What Can We Do to #BreakTheBias About Women in the Workplace (and Society) Once and For All?
There are many reasons why gender biases still exist today, and we need to understand and address all of them, explain Emily Cates and Rich Thompson in today’s Your Edge Podcast episode. However, that’s only possible if women and men work together as change agents.
That’s why Emily and Rich co-chair Zebra’s Women’s Inclusion Network. They are striving for true equality and inclusion in the workplace, and that starts by inviting men to participate in conversations about women’s issues so they can become aware of biases and learn how to adapt behaviors or better advocate for women.
In our 25-minute sit down for International Women’s Day, Rich explains what he has experienced since joining WIN and subsequently taking a leadership role. He and Emily also provide interesting perspectives on:
- [3:15] why it’s a gender stereotype to say that a man shouldn’t be at the helm of a women’s organization.
- [5:31] the gender biases that still need to be broken in society, the tech industry and the workplace (including stereotyping of men’s “place”).
- [11:25] how well organizations are doing at eliminating discrimination against women in the workplace.
- [16:55] the most effective ways to breakdown misperceptions and breakthrough long-held belief systems to help create more awareness of behaviors that may be contributing to gender inequality issues.
- [19:30] what we can do to permanently erase defined gender roles at a societal level so that women feel more comfortable going into STEM fields.
- [21:21] what Zebra is doing well right now to #BreakTheBias and create a more inclusive and equitable culture for women within our organization.
- [24:12] the one thing every individual can do in their daily lives to #BreakTheBias.
- [24:50] the one thing we can stop doing that would further progress us toward a gender equal world.
What Can We Do to #BreakTheBias About Women in the Workplace (and Society) Once and For All?
You may also be interested in these discussions:
- We #ChooseToChallenge Men Be Better Advocates for Women in the Workplace
- Meet Our Women Leaders | Emily Cates: Stevie Award Winner, Business Transformationalist, and Champion of Inclusion and Diversity
- #ThrowbackThursday HERstory: Meet the Women Behind Zebras First Inclusion Network
- Womens HERStory Month Series: I Was a Tech Lawyer Before Being a Tech Lawyer Was Cool
- Womens HERStory Month Series: We are Gaining Steam in STEM Fields, But There’s Still a Long Way to Go
- Meet Our Women Leaders | Becky Brookes: Loyal Zebra, Fierce Animal Lover, Trusted Channel Leader and Champion for Women in Tech
- What it Means to Be a Woman in Latin America: How Society Has Been Constructed Around Gender
Therese Van Ryne
Therese Van Ryne is Senior Director of External Communications for Zebra Technologies. She joined Zebra as part of the acquisition of Motorola Solutions Enterprise business in October 2014. She and her team are laser focused on growing the company’s brand awareness globally aligned with business objectives. Her accomplishments include leading Zebra events with Harvard University and TED as well as the creation of the annual Intelligent Enterprise Index, resulting in positive media coverage, customer engagement and revenue growth.
Prior to Motorola Solutions, Van Ryne worked at SC Johnson where she led corporate communication strategies and drove PR and branding efforts for leading consumer products. One of her top achievements was leading the Windex® placement in the film, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” resulting in a 25% sales increase for the brand.
One of PR News’ 2019 Top Women in PR and Crain's Chicago's 2021 Most Notable Executives in Marketing, Therese also has experience as a journalist, editor and producer, reporting nightly from Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Van Ryne holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Journalism from Marquette University and an Executive Leadership Master’s Certificate from Cornell University.
