#MobilizeWomen Summit Recap: Courageous Conversations with Sallie Krawcheck and Jessica Bennett

#MobilizeWomen is a movement propelled by change makers in business to commit to taking action against gender inequality. Ellevate Network hosted incredible speakers in NYC on June 21st, 2017. This is a recap of part of the event, with the most relevant concepts you can use to take action in your everyday life. Download the Mobilize Women Action Guide here.

Inequality. Sexism. Mansplainers. Bropropriators. What do they have in common? Women face them in the workplace every day. It just so happens that Ellevate Network knows two women who literally wrote the books on having the tough discussions that help us power through those obstacles. Naturally, we invited these powerful ladies to our inaugural Summit to Mobilize Women.

Sallie Krawcheck, Ellevate Network’s Chair and author of Own It, took the stage to interview Jessica Bennett, award-winning journalist and author of Feminist Fight Club to have a courageous conversation. How do you have your own? Check out our takeaways below.

It Takes Privilege to Speak Up

You might not have the ability to speak up for yourself for a number of reasons - being the newest person on the team or not being able to afford a career break are chief among them. As women, we have to look out for each other. When we have that privilege, we should use it to support other women. “When there are more women in the room, we are more likely to be heard and listened to,” says Jessica.

Camaraderie is Key

Meeting dynamics are so important. According to Jessica, “women are twice as likely to be interrupted when they speak in meetings, more so when they are women of color. They are also more likely to have their ideas misattributed.” So, how do you fight back? Camaraderie. If you see another woman being interrupted, speak up and ask the interrupter to let her finish. You look like a great colleague, and she gets her idea heard.

No one has ever said that a courageous conversation has to be serious. In fact, gentle use of humor can diffuse a tense situation, and make you seem more approachable. By gently deflecting hostility, you can calm things down enough to make your point.

Looking for more strategies for courageous conversations? Now is the best time to invest in yourself. Join the community that is committed to your success, and has your back no matter what. We’ll see you at an upcoming event!