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Leadership

2023

• The Sticky Factor (Part 2) – Jennifer Trakhtenberg, 02-01-2023
  Mastering Masterminding Masterminding is a concept that goes back many thousands of years, but it still has tremendous current potential. We recognize  ...
  
  
• The Sticky Factor (Part 1) – Jennifer Trakhtenberg, 01-15-2023
  "Does he really need 12 glue sticks and why do they have to be that exact size?" Each year we have this discussion as the supply list is distributed  ...
  
  

2022

• With Compliments – Stephanie Lucas, 05-01-2022
  During this year's OWA Champagne Breakfast, I was struck by the "psychology of happiness" data point shared by speaker and Positive Psychology Practitioner  ...
  
  
• Bring Out Wonder Woman! – Mary Lanning, 04-01-2022
  Some days I'm on fire: pushing through my check list, attending meetings, conquering all my priorities, taking care of my family, finding time to work  ...
  
  

2021

• Leadership Insights and Strategies – Sandra Mohr, 11-01-2021
  Cathy Firman (GPN Technologies) and Kylie Matya (Safilo) were the featured guests on the October OWA Talks podcast. These women, two of the OWA's 2020  ...
  
  
• Pull Up a Chair – Allie Ianaconi, 04-15-2021
  Pull up a chair. It's one of those phrases you grow up with. When you're a kid, it means sitting with the adults on Thanksgiving. You get a little older  ...
  
  
• Believe in Your Ideas and Others Will, Too! – Robyn Crimmins, OWA President, 02-15-2021
  Having a great idea is one thing. Selling it to those who can support you in making that idea a reality can be more challenging and take some doing.  ...
  
  

2020

• OWA Game-Changer – Janna Neal, 12-15-2020
  Being in the optical industry for over 15 years has given me tons of opportunities to network, but a recent OWA Champagne Breakfast event was a game  ...
  
  
• How Can I Help? – Sandra Mohr, 11-01-2020
  The October OWA Talks podcast guest is Holly Rush, and I encourage you to carve out an hour to listen to and reflect on the wisdom and advice she offers  ...
  
  
• Be the Boss You'd Want to Teach You! – Bradie Husser, 03-01-2020
  Everyone always says, "It's hard to find good help." and I completely agree. However, have you ever stopped to ask yourself if you yourself are a well-rounded  ...
  
  

2019

• Coach Turned Player – Karen Michaelson, ABOC, 10-15-2019
  It seems I picked the perfect year to start my eye care career — I will celebrate my 40th anniversary in 2020. My first paying optical position  ...
  
  

2018

• The Value of Values – Jennifer Trakhtenberg, 11-01-2018
  I often receive comments from visitors noting how much we focus on making our environment fun and lively, and on giving back to the community. Those  ...
  
  
• A Push Was All It Took. – Nancy Black, 07-02-2018
  I was born in a small community in Wisconsin and decided at the age of 17 I was destined to explore the world. With the support of my parents and the  ...
  
  
• Getting Started With Reverse Mentoring – Janelle Pauli, 06-01-2018
  A couple of months ago at the OWA events during Vision Expo East, I heard multiple comments and questions come up about the topic of reverse mentoring.  ...
  
  
• The Art of Feedback – Jessica Turcotte, 04-02-2018
  Feedback can be scary. It's hard to tell people what you think about them and equally hard to hear what they think about you. I personally used to spend  ...
  
  
• When Opportunity Knocks, Answer The Door – Ashley Ellis, 03-01-2018
  Opportunity often presents itself at the most inconvenient of times and disguises itself as a problem. Successful leaders will tell you to accept  ...
  
  
• What's Your Superpower? – Alyssa Voorheis, 02-19-2018
  I recently became aware of something huge — the realization that I work on a team of superheroes! You may think that something like this doesn't  ...
  
  
• Networking In 2018 – Debbie Myres, 01-16-2018
  There is no better place for women in the optical industry to network than the OWA. Networking is an art that too many people learn only after opportunities  ...
  
  

2017

• How to Be a Leader When You're Not "The Boss" – Megan Greene, 07-06-2017
  A boss is defined as a person in charge of a worker or organization. They are the decision makers; the authority that employees look to each day for  ...
  
  
• Tips to Improve Your Presentation Skills – Deborah Lochli, 02-16-2017
  From time to time I am called upon to make a presentation. In the past, my fear of speaking would get the best of me and I became somewhat paralyzed.  ...
  
  

2016

• Grow Where You're Planted – Robyn Crimmins, 12-12-2016
  A trusted mentor once gave me the advice that you don't have to change jobs or move companies to gain new experiences and skills. She said, "growing  ...
  
  
• Jump In With Both Feet – Christie Walker, 09-08-2016
  When I took the job as editor of several optical magazines for Frames Data, I knew practically nothing about the eyewear industry, glasses, lenses, and  ...
  
  
• Yes, But - Versus - Yes, And – Megan Greene, 06-16-2016
  I recently participated in a focus group. Throughout the two-day workshop, I met people from all five lines of our company's business. We participated  ...
  
