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Book a DemoIn 2016 Women’s Voices Matter More than Ever
March 08, 2016 - by Deanne Taenzer
How We’re Doing our Part to Celebrate Women on the Podium & in the Media
While I am excited to see the progress we’ve made towards gender equality, I think it’s evident that there is still so much more to be done.
Look no further than the news media and at industry conferences and you will see there is a skewed ratio of women to men featured as speakers. Yet when you talk to many in the media from anchors to chase producers, they will tell you that it’s hard work to book women for these opportunities. It’s also a fact that women experts within organizations are often not well promoted by their marketing departments and therefore miss speaking opportunities that help build valuable leadership skills and reputation for their organization.
There are many reasons that this is happening, including women not knowing how or not feeling supported to take that podium position.
I’d like to focus on what we can do to help change this ratio. Rather than complaining, it’s time for all individuals and organizations to play a part in promoting women as a part of the story, celebrating all forms of diversity. Women have so much to contribute, especially in critical areas like sustainable economic development, social justice, and security for our communities.
I feel fortunate to be in leadership position with a supportive team and a fantastic platform that is capable of helping women become far more discoverable. As an organization, Expertfile is uniquely positioned to help elevate the profile of outstanding women who can serve as role models and enrich the conversations we have through media and conferences.
We want to do our part. Here’s our commitment:
- We will be partnering with select organizations that are committed to the advancement of women
- We will work with our ExpertFile clients to help increase the ratio of women experts represented on our global network in corporate and institutional settings.
- We will be introducing special programs to increase the awareness of women speakers as part of an increased focus on diversity.
- We will be developing enhanced search tools that provide journalists and conference organizers with easier ways to discover a more diverse set of experts on key topics.
- We will be providing new analytics features that help organizations track progress of diversity as a key indicator in their talent management and expert programs.
We want to celebrate women who serve as visible role models. They are visible proof that women are making a difference in the world, whether it’s in the lab, the classroom or the boardroom.
We can’t expect real change to occur if we fail to set an example and live by the principles of a diverse society that celebrates the achievements of women. To borrow a quote from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau – Promoting women isn’t just important, because it’s the right thing to do. It’s also “because it’s 2016.”
What are you and your organization doing to change the ratio? Please let me know. And if you can suggest any outstanding women who you think we need to have on ExpertFile please reach out.
Below are just a few of the many accomplished women that can be found on ExpertFile.com
Sandra Blanke from University of Dallas – Expert in Cyber Security
Jane Barratt from the International Federation of Aging – Expert in Aging and the Elderly
Kristie Loescher from the McCombs School of Business – Expert in the Business of Healthcare
Dr. Heather Ross from University Health Network (UHN) – Expert in Cardiology
Allyson Hewitt from SiG@MaRS – Expert in Social Innovation
Polly Black from Wake Forest University – Expert in Entrepreneurship
Isabel Pedersen from UOIT – Expert in Wearable Technologies
Doris Bucher from New York Medical College – Expert in Vaccines and Influenza
Carmen Ambar from Cedar Crest College – Expert in Women’s Leadership
Marsha Cohen from UC Hastings – Expert in Food and Drug Law
Amy Black from Wheaton College – Expert in American Politics
Maggie Anderson from The Empower Experiment Foundation – Expert in African-America Businesses
Melanie Szulczewski from University of Mary Washington – Expert in Environmental Toxicology
Sheryl Zimmerman from University of North Carolina Chapel Hill – Expert in Aging and the Elderly
Marjaneh Issapour from Farmingdale College – Expert in Entrepreneurship
Lisa de Wilde from TVO – Expert in Public Broadcasting
Jan Hux from Canadian Diabetes Foundation – Expert in Diabetes Research
Jenny Edwards from Fielding Graduate University – Expert in Educational Leadership
Shannon Phillips from Cleveland Clinic – Expert in Patient Safety
Nicole Onetto from Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) – Expert in Cancer Research
Krista Napier from IDC – Expert in Mobile Technology
Hawley Almstedt from Loyola Marymount University – Expert in Nutrition and Wellness