Black women face barriers throughout their lives, including in the workplace.

Organisations play a vital role in the professional development of their members, yet the underrepresentation of Black professional women development, especially in positions of senior management, is rife.

Located at the intersection of multiple social structures, Black professional women often find themselves in a shifting game of assimilation, conformity and negotiation of stereotypes in the workplace.

At their core, organisational diversity and inclusion efforts must actively work to understand, acknowledge and support employee identity in the workplace.

‘Safe spaces’, where employees feel safe and supported to raise issues and share their experiences, are vital if organisations are to truly address racial tensions in the workplace; better support Black female colleagues & staff and drive gender and race equality in the workplace.

Join us for an interactive workshop on how your organisation can build a ‘safe space’ for employees to confidently raise issues and share their experiences, better support the development of Black female colleagues and address racial tensions in the workplace.

Join here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84100499611

Speakers

You’ll have the chance to hear from, speak, and share with:

Francisca Alvarez-Figueroa and Fernanda Teixeira (The University of Manchester), Co-authors of an imminent research report “Breaking the Glass: Understanding the barriers faced by Black Professional Women in career progression” - A comprehensive examination of the hurdles that stifle Black Professional Women in the workplace, with realistic and practical recommendations for organisations, employers and staff.

Sharon Amesu, Director of She Leads for Legacy, a community of Black Female Professionals working in partnership with a range of organisations to accelerate established and aspiring Black female leaders into Senior Leadership positions.

Dr Jenny K Rodriguez, Senior Lecturer in Employment Studies, Chair of the Equality and Diversity Committee at Alliance Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester & founding member of Decolonizing Alliance.

Dr Isabel Tavora, Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management, Work and Equalities Institute, The University of Manchester, with expertise in how institutions can support female employment and advance gender equality in different countries.

Prof Julia Rouse, Lead of the Employment Working Group for GM4Women, Vice-Chair for Partnerships in the Gender and Enterprise Network, a Special Interest Group of the Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Julia is also Former head of the Sylvia Pankhurst Gender Research Centre and a Member of the Women's Budget Group & Women and Enterprise Advisory Policy Group.

Ashanti Bentil-Dhue , An experienced events entrepreneur, diversity expert, researcher and speaker. Ashanti heads up the team at EventMind. She’s also a co-founder of the global network, Black In Events and Diversity Ally, a consultancy which helps the events industry become more diverse in its culture, image and people.

Further info:

This workshop builds on the findings & recommendations of a research partnership facilitated by the Collaboration Labs Programme at The University of Manchester, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.

Led in partnership with She Leads for Legacy, Work and Equalities Institute & Collaboration Labs at The University of Manchester.

ESRC Festival of Social Science 2021

This event is part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2021 and was made possible thanks to funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

2021 will be the 19th Festival of Social Science. There will be a mix of virtual and face-to-face events, held across the UK, which will allow everyone to take part in and hear about social science research at the festival's many engaging events. For more information please visit: https://festivalofsocialscience.com/.