  
• Believe in Yourself! – Brandie Shaw, 03-01-2016
  I am often asked what it's like to manage a sales team comprised solely of men. While I won't say there aren't challenges, I am fortunate to have a really  ...
  
  

2015

• It's All in the State of Mind – Audrey Pavia, 10-15-2015
  Have you ever heard of being "mindful"? Mindfulness is a skill. It is the ability to look at the world around you and everyday events without letting  ...
  
  
• Empowering People with Your Positive Energy – Rachel Meyer, EdD, 08-17-2015
  Do you remember when you started at your company? Do you remember the anticipation, the excitement, the enthusiasm and the naiveté of that first  ...
  
  
• Are You the Best Boss — Ever? – Debbie Myres, 07-01-2015
  When you think of someone who creates an inspiring work place for you — that enables you to be your best and be highly engaged in your work —  ...
  
  
• We Can All Make a Difference – Vickie Sullinger, 05-04-2015
  Are you feeling overwhelmed by the social injustice in today's world, the economy, our nation, the perceived threats from foreign countries, and the  ...
  
  
• The Journey to Becoming a Mentor – Deb Lochli, 03-16-2015
  It seems like it was just yesterday that I received a phone call from Grady Culbreth advising that I was nominated to the OWA Board of Directors. (It  ...
  
  
• Giving the Gift of Sight – Barbara Siminerio, 02-16-2015
  Over the past two years, I have had the opportunity to participate in several outreach events centering on Optometry Giving Sight's "World Sight Day".  ...
  
  

2014

• It Is All About Perspective – Rebecca Johnson, 11-03-2014
  As the story goes, there was a group of four blind men that were introduced to an elephant and asked what it was. The first one touched the tusk and  ...
  
  
• That's The Way I've Always Done It – Elaine Brink, 08-18-2014
  Habits. Old, new, good or bad. Habits are part of life. Some habits are healthy, like exercise or eating right. Some habits are harmful, like driving  ...
  
  
• Welcome to the Club – Michelle Vignault, 03-17-2014
  Many of us are fortunate to have established roots within our company. I attended my company's holiday party last year and many were congratulated for  ...
  
  

2013

• Motivation – Maggie Sayers, 08-15-2013
  People often say that motivation does not last.Well, neither does bathing. That's why we recommend it daily.— Zig Ziglar — No one can  ...
  
  
• What Is In The Back Of Your Knowledge Closet? – Karen A. Michaelson, ABOC, 03-04-2013
  I love writing about situations that I call "live feed". The experiences are real and have positively impacted me or those around me. Recently, a  ...
  
  

2012

• Taking the Challenge: Eating Healthy on The Road, On the Job, On the Go Overview – Rebecca Johnson, EyeTrain4You, 10-15-2012
  On May 1st, I received an email from Christie Walker asking me to conduct the workshop at the Optical Women's Association Meeting on September 5th in  ...
  
  
• Leveraging Leadership Advice from Women in Corporate America – Liz Baidoo, VSP, 06-04-2012
  Recently, I accompanied fellow OWA member Kate Renwick-Espinosa, Chief Marketing Officer of VSP Global to the San Francisco Women in Leadership Symposium. Kate  ...
  
  

2011

• Helping Employees Adapt to Change – Audrey Pavia, 10-11-2011
  We all face change – more often than not. Staff changes, downsizing, reorganizing and cost cutting are most common especially today amongst a fiercely  ...
  
  
• Are Entitled Employees Draining Your Work Environment? – Jodi Groh, 08-01-2011
  My husband manages a fast pitch travel team and recently dealt with unhappy parents. While the majority of the team believes in being competitive and  ...
  
  
• Become a Good Delegator – Laura Sheehan, 03-14-2011
  Have you ever said, "It is easier to do it myself than to take the time to explain the project"? If yes, you are guilty of being a bad delegator. And  ...
  
  

2010

• Developing Future Leaders Through Mentoring – Mary Crisafulli, 05-18-2010
  Every well-run business should operate with an eye on the future. That's why it's critical for businesses to look at the development of their future  ...
  
  

2009

• Low-Cost Ideas for Building Employee Loyalty – Mary Crisafulli, 05-11-2009
  These days, you can't read the paper, watch the news or surf the net without hearing about the sad state of the economy. Regardless of how severely  ...
  
  

2007

• On The Job Cross Training Benefits – Sandy Likes, 10-01-2007
  Just as you get benefits from cross training from your workout at the gym you will get benefits from cross training at work. In the gym cross training  ...
  
  
• Where is Everybody? Absences in the Workplace – Amy Spiezio, 03-15-2007
  While businesses are not legally required to give employees days off for federal or state holidays, most employers have standard vacation, personal and  ...
  
  

2006

• The Power of Delegating – Jodi Groh, 11-15-2006
  Delegating work to someone else is often a difficult thing to do, but in reality, it is one of the wisest things you can do. The benefits of delegating  ...
  
  
• Avoiding Office Politics – Amy Spiezio, 10-15-2006
  The workplace is supposed to be a professional, dignified place, so why are there so many squabbles? Well, first off, people are human and bring their  ...
  
  

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