Speaker Series

The Center for Gender in Organizations hosts many speakers and seminars and we welcome your participation in our events. To join our events mailing list, send a blank email to [email protected] with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line.

Past Speakers

Understanding the E in DI&E: The Importance of Including Equity

with Anastacia Awad, Tim Ewing,Kathleen McQuiggan and Debra Joyce Pérez
March 26, 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m.

The addition of equity represents a step forward in the discussion of the role that diversity and inclusion play in building an authentic and productive workforce. Opening the door and inviting people from a multitude of diverse backgrounds is no longer enough. Our panelists discussed their understanding of equity and how it impacts their work. They also shared their experiences in implementing equity efforts as well as lessons they have learned. Representing health care, finance, pharmaceuticals and higher education sectors, our panelists offered a wealth of expertise.

Getting Close...But Not Too Close: Mentoring in the #MeToo Era

with Stacy Blake-Beard and Mary Shapiro
May 16, 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m.

Attention from the #MeTooMovement (#MTM) has placed the boundaries of cross-gender mentoring relationships under greater scrutiny. How do mentoring partners manage the politics of "close enough?"

Drawing from both research and practice on mentoring and #MTM, our speakers discussed:

  • The continued importance of mentoring for women's career
  • The chilling impact of #MeToo Movement dynamics
  • Strategies to navigate power-laden interactions across gender
  • The benefits of proactive planning for mentoring partners and their organizations

Activating Bystanders to Create a More Inclusive Culture

with Stacy Blake-Beard and Patricia Deyton
June 6, 8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Many well meaning people find themselves unable to act when they see behaviors and actions that go against values of inclusion and equity. More than ever, we need to share strategies to empower people to stand up and speak out when these incidents occur. Our discussion sought to:

  • Understand the bystander experience
  • Learn how to help mobilize those who see something
  • Foster a culture of inclusion through bystander intervention

Men as Allies: Importance, Consequences, and Lessons Learned

A talk by Ronit Kark, Ph.D.
April 19, 1:00 p.m. -3:00 p.m.

Professor Kark discussed her most recent research on male allies in organizations. Her talk focused on the importance of men as allies, women's gatekeeping attitudes and actions towards men who promote gender balance in the workplace, and the lessons learned for men as allies initiatives.

Pushing the Boundaries in Health Care Leadership

A Conversation with CEO Katherine Gottlieb
June 7, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

In 1987 Katherine Gottlieb started her career at Southcentral Foundation in Anchorage, Alaska, as a receptionist. In the intervening decades she has risen to President and Chief Executive Officer. Starting life in a village with no electricity and a population of 100 people, Gottlieb announced when she first arrived at SCF that she wanted to be CEO. How did she acquire self-confidence to make such a declaration?

CEO Gottlieb discussed how she created an effective, inviting and thriving health system for the Alaska Native and American Indian people in southcentral Alaska.

A Call to Action: Developing Intersectionality as a Leadership Competency

with Dr. Stacy Blake-Beard, Dr. Joyce Fletcher and Dr. Janie Ward
June 20, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Intersectionality, a concept grounded in social justice dis-course, calls for us to acknowledge that we each embody multiple social identities that combine and intersect with one another. It is a call that requires leaders to pay attention to the dynamics of power, differential experiences and challenges that some will face as a result of their group memberships.

Our speakers discussed how intersectionality can be a catalyst to mobilize leaders to take action and lead change.

MBA for a Day

August 6, 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

This event was an experiential learning workshop on gender and leadership. It was an engaging discussion where we:

  • Examined work practices and norms that may look gender neutral, but can have a differential impact on women
  •  Participated in a "live case" that provides the opportunity to sharpen your analytical skills
  • Experienced confronting gender dilemmas and develop practical strategies for dealing with them!

A 20-Year Anniversary Celebration: CGO's Framework for Promoting Gender Equity in Organizations

with Deborah Kolb, Joyce Fletcher, Debra Meyerson, Deborah Merill-Sands and Robin Ely
October 22, 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

With Opening Comments by Lotte Bailyn
CGO celebrates the 20th anniversary of the founding framework for its initiatives on gender equity in organizations. The authors of "Making Change: A Framework for Promoting Gender Equity in Organizations" (1998) will participate in a forward-looking reflection and conversation on the continued relevance of the four frames and the state of CGO's work on gender equity.