Women's History Month 

Research shows that more than 42% of women experience gender discrimination at work, which leads to burnout, retention, and lower performance. This is while teams, where men and women are equal, earn 41% more revenue. To address these issues, StoryBolt will be hosting a program on Gender Bias. This program is designed to be a vehicle on the journey to recognizing, addressing, and mitigating gender biases, personally and professionally. In each session, a hand-picked facilitator will use empathy and honesty to lead participants through a Film Screening and Q&A with the filmmaker.

After this journey, participants are able to:

  • Identify gender discrimination and microaggression
  • Gain the right language to start a conversation about gender disparity and advocate for equity
  • Be an ally to their womxn identified peers

Session 1: Gender Biases and Microaggression

This foundational session helps to understand what macro and microaggressions women experience on a regular basis to enable discussions around how we can be better allies to women, especially in the workplace.

My Whole Self Poster 3x4

Format: Film Screening + Q&A
Session Duration: 75 minutes
Film: My Whole Self
Filmmaker: Barbara J. Diamond

Sample Session Objectives:

  • Identifying and confronting microaggression as witnesses, subjects, or targets

Sample Discussion Questions:

  • How can we be more aware of what kind of actions/behaviors/attitudes feed into microaggressions?
  • How can we change our attitude towards women and stop "assuming"?

 

Session 2: Women in Leadership

This inspirational session follows women entrepreneurs' stories, their success, barriers, and makeovers to enable discussion around privileges, allyship, and gender stereotypes in leadership roles and learn best leadership practices from extraordinary role models.

Dream, Girl Poster 3x4

Format: Film Screening + Q&A
Session Duration: 100 minutes
Film: Dream, Girl
Filmmaker: Erin Bagwell

Sample Session Objectives:

  • Gaining the right language and mental models to challenge the current gender inequity and stereotypes.

Sample Discussion Questions:

  • How can each individual play their role in society to increase public exposure to women leaders and entrepreneurs?
  • How do stigmas and stereotypes create barriers? How can we challenge them?

 

Session 3: Advocacy and Allyship

This activation session shows efforts of advocacy and allyship to reach equity. Hear stories from women scientists about their experiences of gender discrimination and start a conversation about systemic gender bias and ways to combat it.

Picture a Scientist Poster 3x4

Format: Film Screening + Q&A
Session Duration: 100 minutes
Film: Picture a Scientist
Filmmaker: Ian Cheney, Sharon Shattuck

Sample Session Objectives:

  • Gaining the ability and knowledge on how to practice allyship in the workplace.

Sample Discussion Questions:

  • What does the systematic change mean and/or look like?
  • What is the impact of code-switching and how can we reduce it?

Potential Program Facilitator:

Gillian Burt 450x450 px
Laraine McKinnon 450x450 px

Gillian Burt (she/her) is a versatile leader with 7+ years of progressive experience designing and facilitating social impact programs in the charitable and education sectors. As a naturally skilled facilitator and builder of bridges, Gillian is passionate about creating inclusive spaces for connection, learning, and growth. Highlighted pandemic facilitation experiences include a 2-day interactive, remote graduation ceremony for a college class in Sweden ("the best graduation ever"), and a weekly balcony dance party in her neighbourhood during the first wave. A fun fact - Gillian once filmed a documentary across three continents with no experience and without owning a camera.

Laraine McKinnon (she/her) is a thought leader who blends behavioral science, big data, and practical implementation to improve diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. As a talent and culture strategist at CultureTech firm Emtrain, she identifies key insights to help organizations increase inclusion and respect. Laraine also runs the strategic consulting firm LMC17. She leads the women’s leadership non-profit The CLUB Silicon Valley and their diverse talent advocacy program. Laraine was previously a managing director at BlackRock. She holds a BA in political science and women's studies from Wellesley College. Laraine was named a “Woman of Influence” in Silicon Valley in 2018.