We are excited to share we have upgraded our member management system and launched NEON, a Customer Relationship Management System (CRM) that will allow us to seamlessly manage both TeamWomen and Empower Leadership Academy business operations and activity. As we enter our next phase of rapid growth, our goal remains consistent: to continuously build and enhance our infrastructure to best serve those we have the privilege of working with including our members, sponsors, partners, donors, board and committee members!

One of the best features of this new system is the added benefits we can provide our members! NEON’s Member Portal is designed to help us provide an enhanced online experience for you. To see the features available to you, simply log in to your account and look for the “What Would You Like To Do?” dropdown menu in the upper-right corner. You can update your member profile and directory listing, join a committee, become a mentor, register for events, join the TeamWomen Members Only Facebook Group, and much more.

Moving forward, new events will now be added to NEON. This means when you register for events, you’ll need to log in to the member portal to see and register for the member rate. NEON allows you to see all events you’ve attended too! Please keep in mind event registration will be a transition process for all of us as we already have events in Eventbrite (where you don’t need to log in) and will have events in NEON, where you will need to log in.

Below are instructions on how to access your member account in NEON. You’ll need to set up a new password to log in for the first time.

1. Click this link to request a new password here.

2. Enter your email address that is connected to your current TW membership.

3. An email will be sent to you with a link to create a new password to the member portal. This will also include your username on the page.

4. Once logged in, verify your information and business listing is correct.

If you have any difficulties logging in, please email Briana at briana@teamwomenmn.org. She’d be happy to help you out!

Thank you for being a part of our team!

We’re honored to highlight Rachel Polson as our Member Spotlight this month! Rachel is a partner with the commercial services group of Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP and has been with the firm since 1997. In 2009 and 2014, Rachel was recognized as one of the “Top Women in Finance” by Finance and Commerce, and in 2011, Rachel was recognized as one of the “Women to Watch” for Women in Business by Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal. She also serves on the TeamWomen Board of Directors Executive Committee.

Have you ever had a mentor?

Yes, I have had mentors, professional coaches and other professionals as resources. As my career has progressed, the type of mentoring I have desired has also evolved. There are people who may have a certain skill for a specific situation. Leveraging their talents and experience was key for both of us to have a mutually beneficial connection and interactions.

What are the 4 things you’ve learned from being a mentor?

• Consider your purpose as a mentor – continue to reflect on it and challenge your mentee to utilize you as the mentor in that role.
• This is not a lifelong commitment. It’s sad when the formal connection of mentoring ends, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find new ways to support your mentee and you can stay connected in other ways.
• I am fascinated with how motivated and brilliant people are at the beginning of their career.
• Mentoring is not always formal. It can be the situation in the middle of the week when someone is looking for a friendly ear to listen – encourage and support them.

What is the best career advice you’ve received?

• Ask for help! There is no reason to do it all yourself ― professionally or personally. Your family will survive if there are crumbs on the floor or if you buy takeout for dinner. Ask for carpool help from other parents.
• Be willing to take on new projects with an understanding of the timeline and commitment. Some deadlines are flexible. Don’t be afraid to discuss the timing to ensure it is realistic and achievable.

Who or what inspires you?

I am inspired by hearing about women who have conquered a fear regarding a new position or project. I am motivated by seeing others succeed. I am also inspired by hearing from others’ hardships and how they have overcome them. These stories have put my own challenges or struggles in perspective, and have either encouraged me to push harder or realize my situation is not as tough or as unbearable as I perceive it to be.

What can women do to support other women around them, professionally and personally?

• Be kind. Don’t judge. Don’t be catty.
• That woman challenging you is not your enemy. Consider their perspective. Try to understand they are coming from a place of positive intent – supporting you!
• Listen for what the women around you aren’t saying.
• Stand up and vocally support each other when others are being negative or unrealistic. Offer up an alternative fact pattern.

We’re honored to highlight Bank of America as this month’s sponsor spotlight! Lindsey Farrell Stampone, Senior Vice President and Market Executive for the Minnesota market, sheds light on how the company invests in women and supports the community around them. She is responsible for leading Relationship Managers in Minnesota and the Dakotas markets to deliver the full breadth of banking solutions to companies under $50 million.

What is considered the best day of the year at your company?

It’s hard to choose one, but my favorite days are tied to the community. November 28, 2018 was a pretty spectacular day as Bank of America pledged $1 million to support the Minneapolis Parks Foundation’s RiverFirst campaign. This initiative will develop riverfront parks and trails on both sides of the Mississippi River from downtown Minneapolis to the northern city limits. My other favorite days are Habitat Global Build, a week-long initiative to build affordable housing and engage in other community projects around the world, as well as celebrating our annual Neighborhood Builders awardee. Habitat Global Build week is a testament to the dedication of our volunteers who roll up their sleeves alongside working families and community partners to create secure, affordable housing for those in need in the Twin Cities. Each Neighborhood Builder awardee receives $200,000 in flexible funding, leadership development for an executive director and an emerging leader at the organization, and the opportunity to connect to a network of peer organizations and access capital.

What experiences within Bank of America do you provide specifically for women?

