[FFL 72] Breaking Through Gender Bias With Andie Kramer and Al Harris

One of the biggest career-limiting factors affecting women in business and in the workplace is gender bias – whether done consciously or unconsciously. And although times have changed over the last several decades, the types of gender bias situations that women often face is now much more insidious and harder to spot.

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Today on the show, I’m chatting with gender bias experts Andie Kramer and Al Harris. Andie and Al are adjunct professors at North Western University School of Law, both experts in their respective fields of law, as well as experts in communication techniques women can use to overcome gender bias.

Andie is a partner in the international law firm McDermott, Will, and Emory where she heads the firm’s products, training, and derivatives group. She is a nationally recognized authority on gender communications, has mentored thousands of women on the subject, as well as written several articles on the topic of gender bias. She has co-authored the article What You Need To Know About Negotiating Compensation for the American Bar Association’s Guide and she is the co-founder of the organization Women’s Leadership & Mentoring Alliance where she currently serves as the organization’s Chair of the Board. Andie was named one of the 50 most influential women lawyers in America by the National Law Journal, has received the prestigious Gender Diversity Lawyer of 2014 Award from Chambers USA, and she is the Chair Amerida for the Chicago Foundation for Women

Al is the founding partner of the Chicago law firm Angaretti and Harris, which is now part of Nixon Peabody, LLC. While with Angaretti and Harris, he was the firm’s managing partner numerous times, has served on their executive and compensation committee as a member, and was the Head of Corporate and Securities Practice Group. Currently, in addition to being an adjunct professor at North Western University of Law, Al sits on the Board of Directors of a billion-dollar technology corporation and has served as a mentor, coach, and counselor to many successful women in business.

They join us today to share their thoughts and insights into how women can use various communication techniques and strategies to overcome gender biasness in the workplace, to enable them to be the shining star we all know they can be.

 

“If you can’t get acknowledge, it is much better to be seen as strong and forceful than weak, timid, and modest.” – Al Harris

 

Here’s a Breakdown of Today’s Show:

What inspired them to take a stand against gender bias. How women “buy-into” gender stereotypes when it comes to presenting themselves for compensation and promotion purposes. What are some gender stereotypes many women buy into? What subtle gender stereotypes may often be overlooked in the workplace and how can it limit a woman’s career? How can women effectively manage home and work life integration. How domestic responsibilities divided evenly between spouses or significant others can positively impact both professional careers. What do women in powerful career positions all have in common that the rest of the female leadership population can learn from? What is the “Goldilocks Dilemma” Al and Andie’s thoughts on the idea of “fixing the women” versus “system reform.”

 

Practical Strategies & Tips for Women to Break Through Gender Bias at Work:

Maintain a strong posture – body language. Stand up while talking to command attention. Claim your fair share of space. Claim your ideas. Claim your ability to speak. Support other women in meetings. Stand your ground and stick up for yourself.

 

Al and Andie’s Powerful Advice for Women in Business:

Remember the Goldilocks Dilemma. Recognize you can’t change who you are, but you can’t be either too soft or too hard. Find a way to reach into parts of yourself that will be most effective in the situation you are in to get it just right. Likability and perfection is overrated. Reach for the stars, even if it means you land on your butt.

 

Connect with Al and Andie:

AndieandAl.com Breaking Through Bias: Communication Techniques for Women to Succeed at Work e-book by Andie Kramer and Al Harris

 

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