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Foster leadership skills that encourage meaningful connections, mold culturally competent employees

Media Working across cultures offers numerous benefits but also presents challenges in communication, leadership effectively, is cultural mapping, because it offers a strategic approach for any multicultural team or leadership Leadership (Hierarchical vs.

Furthermore, women are still passed over for leadership and government roles.

unconscious biases, and companies implementing DEI strategies that encourage culture shifts starting with leadership By leveraging your leadership's unwavering commitment and your team's collective effort, you can challenge

With March now upon us, it’s time to celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, a great way to continue breaking barriers that we started knocking down with Black History Month in February. So let’s explore how Women’s History Month stories can inspire us throughout 2022 and beyond and how this IWD theme brings more awareness to the cause. Table of Contents: What Is Women’s History Month? What Is the Theme of International Women’s Day in 2022? How Can We Build Today on Female Pioneers in History? What Is Women’s History Month? During March in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, we celebrate Women’s History Month to commemorate the contributions of women in the past as well as women who are changing society today. The highlight of the month is International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8th, part of the women’s rights movement and observed around the world. Many issues affecting women are raised during Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, including: Abuse and violence against women Gender inequality Reproductive rights This special month began as Women’s History Day in 1978. With advocacy from Gerda Lerner, historian and author, and the National Women’s History Alliance, the holiday developed into a whole month of recognition by 1987. Other countries also took up the charge over time. The idea behind the celebration is to increase public awareness, champion women by challenging gender-based hurdles in our culture and motivate women of all ages by identifying examples of female heroes throughout history who can serve as role models. What Is the Theme of International Women’s Day in 2022? Each year, International Women’s Day chooses a theme around which the celebration is planned. While this is technically a one-day affair, people can and should recognize this theme throughout Women’s Month 2022 and during the entire year. The theme for IWD 2022 is “Break the Bias.” To spread the message of this year’s theme, participants use #BreakTheBias hashtags and take photos of themselves with their arms crossed in an “X” over their bodies – the physical symbol of the theme. What does “Break the Bias” mean? Imagine a world where genders are equal. The ideal world would be free of discrimination, bias, and stereotypes. We want a world that is diverse, inclusive of all, and equitable for everyone. Differences should be valued and celebrated. Women’s equality can be achieved by genders working together. With the strides many of us have made in the last few decades, it may seem like this focus isn’t really needed anymore. However, research shows otherwise, and many countries outside the USA and Canada have worse instances of bias against women. Examples of this bias include: Men being paid more than women for the same jobs Unfair or illegal interview questions (“Do you plan to have children?”) Internal promotions going more to men Glass ceilings that limit career advancement Men being the decision-makers in business Women excluded from social activities with coworkers Disproportionate homemaking responsibilities Inequitable reward structures (bonuses and commission) Women are not able to speak their minds or offer ideas due to criticism Illegal terminations for standing up for women’s rights Sexual harassment These issues exist even in female-dominated work environments. According to the United Nations Development Programme, nearly 90 percent of both men and women around the world are prejudiced against women. Globally, this is demonstrated through the biases listed above, as well as the underrepresentation of women in government, few female CEOs, women working more hours than men, and