#FlashbackFriday — OWA Autumn's Past

Founded in 1997, the OWA has years of content from our members! If you haven't logged in recently, here's a preview of what you're missing!

One Minute Inspirations

Member only content, must be logged in to read

Helping Employees Adapt to Change

Written by member Audrey Pavia, October 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 economic environment. No industry is exempt. Read more

"Humanness" Through Creativity

Written by member Carla D'Angelo, October 15, 2014 

In a world where talks of AI and its implementation are increasingly dominant, the opportunity for us to share our unique "humanness" is through our creativity. As I prepare to send my son to university to study engineering, I cannot help but wonder what type of a world he will enter for his career. Read more

The All-Powerful Handwritten Note

Written by member Rachel Meyer, EdD, CPO, November 16, 2015

Do you remember the last time you received a handwritten note? What about the last time you wrote and physically mailed a handwritten note or thank you card? I learned of the enjoyment of receiving mail like many of you did, getting birthday cards or pen pal letters in elementary school. Read more

The Value of Values

Written by member Jennifer Trakhtenberg, November 1, 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 things are all authentic, but they aren't done for the sake of being "nice." Read more

The Gift of a "Thank You"

Written by member Carol Wilbur, November 15, 2020

Almost from the time we learned to write, my mother made sure all of us kids acknowledged our birthday and Christmas presents with a handwritten "thank you" note. I have to admit that this task went on my "put off as long as possible" list for many years, right up there with eating the spinach on my plate . . . . Read more

Find Your Voice

Written by member Erika Plank, September 15, 2022

A few months ago, I went through an exercise that had me reflect on the best pieces of advice I've received in my career. For me, one of the these came from a senior leader as I was starting my leadership journey: "Find your voice." Read more

Blog Articles

The Modern Manager: “Tik Tok University”

Written by member Mikki Collins, October 28, 2022

When most people think of Tiktok, they think of silly dances and lip syncing videos. The app gained rapid popularity amid COVID shutdowns in 2020 as billions of people joined the platform. Tik Tok has not only revolutionized social media, but it has revolutionized the way we communicate, learn, and talk about real life situations. Read more

Coping With Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Written by member Lindsay Romah, October 27, 2023

Many may find they experience a change in mood and energy levels as the days grow shorter and the temperature goes lower. This seasonal affective disorder (also referred to as seasonal depression) is appropriately abbreviated, SAD! Loss of daylight during the winter months can trigger feelings of sadness, lethargy, and a lack of motivation. Read more

Tips On Hiring The Perfect Team Member

Written by member Tracy Neal, November 10, 2023

Hiring the perfect team member can be a time-consuming and daunting task that can significantly impact your company’s success. Let’s look at some strategies to help identify and hire the ideal candidate for your team. Read more

Working As A Millennial

Written by member Tracey Esser, November 1, 2024

As I sit in my office, juggling branding initiatives and brainstorming new marketing ideas, an early career moment comes to mind. An old boss once told me I’d never reach a high level role until much later in life. Read more

Mentorship Matters: Building Meaningful Connections for Career Advancement

Written by member Jill Saxon, OD, FAAO, November 8, 2024

In optometry, it can feel like the path to career advancement is mostly about gaining technical expertise. But the truth is, those skills are just one part of the equation. For women in optical fields, having a mentor can be one of the most powerful tools to help foster both personal and professional growth. Read more

Podcast

Leadership Insight and Strategies

Guest members Cathy Firman and Kylie Matya, October 26, 2021

Join two of OWA’s 2020 Leadership Scholars in this month’s podcast to hear impactful moments from their professional development experiences and how they work to support the OWA’s mission of helping to connect, inspire, and lead in the optical field. Listen

Communication Skills in Consultative Sales

Guest member Amy Hendrick, October 25, 2022

Her 15 years experience in the optical industry began at a LASIK surgery center, where she found passion in educating patients on the surgery process, easing their fears and facilitating their life changing surgery. Listen

Michelle Skinner, VSP Vision

Guest member Michelle Skinner, October 31, 2023

Michelle outlines her ‘Three C’s’ approach to leadership and explains how to use this approach to navigate change, foster growth and plan for the future in uncertain times. Listen

Sophia Pray

Guest member Sophia Pray, September 23, 2024

Sophia is contagiously happy, oh so colorful and calling her an eyewear enthusiast would be an understatement. In this episode, we discuss the importance of continued learning and being your authentic self, "It is important to invest in yourself and push yourself to greatness." Listen

If you're looking for more great OWA content, visit the Members Only section to browse the archives.