Hear Me! See Me! Be Me! Influence of Bias and Circumstances on Women Leader Development

Session Submission Type: Panel

Short Description

Join us for an interactive panel and debate designed to expand dialogue concerning unique circumstances faced by women in leadership. Using polling software, panelists and audience members will be asked to provide their opinions on how diverse strategies can develop women to advance, elevate their leadership competencies, and handle circumstances or biases with radical candor. During the session, we will capture and document competencies that women view as inclusive and effective leadership practices.

Detailed Abstract

Today, women make up nearly 50% of the workforce and each year the number of women holding leadership positions increases. Despite these gains, women are still challenged with conscious or unconscious biases and barriers in the workplace that prevent advancement to senior-level positions. Are there specific difficulties faced by women around social, age, or cultural identities? Should past circumstances impact future opportunities? Are there assumptions, double standards or invisible barriers that may constrain opportunities for the development of women in the workplace? How are we to upsize women careers in a downsizing world where a one shoe fits all development practice is used for career advancement?
These primary questions are the focus of a 2020 panel discussion to peel the onion in the next episode of the Women of Privilege or Women of Circumstance (WPWC) event chronicles. WPWC, introduced during the 2019 WLAG conference is a longitudinal study to explore cultural and circumstantial influences on women’s leadership styles. The problem that we still need deeper dive discussions around the critical circumstances faced by women in leadership and their development. And we need to develop profiles of effective behaviors and competencies of women who lead, despite their circumstances. The introduction of terms such as radical candor, capacity building, and growth vs. fixed mindsets are the foundations of the discussion.
The purpose of this panel and debate is to introduce and expand dialogue concerning unique circumstances faced by women in leadership. Using cell phone polling software, the panelist and audience will be able to provide their opinions and feedback on how women in leadership are afforded targeted development to elevate their experiences or overcome circumstances or biases they encounter. The interactive session will begin with the panel briefly sharing their narratives. From there the panel and session attendees will be divided into opposing groups to offer their views and responses to the questions. During the session, we will capture and document competencies that women view as inclusive and effective leadership practices.
Additional questions and considerations to be explored during the session. How can we reduce the impact of conscious or unconscious biases towards women in the workplace? Are the challenges and expectations different for women? What competencies are needed for women to develop and advance their careers? The impact of social and legal movements to reduce prison sentences is a circumstance called past incarceration. If the box is checked how can women leaders manage conscious or unconscious biases? The “broken rung” is a phrase to identify the lack of mentorships and opportunities to develop women into leaders in the workplace. Should this be part of women's development? What strategies can women use to obtain opportunities in limiting circumstances? How can radical candor, capacity building, and growth mindset aid women in their development?

Panel Chair: Dr. Renee Green co-investigator on the Woman of Privilege / Woman of Circumstance: Phenomenological Study will lead the discussion.

Invited panelists include Dr. Teresa Shirley, the investigator on a groundbreaking study titled Motivating Reduction of Criminal Recidivism through Application of Social Responsibility: A Constructivist Grounded Theory Study and Dr. Jan Cardwell, co-investigator on Woman of Privilege/ Woman of Circumstance Phenomenological Study. Katherine Temple, author of Connecting Sociology to Critical Thinking, Pearson Publishing (2014)

Stream

• Women as Change Agents

Chair

• Renee R. Green, University of Phoenix

Presenters

• Janice L. Cardwell, Conceivers Leadership Development Group; Dissertation Chair, University of Phoenix

• Katherine Temple, University of Phoenix

• Teresa S Shirley, Dell Technologies