LEAD (Leadership, Education, Advocacy, and Development) for Women is our largest employee network with more than 26,000 members. LEAD is dedicated to promoting professional women’s development to help grow, attract, and retain successful women throughout Bank of America. We provide women with leadership, development, and career broadening opportunities and tools through a variety of means including information and education, advocacy, and networking.

Power of 10 at Bank of America is a grassroots effort where groups of 10 women in any line of business, cohort, or region can get together to discuss issues, experiences, challenges, and/or books and articles that speak to them. It’s a way to find a support network and has recently been granted a gold award in the Brandon Hall Human Capital Excellence Award for “Best Advance in Women Leadership Development.” Personally, I have benefitted from finding lifelong sponsors and mentors through this group of women while encouraging courageous conversations. My Power of 10 drives me to achieve.

How does Bank of America support other women around them, professionally and personally?

Investing in women is a key focus at Bank of America. We have a strong representation of women at all levels of our organization, and our support of women is evident in the resources we have that focus on bringing female talent to our company, developing our employees, and supporting the economic empowerment of women around the world. We partner with universities and other organizations around the world to recruit diverse talent, and offer many career development programs and events including our Global Women’s Conference, Women’s Executive Development Program, and Women’s Next Level Leadership Program. Further, we advance women’s economic opportunity and empowerment through many programs such as Women and Wealth through U.S. Trust, Supplier Diversity Program, NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners), and many more. Personally, we have the LEAD employee network, offer 16 weeks of paid parental leave, and have programs to help with child care, adult care, adoption support, as well as other employee benefits. My division specifically had two offsite programs this year specifically dedicated to the development of women where we heard from an executive coach on presentation power and emotional intelligence, as well as from many outstanding successful women.

What does success mean to Bank of America?

It means living our values of delivering together, acting responsibly, realizing the power of our people and trusting the team, growing responsibly, and delivering our purpose to help make financial lives better through the power of every connection.

To learn more about Bank of America and their services, click here.

We’re privileged to highlight TeamWomenMN Annual Sponsor, Rasmussen College, in this month’s Sponsor Spotlight. Patty Sagert talks about what drew her to TeamWomenMN. She outlines the TeamWomenMN characteristics that are in direct alignment those at Rasmussen College which makes it easy to understand why Rasmussen College would sponsor and support TeamWomenMN.

What drew you to sponsoring TeamWomenMN?

When I first learned about TeamWomenMN four years ago, I was drawn to the organization because it was a non-profit built by women for women. It’s focus on providing resources and mentoring to empower women of all generations resonated with me. The mission of the organization aligns well with the Rasmussen College mission to empower our students, faculty, and staff to exceed expectations and enrich the community.

What experiences within Rasmussen College do you provide specifically for women?

Rasmussen College is run under the guidance of many strong female leaders; our current president, Dr. Trenda Boyum-Breen being one of them. At Rasmussen College, women are encouraged to be leaders in their fields. Every year we host a Women’s Leadership Networking Breakfast where students, faculty and community members engage in inspiring discussions and share useful resources. Additionally, with over half of our student population being female and many of them mothers, we know they are busy balancing their homes and careers. Our learning models, including flexible online and now competency-based education courses, are conducive to people with busy schedules that need flexible options.

How do the students at Rasmussen College support other women around them, professionally and personally?

The Rasmussen College mission is dedicated to supporting lifelong learners and working to meet the evolving needs of our diverse communities. This dedication is reflected in our culture and can be seen across our interactions. Students are encouraged to support each other and help others achieve their educational and professional goals. We offer the Rasmussen College Change a Life Scholarship where students can nominate someone in their life to encourage them to pursue their dreams and achieve a college degree. We see women encouraging other important women in their lives to pursue an education and ultimately with the help of the scholarship, achieve their dreams.

What does success mean to Rasmussen College?

At Rasmussen College, success means helping our students channel their passions into a profession they will enjoy and excel at. Success means equipping our students to be contributing members to our diverse communities.

What are three things that you tell your students to do in order to become successful?

In order to be successful, I tell my students to first and foremost be committed to their studies and have grit. Secondly, always have a good plan B and C. There are going to be a lot of great big things that happen in life, but there are also going to be unexpected roadblocks. It is important to always look ahead and prepare. Finally, your experience is what you make it. Engage with instructors and interact with your peers. With a positive growth mindset, you can be successful.

Any advice you would like to provide to TeamWomenMN members?

Similar to the advice I tell my students, the experience with TeamWomenMN is what you make of it. Maximize your membership and engage with your fellow members. Always be willing to learn from those around you and utilize the resources in front of you. Finally, be present and soak up all of your experiences with TeamWomenMN.

When thinking of Rasmussen College, what do you want our members to remember and share with their friends/family/peers?

Rasmussen College is dedicated to breaking down barriers and making a college education accessible to all. We support all students, including adult learners, by providing a student centric, flexible and supportive environment. Rasmussen College believes in the importance of preparing students to navigate and thrive in our increasingly digital economy. Our female students are encouraged to pursue traditionally male dominated fields such as data analytics, criminal justice, and business management.

Learn more about Rasmussen College here: http://www.rasmussen.edu/
Learn more about Patty Sagert, Blaine Campus Director | Operations Director | Services Director | TeamWomenMN Board of Directors | TeamWomenMN Strategic Planning Chair  by viewing her LinkedIn profile here:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/pattysagert/