women receiving less education than men. Moreover, in the most repressed countries, women may not be educated and may be forbidden from doing things like driving. Every day, we are responsible for our own thoughts and actions. By being cognizant of this, we can acknowledge and confront the biases in our communities, workplaces, and educational institutions. It’s not enough to merely know bias exists because we all hold several forms of prejudices; it is a natural part of being human. By being willing to call it out every time we witness it or experience it and encouraging others to do so, we can also start to rewire the way we think. This is a universal goal for all genders, races, and humans. Similar to racism, it takes the one traditionally in power to stand up and break the bias. When men recognize inequalities and celebrate women’s noteworthy achievements, that acknowledgment goes a long way in repairing and building a future where women are valued. How Can We Build Today on Female Pioneers in History? Fortunately, we have a long, long list of women who can be our motivators and mentors during Women’s History Month and throughout our lives. No single woman has been the most powerful or most influential in history. Instead, these women built their accomplishments on the women who came before them and extended the ladder to those who came after. Remember, the guiding philosophy here is that we can all make a difference together. If you’re searching for women to rouse and encourage you, here are some examples below from the last few hundred years. You’ll notice many of these brave women overlap with women we’ve proclaimed during Black History Month, and they’ve had to overcome both gender and racial barriers. Harriet Tubman Harriet Tubman was a political activist and abolitionist who fought slavery. She escaped slavery herself and conducted multiple missions to bring others to freedom using the Underground Railroad. Fittingly, Harriet Tubman’s birthday is March 10th. Marie Curie Born in Poland, Marie Curie was a scientist who discovered radium and polonium (chemical elements) and used her discoveries about radioactivity to create an early X-ray machine. She was the first woman to win two Nobel Prizes in different disciplines, for physics and for chemistry, a record that stands today. However, she had to fight gender discrimination throughout her entire career. Maya Angelou Famed poet, writer, and civil activist, Maya Angelou experienced extreme racial prejudice during her life, especially in her childhood. She also survived assault and trauma. Her literary works explored themes of sexual assault, racism, literacy, and discrimination and inspired many other writers. Sojourner Truth Known best for her famous speech “Ain’t I a Woman?” at the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, 1851, Sojourner Truth was separated from her family and sold as an enslaved person at just nine years old. She eventually escaped slavery and became an advocate for women’s rights, prison reform, and racial equality. Malala Yousafzai The youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, Malala Yousafzai grew up in Pakistan. The Taliban took over her village and banned girls from attending school. When Yousafzai spoke out about the importance of education for women, she was shot in the head by an angry gunman. She survived the attack and moved to the UK to study and continue her activism. Emmeline Pankhurst Women’s suffrage wasn’t only a struggle in the United States. Emmeline Pankhurst fought for women’s right to vote in Britain. She founded the Women’s Social and Political Union in 1903, long before women could head to the ballot box. The question is, who will you connect with, and why will their story push you to be braver, bolder or simply more you? Fighting discrimination and forging new, more inclusive paths starts with open dialogue, particularly when demystifying something as intangible as unconscious bias. Tough Convos is here to help you confront bias in all its forms that take away from your company culture, your employee productivity and the morale needed to be innovative and creative. To break the biases at your workplace, nonprofit group, or school, we can help you uncover the hidden reasons that keep you from being inclusive. Call us at 1 (858) 876-8176 to learn more, or reach out online to let us know how we can assist you.

