Cognitivity (cog-ni-tiv-ity): The wide range of mental and emotional work necessary for a company or organization to maintain culture, connect people and ensure smooth operations. 

Cognitivity is what we learn, hone and perfect from caring for others, as parents and as caregivers. These skills include prioritizing tasks, anticipating needs, flexibility, multi-tasking, project management, and focus. 

As we begin yet another school year, I urge employers to have grace with your team members who are also parents, as our cognitivity is at an all-time high in our homes, with the newness and uncertainty that comes with the first weeks of school. In addition to making sure everything runs smoothly at home, these parents are critical to your business, as they are likely the ones also doing all the little things that hold your company together and create the culture in your organization.

Check out our latest research (see below) on how our roles as parents and caregivers improve our companies’ culture, retention and the bottom line.

Happy Back to School!

- Lisa Kaplowitz, Executive Director of CWIB

CWIB teamed up with Kate Mangino, Gender Expert, and identified 18 skills employees develop from their caregiving experiences that positively impact culture, retention, and the bottom line. Parents and Caregivers add more value to companies and organizations than they realize.

This is WHY employers need to support their caregiver employees. This is WHY we need to normalize caregiving for men and women. This is WHY we need to provide flexibility and paid family leave. Caregiving employees are essential to their organizations, driving humanity, productivity, and 

cognitivity.

Scholars, industry leaders, and innovative thinkers are gathering to discuss their latest research, experiences, the barriers they faced, and steps forward for women working in hybrid and remote environments. Join us for insightful discussions about the current work environment, opportunity for organizational growth, and the critical decisions workers and organizations currently face.

We are excited to announce our next Author Talkback with Deepa Purushothaman to discuss her book, “The First, The Few, The Only” on Friday, September 29^th from 12pm-1pm ET. In this webinar, Deepa will dive into how women of color are not monoliths and how different lived experiences affect the path of success for women in the workforce. You don’t want to miss this!

All are welcome!

Join us on Friday, November 9^th from 12pm-1pm ET, for a fireside chat with Vanessa Patrick-Ralhan, author of “The Power of Saying No.” Vanessa will discuss the ground-breaking concept of “empowered refusal- a proven framework for saying no that puts you in charge of your life-and reveals some surprising secrets about the power of the word no. This is the perfect time to set your own boundaries personally for the holidays and professionally for review season.

The G.A.M.E.™ group mentorship program invites male executives to explore and engage in Actionable Male Allyship, with a focus on enhancing their impact in and outside of the workplace. Through 6 interactive modules and 1:1 conversations with colleagues of all genders, participants learn how to build high-performing diverse teams, mentor, sponsor and give feedback to women, advocate for change and ally outside the office. This brave space includes opportunities to work through personal challenges encountered with advancing women. Leave with takeaways and a personal action plan to be a more inclusive leader. Reach out below to learn how your company can implement G.A.M.E.™!

CWIB welcomes Dr. Colleen M. Tolan (Ph.D., Temple University) to our team. Dr. Tolan joins CWIB as a research associate and will use theory drive research to create actionable change to advance women. She holds a B.S. in Journalism and Mass Communications from Kansas University, a M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in Media and Communication, with a focus on conflict from Temple University.

Dr. Tolan is excited to join CWIB to produce original research for the center and help advance the center's powerful mission of empowering women in business.

The Rutgers Center for Women in Business is excited to announce our three new Advisory Board members – Francisco Martinez-Garcia, Chief Inclusion Officer at Moody's Corporation, Christine Vaccola, SPHR, PCC, Global Head of Talent Management at Sanofi and Carla Daily, Global People & Business Resource Lead at Bristol Myers Squibb! These executives add expertise in DEI, women’s career development, and talent management, which will further enable CWIB to execute our mission of removing barriers, building community and empowering women.

Your contribution will support scholarships for students, programming for students, alumni, and the Rutgers community, and gender-based research benefitting all as we work to resolve challenges for women in business. Thank you!

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