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Employer Quarterly Update: Q4 2023

Career Reentry Programming as a Competitive Advantage

2023 Employer Summit

The iRelaunch Virtual Employer Summit brings together the leading minds in building career reentry programs. The Summit provides the opportunity to exchange ideas, discuss innovations with peers, and benefit from the subject matter expertise of iRelaunch. Attendees will have the added benefit of becoming part of the expanding network of career reentry champions and program managers that comprise the iRelaunch Employer Community.

SAVE THE DATE! The 2024 iRelaunch Employer Summit will be taking place on Wednesday, February 28th. Click here to preregister. Note this is a closed session for employers only, and we vet all attendees in advance to make sure only representatives of employers are attending.

Meet Our New iRelaunch Team Member, Carla Dosmond

Kristin and Carla

We are pleased to introduce Carla Dosmond as the newest member of the iRelaunch team. Carla is a proud relauncher. Read her full bio HERE.

Carla joins us with deep experience in financial services and lived in London prior to moving to the NY metro area. Carla is multi-lingual in Spanish and German.

Carla will be focusing on new client engagements for iRelaunch. She will also support and grow our existing client base. Welcome, Carla!

2023 Is a Banner Year for the SWE + iRelaunch STEM Reentry Task Force

SWE Logo Q3


It is a record-breaking year for the STEM Reentry Task Force, our powerful alliance with the Society of Women Engineers, geared towards technical or engineering professional women who are seeking to resume their careers.

This is the first year we have had eight employers in the Task Force employer cohort: ADM, Bechtel, GE Aerospace, Kellanova, Micron, Mondelēz, NetApp, and SLB. We are equally thrilled to announce a milestone — over 1,000 returning professionals have participated in career reentry programs launched by STEM Reentry Task Force member employers since its inception in 2015.

If you are interested in learning more about the Task Force, please contact Colleen Olson.

The STEM Reentry Task Force at the WE23 Annual Conference

SWE Q3


A huge "thank you!" to our Task Force employer members and their leaders, for participating in our two highly informative and engaging sessions during the recent WE23 Conference in Los Angeles: Via Van Liew, Chief Diversity Officer, The Aerospace Corporation; Rachel Akers, New Collar Program Manager, IBM; Bika Carter, Director, External R&D, GF Labs at Global Foundries; and Ellen Shaker, Operations Manager, Talent Acquisition, Bechtel Corporation.

Task Force members shared overviews of their career reentry programs, how bringing technical women back into the workforce after extended leave can boost the number of women in STEM careers, and how employers like theirs can benefit by tapping into this high caliber talent pool.

Hear from technical relaunchers Karen Wong-Chan, Engineer and Patent Agent, Sterne Kessler; Tcheula Lienou, Controls Technical Project Lead, Trane Technologies; and Carmen Park, Senior Global Supplier Development and Quality Leader, Carrier about their experiences.

Around the Globe, iRelaunch is Leading the Way on Career Reentry Programs

Thinkers50

Carol at Thinkers50


The Thinkers50 Awards celebrate the most influential and innovative minds shaping the landscape of business and management. Each year, this prestigious accolade recognizes thought leaders who have made significant contributions to the world of management theory and practice. iRelaunch CEO and Co-Founder, Carol Fishman Cohen, was among the individuals shortlisted for the Thinkers50 Ideas Into Practice Award this year.

This honor is a testament to Carol's dedication and groundbreaking ideas in the field of career reentry. Her innovative approach to reentry programs has not only influenced individual lives but has also reshaped organizational cultures, fostering inclusivity and diversity by tapping into a vast pool of talent that might have otherwise been overlooked.

See Carol's LinkedIn post here. Note above she is pictured with Lynda Gratton, Professor of Management Practice at London Business School and co-author of the best selling book "The 100-year Life."

Lean In Circles

Lean In Q3


iRelaunch is partnering with Leanln.Org — the nonprofit organization founded by Sheryl Sandberg — to launch Lean In Circles for women who have relaunched their careers. For many women, finding connection and support at work is a challenge. Since most senior leaders are men, women have less access to mentors, sponsors, and role models who can relate to their experiences.

That’s why we’re excited to launch Lean In Circles—a space where women who have reentered the workforce after a career break can come together in small groups across roles and levels to give and get peer-to-peer mentorship, find support, and build new skills together.

Using Lean In’s Women at Work Collection — a leadership program designed specifically for women, by women — participants will meet virtually once a month for six months to discuss topics such as navigating burnout, dealing with microaggressions, and getting the recognition they deserve.

Please share this sign-up form as well as the recording of our Lean In Circle info session with your career reentry program alumni, those currently in your program, and any other relaunchers at your organization who might like to lead or participate in our Lean In Circle.

For those interested in leading a Circle, we will be hosting a Leader Training on Tuesday, December 12th from noon to 1:00pm (eastern). Here is the registration link.

For additional information, please email [email protected].

HBR Ascend Article: "Tips for Navigating a 60-Year Career"

HBR Ascend

iRelaunch CEO Carol Fishman Cohen's latest Harvard Business Review article, entitled "Tips for Navigating a 60-Year Career" is for the "early career" HBR Ascend publication. It discusses how the youngest professionals can navigate a 60-year career since their life expectancy is now projected to be 100 years. Multiple career breaks are likely during a span of 60 years. Employers with career reentry programs in place will be at a competitive advantage to engage and reengage with their employees who opt to put their career on pause. Click here to read Carol's timely and informative article. 

Highlighting 2023 iRelaunch Events

The iRelaunch Return to Work Fall Conference: October 2023

Fall Conf Q3

iRelaunch hosted our 34th iRelaunch Return to Work Conference October 3-5th, 2023. Our 15 employer sponsors recruited from more than 1,500 relauncher registrants. Sponsorship of the Return to Work Conference is a great way to build a talent-rich community of relaunchers for your direct hire roles or return to work programs. See more details here.

The Black Relaunchers' Perspective: September 2023

MM Sept 2023

In September, iRelaunch Diversity lead, Janet Peterson, partnered with Mocha Moms Inc. leadership to produce part two of our series "The Black Relaunchers' Perspective" featuring successful relaunchers from Bank of America, AIG, and Iron Bow Technologies as well as executives from PepsiCo and SAP.

Click here to watch the recording and hear their frank discussion about how they successfully relaunched their careers. Then hear from the employers who share their perspective on interviewing tips and applying for roles within their organizations.

PepsiCo Ready to Return India information session: October 2023

PepsiCo India Q3


This virtual event featured PepsiCo's leadership team who shared their experiences, insights and career reentry opportunities. PepsiCo highlighted their Ready to Return career come back roles in Hyderabad, India. Watch the recording here. 

Upcoming iRelaunch Events

February 28, 2024: The iRelaunch Employer Summit

May 14-16, 2024: The iRelaunch Spring Return to Work Conference

October 8-10, 2024: The iRelaunch Fall Return to Work Conference

Get in touch with our team to discuss what offerings are the best fit for your organization!

Elizabeth Gish's headshot with a brick wall in the background

Elizabeth Gish

iRelaunch - Managing Director

Collen Olson Brick Background Headshot

Colleen Olson

iRelaunch - Director of Business Development

Carla Dosmond 1080 X1080

Carla Dosmond

iRelaunch - Business Development Executive