Lavinia Zanassi, Alexandra Kennedy and Andrea Anyanwu of Skyline College’s Career Services Center team were invited to participate in the Resume Review program at the annual 2016 Watermark Conference for Women: Silicon Valley in San Jose. The sold-out event for over 6,000 attendees was designed to offer insights and practical advice about career, personal connections, development, and advocacy. National and internationally acclaimed senior executives, entrepreneurs, and authors convened to provide a forum for dialogue and networking with over 100 thought leaders and industry experts. The conference featured Mindy Kaling (actor, writer, producer and director starring in the Hulu original comedy series “The Mindy Project), Leila Janah (founder and CEO of Sama and Laxmi), Pattie Sellers (assistant managing editor, Fortune), John Jacobs (co-founder and chief creative optimist of The Life is Good Company) and Abby Wambach (retired forward 
of the 2015 Women’s World Cup Champion U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team.)
The highlight of the conference was Mindy Kaling’s luncheon keynote address in which Mindy talked openly about fear, self-belief, hope, and career. Four, insightful career focused takeaways from Mindy Kaling at the Watermark luncheon were:
1. Sometimes the world of work is unfair. Live through it, and take notes to improve your outcomes in all situations.
2. Being “sweet” is overrated. Mindy would rather be rich!”
3. Get a mentor by offering to help that person. 
Send an email telling your would-be mentor that you admire their work and that you would like to help them do it!
4. Don’t worry too much about networking. Work hard and make your own opportunities!
Article and photos by Andrea Doffoney Anyanwu and Getty Images
