative designed to empower women with deeper support and professional growth opportunities. This program offers monthly, 90-minute virtual sessions led by experienced Executive Coaches, creating a confidential space for leaders to connect, share insights, and strengthen their leadership skills.
The program debuted in February 2025 as a pilot for Quorum members in London, guided by Theresa Rynard and Anne Groves. Building on its success, we are thrilled to expand in April to include U.S.-based members, with Regina Jiron joining as a coach. This expansion marks an important step in broadening access to this transformative experience across our global community.
For more information on participating in either of these initiatives, contact Diane.
Congratulations to Quorum members!
- Tsolmon Finch on her new position as Women Entrepreneurship EXPO Mentor at the United Nations
- Veronica Torres on her new position as Senior Director, Deputy General Counsel, Enterprise Legal at Fannie Mae
- Nichole Williams-Miller on her new position as Director, Technology and Product at GEICO
Welcome our new members!
- Heather Hagan, Principal, Deloitte
- Kierith Jones, Partner, Workstream Global Solutions
- Jordan Leao, Manager, R&D Strategy and Operations, Regeneron
- Ester Marchetti, Co-Founder and Head of Innovation & BoltChatAI, Bolt Insight
- Jennifer Miller, CRO, OpenCorporates
- Maria Jose Ramirez Braiz, Founder and CEO, Te Lo Cuento News
- Alicia Tucker, Medical Director of Sports Medicine, WellSpan Health
- Bridget Uebel, EMEA Clients & Markets Strategy Director, PWC
Local Chapter News
Invite a friend who would benefit from this dynamic forum featuring Quorum St. Joseph members as panelists, moderated by Dr. Katy Schwartz-Drowns. The discussion will explore key leadership themes inspired by Crucial Conversations, including leadership, civic engagement, advocacy, and self-discovery.
These topics are central to Madam President Camp, a leadership and civic engagement program for middle school girls, co-founded by Quorum’s St. Joseph chapter in collaboration with Missouri Western State University and Dr. Kennedy’s office. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with inspiring leaders and gain valuable insights.
