The gender bias against men....

Tomorrow I have the honor of being a keynote and panelist for Women's Day at Accor Hotel Brand and SPJain Business School. In typical me style, I am going to flip everything upside down and inside out and wanted your feedback so tell me what you think. Below is the theme of my talk.........

Now, wait before you get all bent out of shape....;-)

Gender” bias is very rarely bias against women. In the world of work, there is a bias for masculine ways of thinking, acting and leading and a bias against feminine counterparts in style or approach. Do you have any clue how many times I have grown CEOS whom I have called "Lovely Human" think I am flirting with them and get offended when they realize I call everyone "Lovely Human!"

Many women sadly have to adopt a masculine style in order to “fit in” and succeed.But what if men feel a similar pressure to be “masculine” for fear of being too “feminine” and as a result not be seen as a leader. The result is what we have in the workplace ....a “doubling down” on the masculine nature of the workplace; it becomes more masculine, not more balanced.

So in wishing you all HAPPY WOMEN'S DAY.... I want you all to remember it is us women as primary caregivers who shape the gender conversation from the time the men in the workforce are boys. What we see, experience and complain about men in the workplace is often just an outcome of our input as mothers, wives, daughters, etc.

So let's step up this women's day as the more empowered gender which we are and empower our men to bloom fully and not within the confines of the roles and boundaries we have set up for them as a society.