How do women find their voice and claim their space in male-dominated workplaces? Many of us grow up being taught to be quiet. So how do we overcome cultural conditioning that teaches women to stay silent and docile? My guest Jenny shares her struggles with speaking up in meetings and having her ideas heard, especially with senior male colleagues. Despite 13 years of corporate experience, she still battles the ingrained fear of growing up in a traditional hierarchical family. We later hear from my friend and co-host Lynette, founder and CEO focused on ESG initiatives, who transitioned from running her own interior design business to the corporate world. She opens up about facing shocking discrimination, questioning her abilities, and ultimately finding her authentic voice while helping create inclusive environments for others.
We tackle questions like:
How do you speak up when you're the only minority in the room?
When is the right time to address disrespectful behavior?
How do you create safe spaces for other women to find their voice?
How do you prepare yourself for speaking up in high-stakes situations?
How do you build allies who will double your voice?
What can leaders do to help junior women feel heard and valued?
Here is What We Talk About:
➡️ Finding Your Voice: The journey from self-doubt to speaking up with confidence, especially for Asian women conditioned to stay quiet. How to prepare, practice and build the confidence to share your ideas.
➡️ Handling Idea Theft: Practical strategies for claiming credit when your ideas are stolen or repeated without acknowledgment. Ways to respectfully redirect credit while maintaining professionalism.
➡️ Creating Safe Spaces: The importance of sending the elevator down to help other women thrive. Small actions that create more inclusive environments where everyone's voice can be heard.
➡️ Responding to Bias: Understanding the choice to be a bystander, colluder, or challenger when witnessing discrimination. How to speak up against bias with kindness and respect.
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