Women Championing Women

http://changecatalyst.co/allyshipseries/ - Episode 13

With registration opening up for Grace Hopper 2020, I picked out this recent conversation between Change Catalyst Founder & CEO Melinda Briana Epler and Brenda Darden Wilkerson, the President & CEO of Anitab.org around the topic of women championing women.

I for one really enjoyed Brenda’s perspective on things including the story of her own journey of how she got introduced to computer science, to her efforts to foster computer science for all, to her take on current events and the Blake Lives Matter movement. I also love the boldness of some of the goals that the AnitaB organization has put out around gender and pay parity. Perhaps my favorite quote of the day from Brenda was “get comfortable with being uncomfortable” -> very fitting for all of us as we confront our biases and figure out how to help move the world forward.

I’m also of course always happy to introduce another great podcast series to the group… and I highly recommend checking out other episodes in the Leading with Empathy and Allyship series.

Suggested discussion questions (if you need something to start the conversation):

• The AnitaB organization has called for gender and pay parity by 2025. Do you think this goal is bold enough? Too bold? What do you think it would take for us to get there? Are the diversity and inclusion goals at your organization bold enough?

• Have you ever found yourself missing an opportunity to be an ally “in the moment”? What do you think held you back?

• Brenda states that leaders need to “be ready for the pushback”. What do you think she means? How can we help leaders be ready?