Kim Crayton accepted The RJ Group’s invitation to share on Women Empowering Women! Watch Kim’s powerful message on Women Empowering Women, and share your thoughts with her.

Kim Crayton is a Community Engineer, with years of experience working with learners of all ages, skill level, and abilities. She is now using her knowledge to develop technical people, ideas, organizations, and communities.

In just over a year, Kim has been the keynote speaker at eight Meetups, ten conferences, is scheduled to speak at three others, and four more are being negotiated. She’s just getting started! Kim often shares with others how presenting at meetups became a launchpad for her speaking career. One may never know how an opportunity can lead to a much greater one. Kim uses her previous career in education to create unique tech talks to inspire current and future techies. She also shares how speaking engagements provides the ability to travel and see the World for free! Kim stepped out on faith, realized that her desires could come into fruition, and moved ahead. Now she is empowering others to do the same! Kudos, Kim!

The RJ Group wants to hear your story to share with other Women who want to build relationships, sisterhood, and empowered lives. We are stronger in numbers. Women Empowering Women is a beautiful thing.

Peace,

Grace Sowtrue

The RJ Group

Meet Andrea Wiggins. She accepted The RJ Group’s invitation to share on Empowering Women!

Andrea Wiggins, native of Austin Texas, recently moved back to Texas after spending the majority of her adult life in Illinois.  Andrea is a Fitness and Empowered Living Coach for Women, and the creator of Andrea Wiggins Strong.   Her passion is to help Women develop a purposeful plan of action for breaking up with their limiting beliefs, and embracing the beauty in their strength, both in their bodies and in their lives.  As a former member of the United States Navy and a retired Police Officer, Andrea has a passion to serve others in a major way.  But over the last 11 years, that passion to serve has grown and evolved into creating an environment of empowerment for Women and give Women permission to live out their TRUE potential.

Thank you, Andrea for such an amazing share. Women Empowering Women is a beautiful thing. Share your Empowerment Story with us.

The RJ Group

I have observed relationships in the workplace for many years. It is a common trend (in my opinion) to see friends and family members hired in roles for which they are not qualified. It is also a common trend that Women in the workplace are often passed over for positions or asked to train those who are less qualified for a specific role and in turn become the trainer’s manager or supervisor. Will this ever end?

I am really tired of seeing this. Husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, cousins, friends, and the like offered roles for which they are not qualified solely on the basis of being related or a friend of someone. Case in point, look at 45. His daughter and son-in-law are now the right and left hand. Aren’t there more qualified individuals who would serve in those roles better than them? Grant it helps to know someone in the workplace to get your foot in the door, I have done that myself. However, once the introduction was made, I had to earn the offer.

The difference between nepotism and networking is that nepotism usually means the applicant will get the job, but may not be qualified. Networking would imply that one could be referred but will be hired on their merit and experience. Sure, at times networking would also imply that someone could be hired and are inexperienced, but that is rare.

I am just very tired and disappointed that this continues to happen so very often. This comes from being a Woman in the workplace, like many others, who are passed over because of the nuances of nepotism and networking.  When will the workplace become fair and equal? Forget about the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission), I am not even sure what they do except talk about what they don’t do. Oh, and please do not forget about Affirmative Action, which had a place at some point in time; it is no longer as effective as it could be. As far as taking a stand, Women should do better to bond and support each other. If we all collaborated, then it would definitely make a difference. Nevertheless, many Women are the catalysts of the nepotism nuance, as well as the biased forms of networking.

When recommending a friend or family member for a position in your company, just make sure they are qualified for the role. Please refrain from using your influence to hire someone who is less qualified or another candidate who is qualified. Do what is in the best interest of the situation.

I would love to read your comments and feedback on any experience you can share. I am sure you have an opinion, and it matters. Women should work on forming a common bond and not just talk about it and then do something totally different. I am not implying that we should not support those who are seeking employment but do make sure they are qualified for the position first. Do not support a situation where a Woman has to train someone who is less experienced than them and end up reporting to the same person. Uh, No!

Peace and Blessings,

Grace Sowtrue

The RJ Group