Deborah May: Speaking from Head to Heart Finding it hard to get executive buy in to cultural reform, diversity and inclusion? Once leaders see and understand, they can act. Bias is frequently subtle and nuanced, but once you ve seen it, you can do something about it. Like an ultraviolet light in a crime scene, Deborah May will shine a light on bias as it exists in the workplace, in the community and in our minds. Deborah is a particularly passionate and insightful speaker. Her honest, reflective perspectives are articulated with clarity and daring as she engages her audience with thought provoking, research-grounded facts, stats and stories that will make you shake your head with disbelief, and move you to action. Engage Deborah to speak at: Executive presentations and briefings to build awareness and insight of gender equity, leadership and cultural reform; Women s conferences and events; Leadership events; and All staff forums. Key Note Speeches: Sample Topics Unconscious bias: What is it? Have I got it? Is it a problem? Stories from the front line: inequity in the spotlight that really happens? The stats: It s not an even playing field why should we care? The nature and impact of bias: case studies, research and stories. Have I got it? Test me! Reflect a little: What might that mean? What do I do now? Simple practices that help ameliorate the impact of bias.
Increasing women in senior leadership positions: Climatic Change Begins but is it Fast Enough? The Business Case: Why the fuss? Rationality is not enough what s going on? Cultural reform: Sounds hard it need not be. Stepping stones to the future. The role of the leader. The role of women. The roll out. Career insights for women 'It s not just the ceiling holding you back, it s the whole structure, foundations, beams and walls!' Unconscious bias it s not personal but it is the most significant barrier to women s career success; The nature and impact of bias: case studies, research and stories. Once we can see it, we can outsmart it: High leverage strategies that work. The 3 Cs: Clarity, Conviction and Confidence. I see it, I want it, but really am I good enough? Pulling it together: Make it happen. The last C courage. Inclusive leadership The Neural Way, and the answer to everything. What s the problem? The news. We re going to hell in a handbasket! What we say vs what we do. The stats and facts. Defending the indefensible: rationality in world populated by humans?! Either / or in an AND world. Rationality is not enough what s going on? The neuroscientists and what they say What to do? Mindfulness as a practice, the research, simple practices. What works? Our inclusion programs and feedback. The value proposition. See, it is the answer to everything.
Deborah May BA/LLB, MBA (HIGHEST HONS) Managing Director and Principal of The May Group Gender Equity and Inclusion Practitioner, Speaker, Advisor and Mentor Fulbright Scholar Honorary Fellow of Institute of Governance and Policy Analysis, University of Canberra Affiliate of Centre for Gender and Organisations, Boston Deborah graduated from the only business school in the world specifically designed for women, Simmons Graduate School of Management, Boston, Massachusetts, USA in 1998. Whilst in Boston (1996 1998), Deborah worked with Ibis Consulting Group, Inc., a leading diversity consulting firm where she specialised in gender and cultural reform. In 1998, she established her consulting practice specialising in gender equity, inclusion and leadership and now with 20 years experience, Deborah is one of Australia s foremost authorities on unconscious bias and its impact on women and other demographic groups in organisations. Her practice is grounded in evidence based research and a thorough understanding of the complex cultural, organisational and gender dynamics that impede women s progress into senior leadership roles and the full and equal contribution of all employees. Speaking engagements: 2015: IMF, Washington DC: Unconscious bias and its impact on women at the Treasury A case study. 2015: ANU, Fenner School of Science Unconscious bias and its impact on women in science. 2015: Leaders Round table, University of Canberra an intimate gathering of 20 senior leaders across private and public sector to discuss Defining Inclusive Leadership. 2014: Speakers Panel for Department of Communications Stereotypes and Bias affecting women s full contribution, participation and progression. 2013: Various presentations to executive leadership teams, conferences and boards on the research paper: Not Yet 50:50. Barriers to the progress of senior women in the Australian Public Service May and December 2013: APS Women s Leadership Summit: Impact of unconscious bias on women s confidence and opportunity. October 2012 Speaker at CPA Congress: Up the Ladder in Heels. November 2012 Speaker Human Rights Law Conference: Are we there yet?
March 2011 Speaker at AHRI Conference. Topic: Coaching to Improve the performance, profile and career prospects of women. May 2011 Speaker at Women s Leadership Symposium May 2011 Key note speaker at Women in Information and Technology Conference November 2010 Speaker at CPA Congress, Adelaide. Topic: Women in Leadership Soar Through The Glass Ceiling November 2010 Speaker Singapore Institute of Management Topic: If Men Don t Listen and Women Aren t Heard, How do I get Noticed by my Boss? February 2006 Key note speaker Women and IT, ACT March 2005 Key note speaker at International Women s Day Forum DEWR August 2005 Key note speaker at Women on Boards Function, ACT 2015: Speakers Panel for YWCA She Leads Women s Leadership Program. October 2004 Speaker at Dept of Finance Women s Network Dinner. May/June 2003 Convenor at "Leading with Innovation and Participation" Conference held by Department of Family and Community Services May 2003 Speaker at Ausport's "Sport Needs More Women" Conference, Sydney February, 2003 - Convenor and presenter at "Leading Diversity Conference" Canberra March 2003 Speaker at Chamber of Women in Business Conference, Canberra. September, 01 Speaker at OSW's National Women Speak Out Conference. Professional training and participation in conferences: September - December 1997, Organisational Development Practicum, Boston, MA February May 1998, Coaching Practice and Theory, Coach University, Boston, MA June 14-18, 1999, The Theory and Practice of Making Adaptive Change, Merelyn Emery, Sydney, Australia July 2-6, 2000, International Coaching and Mentoring Conference, Linkage International, London, UK July 16-19, 2000, The 4Mat System Mastering Training Design (level 1), DGL International, Eltham, Victoria October 18-21, 2000, Women Leading Change, Teleran, Adelaide January 01-15, 2001, Learning Exchange, Simmons Graduate School of Management, Ibis Consulting Inc. and Institute of Women s Leadership, Mercer International, Boston, Redwood City, USA
July, 2002 Attendance at Macquarie University's Women in Management Conference October 2004 Attended Senior Executive Women and Workplace Cultures Conference, Sydney May Oct 2005 Institute of Executive Coaching, Transformational Coaching Practices July 2006 Rosabeth Moss Kantor seminar February 2007 Global Leadership Conference, Sydney April 2007 Positive Psychology Seminar September 2007 AIM High Management Conference, Sydney March 2009 Building a sustainable and high performance organization in challenging times May 2009 Accreditation in Use of Values Barrett Centre Cultural Transformational Tools August 2011 - Transpersonal: Advanced Coaching and Facilitation Training with Sir John Whitmore and Institute of Human Excellence Affiliations and Memberships Australian Institute of Management (FAIM), membership since 1999 Australian Fulbright Alumni Association (ACT Chair 2007 2010) International Coaching Federation (1999 2004) Affiliate of Centre for Gender and Organisations (2015) Awards: Telstra Business Woman of the Year, ACT finalist (2012) Australia New Zealand School of Government Award and Honorary Fellowship for excellence and contribution to the Public Sector and Research into Unconscious Bias (2012) Papers and Articles: Joint author to research paper published by ANZSOG Institute of Governance: Not Yet 50:50. Barriers to the progress of senior women in the Australian Public Service Cultural audits as a means of uncovering unconscious bias and other barriers to diversity Governance Directions, March 2014