Encourage your leadership to plan a Tough Convo today, and let’s make that change!

Black History Month gives us the opportunity to learn more about Black heroes and the most influential Black people in world history. Recognizing the trials others have overcome that have led us to a brighter future we all benefit from is a key component to better understanding ourselves and others. Black folks are not a monolith and draw from a wide range of cultures and ethnicities that greatly affect their experiences and contributions. Let's discover some unsung Black heroes from across the globe, including unknown Black activists, scientists, ancient leaders, and others who have shaped the world we know today. Table of Contents: Matthew Henson Claudette Colvin Bessie Coleman Mansa Musa James Armistead Lafayette Frederick McKinley Jones Oscar Devereaux Micheaux Wangari Maathai Djamila Ribeiro Matthew Henson © National Geographic Archives We hear a great deal about white explorers but rarely do we learn about the Black people who uncovered and charted new lands. Born in 1866 and orphaned early on, American Matthew Henson challenged the “Adventure Gap” between Black and white outdoorsmen by reaching the North Pole in 1909 with Robert Peary, making the famed explorer’s mission possible. Racial tensions at the time didn’t give Henson the credit he deserved, and the history books left out his contribution to the expedition, making him sadly one of our forgotten African American heroes. Claudette Colvin Most people believe that Rosa Parks was the first African American to refuse to give up her seat in a designated “white” section of public transportation. However, as amazing as Parks’ contribution was, Claudette Colvin actually did the same thing nine months earlier at the remarkable age of 15. Colvin was arrested in Montgomery for her protest against segregation during what was at the time called Negro History Week and was a plaintiff in Browder v. Gayle, which overturned bus segregation laws in Alabama. Bessie Coleman Bessie Coleman became the first Black and Native American woman to earn a pilot’s license in 1921. She had to take flying lessons in France because both her gender and her race kept her out of US aviation schools. Coleman’s legacy, which inspired other brave women and people wanting to break the colour barrier, lived on after her death. She died in an airplane accident in 1926, and her funeral service was performed by Ida B. Wells-Barnett. Mansa Musa © Wikimedia Commons Going back in time, Mansa Musa was the ruler of an enormous African empire from present-day Senegal to Algeria. Also known as Musa I of Mali, Mansa Musa may have been the richest person to have ever lived, and he built sophisticated cities with mosques and universities in the 1300s. After his death in 1337, Mali thrived, even as the Hundred Years’ War saw Europe struggling. James Armistead Lafayette Have you ever wondered who were the seven Black heroes of the American Revolution? One of them was James Armistead, who worked as a double agent, pretending to be a runaway slave, who were often recruited by the British with promises of freedom. His intel was key in the Siege of Yorktown that ended the war, after which he received his freedom, taking the last name of his trusted General, the Marquis de Lafayette. Frederick McKinley Jones We don’t often hear of famous Black inventors, but you probably owe the meal on your table to the work of Frederick McKinley Jones. One of his 60 patents was for a roof-mounted truck cooling system that revolutionized food transportation in the 1930s and 1940s. His business, U.S. Thermo Control Company, which later became Thermo King, also helped preserve blood, food, and supplies during World War II. Oscar Devereaux Micheaux The first African American filmmaker Oscar Devereaux Micheaux was the child of former slaves. He was a pioneer in the film industry, writing, directing, and producing silent films and “talkies,” and he also championed all-Black casts, which was rare in the early 20th century. Micheaux encouraged Black businessmen in Virginia to invest in his films, and when he wasn’t behind the camera, he was busy authoring novels, before heading to New York City to become an integral part of the Harlem Renaissance. Wangari Maathai The first Black woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize, author, scholar, and activist Wangari Maathai was recognized in 2004 for her environmental work in Kenya. She was also the first woman in East and Central Africa to be awarded a doctorate degree. Her Green Belt Movement planted over 51 million trees since 1977 in Kenya, with the help of the National Council of Women in Kenya. Djamila Ribeiro © Walter Craveiro | Disclosure A leader in the Black feminism movement in Brazil today, Djamila Ribeiro works as an academic and activist. Originally from São Paulo, Ribeiro leads discussions about discrimination and racism on television and online. She became São Paulo’s deputy secretary for Human Rights and Citizenship Affairs in 2016, and in 2019, the BBC named her as one of the 100 most inspirational and influential women in the world. The world needs more of these heroes and people ready to start the conversation, like Djamila Ribeiro. This is exactly why Tough Convos is here to help you keep the momentum going. We facilitate discussions, programs and training on a wide variety of diversity, equity and inclusion topics for workplaces like yours. Call us at 858-876-8176, or reach out online to get the discussion going.

When the people building systems that evaluate leadership come from historically narrow leadership cultures Leadership expectations differ dramatically around the world: Culture Leadership Signal North America Leadership behaviours vary in different cultures. Should AI be evaluating leadership potential at all? The future of leadership depends on it.Because if organizations fail to question how AI defines leadership

Image generated by ChatGPT Inclusive leadership starts with recognizing that most workplace culture problems Inclusive leadership begins with an understanding of that. DEI effectiveness in organizations suffers when there is no leadership accountability. Leadership skills in this area directly affect how multicultural and remote teams work. They often stop at knowledge and never reach leadership systems or daily habits.

Decisions, Not Just Attitudes CQ impacts leadership decision-making in global teams. Culturally intelligent leadership becomes visible in everyday choices. High-performing ones build it into leadership development programs and systems. Long-term leadership performance depends on this approach. It’s a leadership strategy hiding in plain sight.

AI in Leadership Development: Our Growth Strategy for Better Client Support Is AI Replacing Leadership That's easier to do with leadership clarity. Can AI improve leadership decision-making? Absolutely. This data-driven approach transforms leadership. For example, we use AI in leadership development to customize training that bridges gaps in your leadership

While these remain core cultural and leadership observances, political and institutional forces seem Do provide authentic support for the Black community through leadership and visibility. Leadership Lessons and Cultural Intelligence Ethical leadership and MLK’s legacy go well beyond commemorative They provide cultural intelligence leadership lessons. The observance of these events is an expression of ethical leadership and cultural awareness .