Abstract
My project focuses on how women in leadership are impacted by unconscious bias and what can be done to reduce the negative effects. This topic is important to me as a women determined to be leader and as the mother of two young women. My hope is to help women understand their natural leadership skills and help organizations understand the value in having women hold leadership positions. I found that women have many natural traits that are congruent with effective leadership. Unfortunately, many companies are hiring women in leadership positions for the purpose of being diverse without valuing the influences women can have on the organization. Instead, organizations are clinging to the culture that was created before women entered the workforce in high numbers. It will take women and organizations working together to take steps toward recognizing and challenging unconscious bias to create a work culture that values women’s vision.
