A recent article from CNBC.com challenges employees to ask their leaders about what kind of “culture of learning” is available to them take advantage of. In this case, a culture of learning is everything from career coaching and development to taking risks and rewarding performance improvement.  In essence, a healthy culture of learning encourages employees to think outside the box, take advantage of growth opportunities, and gain skills that weren’t necessarily listed on the job description.   A culture of learning is crucial for any company that is interested in growing and re ..read more

Elizabeth Delgado was born in Gurabo, Puerto Rico and immigrated to Chicago at the age of fifteen. As soon as she arrived, Elizabeth’s priority was to find work. During that era, jobs were scarce and especially so for new arrivals, so Elizabeth like many others, quickly accepted factory work. And Elizabeth hasn’t stopped working since then! From working in logistics and distribution at O’Hare International Airport to selling home-made baked goods, Elizabeth has always been in pursuit of success. In the 1990s, she earned an associate degree that led to a fulfilling career in social work where s ..read more

Rosita Villagomez Aguirre had learned to support herself when she left home at the age of 14. With a daughter to care for, Rosita quickly began working in construction. “I grabbed a cutting blade and measuring tape and got to work at the sites myself,” she recalls. Rosita was a fast learner and opened her very own construction company at a young age. Rosita was determined, talented and business-savvy, so she quickly found success working on million-dollar homes of high-level executives and high-profile athletes. However, as a young woman in a male dominated industry, Rosita felt it was time to ..read more

Now that performance review season is over for most companies, news about promotions and salary increases should start making the rounds soon.   Traditionally, a promotion is expected to come with a raise. But recently, some companies are beginning to offer what are called “dry promotions” — or a promotion into a position with more responsibilities but without more pay.   Why are dry promotions becoming more common right now, and should you accept if one is offered?  From the employer’s perspective, offering a promotion without a raise is a way to recognize and reward ..read more

It’s Equal Pay Day! As we honor the significance of today, it’s important to recognize its history. In the 1940s while World War II was in full swing, women workers were directly replacing male workers who were drafted to serve overseas. These women were quite literally doing the exact same tasks as their male counterparts albeit for far less pay. Although the National War Labor Board endorsed policies that would make equal pay a requirement during the 1940s and 1950s, the policies failed to pass. The Equal Pay Act was successfully signed into law in 1963 – almost 20 years after it was first p ..read more

Rohini Patel earned her bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Purdue University. As she entered the job market, she quickly began her career in the Information Technology industry. She says, “Engineering is process improvement which is what IT is at the end of the day, so it was the right fit.” Her IT skills led her to work in a variety of roles at many organizations. Her diversity in skills aligned with her interest in diversity of locations as Rohini worked and lived in California, Illinois, and New York. Eventually, after more than 15 years in IT, she decided to settle in Chicago ..read more

Shaun Gray’s brothers, father, and grandfather all served in the U.S. military. So, when Shaun was just 17 years old, he too quickly enlisted. “My father was in the Navy and my brothers were in the Army, so I had to somewhat upstage them, and I joined the U.S. Marine Corps,” says Shaun. Throughout his five years in the Marine Corps, Shaun had a variety of roles but he mentions his engagement in Operation Desert Storm as a memorable one. Upon being honorably discharged, Shaun enrolled in college where he pursued degrees in construction technology and engineering. After graduation, Shaun quickly ..read more

At 72 years young, Cynthia Claude Rawson, a Fort Dodge, Iowa resident, has a happy work and home life with her cat, Gracie Kitty. It wasn’t always this idyllic; Cynthia has overcome many challenges throughout her life. She discovered she had a learning disability and that led to tough moments in school, although she did excel in math and successfully earned her junior college degree. As a young adult, Cynthia battled mental health ailments and alcohol addiction which made creating a stable career quite difficult. But she is a fighter, and she began a sober life.   In 1993, Cynthia ea ..read more

Jessie Castaneda was born in Chicago, and raised in the city during the 1960s and 1970s. After dropping out of high school, Jessie enlisted in the U.S. Army where he found structure and drive. It was in the Army that he completed high school and earned college credits. Upon being honorably discharged, Jessie moved back to Chicago, bought his first home and began his civilian life. Jessie worked in many career pathways at several organizations including Amtrack and the Office of Emergency Management, however his true passion was always technology. Throughout his 30 years in IT at the Department ..read more

Cassandra Stinson, a 34-year-old West Chicago native and mom of three, began her career in the healthcare field about 11 years ago. “My auntie was working in a direct support position, and when I found out more about what it was. It appealed to me instantly,” says Cassandra. Over the next few years, she worked in a variety of healthcare-focused roles with the main goal of working her way up.   “I’m a naturally caring and compassionate person, so I like working directly with people that need help and care,” says Cassandra. From direct support to Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Cass ..read more