2. Overview
Goals of 2016 WiSE Leadership Conference
Conference Format
Quantitative Assessment
Overall assessment
Assessment by session
Qualitative Assessment
Overall assessment
Assessment by session
Conclusions
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3. 2016 WiSE Leadership Conference Goals
1. Increase identification of and confidence in leadership abilities
2. Increase willingness to take risks (and fail)
3. Increase awareness of impostor syndrome and stereotype threat
4. Increase awareness of micromessaging, microinequities, and
microaggressions
5. Increase desire to be authentic and increase appreciation of authenticity
6. Maintain or increase enthusiasm for major of study
7. Increase confidence in networking abilities
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4. Conference Format
Inspired by Reshma Saujani’s book,
Women Who Don’t Wait In Line:
Break the Mold, Lead the Way
Students attended the Keynote
Address and four additional sessions
Chose between two sets of
breakout sessions
One geared toward first-year and
sophomore students
One geared toward junior and
senior students
Students interacted with other STEM
students and professionals
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5. Leadership Conference Sessions
Conference Schedule
Keynote Address: Elizabeth Bierman
Session 1: Dr. April Hill
Session 2: Morning Breakout Sessions
Session 2a: Dr. Kelly Winfrey
Session 2b: WiSE Transitions Learning Community Peer
Mentors
Session 3: Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Session 3a: Rockwell Collins
Session 3b: Professionals Panel
Session 4: Change Agents
Conference Goals
Identification of and confidence in leadership abilities
Increase willingness to take risks (and fail)
Awareness of impostor syndrome and stereotype
threat
Awareness of micromessaging, microinequities, and
microaggressions
Desire to be authentic
Maintain or increase enthusiasm for major of study
Confidence in networking abilities
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6. Quantitative Assessment:
Pretest and Posttest
Goal 1
1. I can identify my leadership skills.
2. I am confident in my leadership abilities.
3. I understand how to utilize leadership skills.
Goal 2
1. I am willing to take risks and fail.
Goal 3
1. Perfectionism has a negative impact on my academic and
professional success.
2. Sometimes I feel like I'm not qualified to be in a STEM major.
3. Sometimes I'm afraid others will discover how much knowledge or
ability I really lack.
Goal 4
1. I understand the concepts of micromessaging, microinequities, and
microaggressions.
2. I can identify subtle messages I have received that have negatively
affected my personal and/or academic confidence.
Goal 5
1. I feel comfortable being myself in the classroom/workplace.
2. I appreciate the benefits of a diverse classroom/workplace.
Goal 6
1. I am enthusiastic about my major.
2. I have lost enthusiasm for my major.
Goal 7
1. I can connect personally and professionally with my peers.
2. I have confidence in networking with professionals.
3. I can identify 3-5 people to provide me with personal and
professional guidance and advice.
4. I understand the importance of thanking those who support my
personal, academic, and professional career.
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8. Quantitative Assessment:
Pretest and Posttest Differences
Goal 1
1. I can identify my leadership skills.
2. I am confident in my leadership abilities.
3. I understand how to utilize leadership skills.
Goal 2
1. I am willing to take risks and fail.
Goal 3
1. Perfectionism has a negative impact on my academic and
professional success.
2. Sometimes I feel like I'm not qualified to be in a STEM major.
3. Sometimes I'm afraid others will discover how much knowledge or
ability I really lack.
Goal 4
1. I understand the concepts of micromessaging, microinequities, and
microaggressions.
2. I can identify subtle messages I have received that have negatively
affected my personal and/or academic confidence.
Goal 5
1. I feel comfortable being myself in the classroom/workplace.
2. I appreciate the benefits of a diverse classroom/workplace.
Goal 6
1. I am enthusiastic about my major.
2. I have lost enthusiasm for my major.
Goal 7
1. I can connect personally and professionally with my peers.
2. I have confidence in networking with professionals.
3. I can identify 3-5 people to provide me with personal and
professional guidance and advice.
4. I understand the importance of thanking those who support my
personal, academic, and professional career.
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10. Qualitative Assessment: Overall
What was the most fun or
enjoyable part of the day?
Just realizing what an amazing community I've
had at my fingertips for years and really embrace
for the time I have left at ISU. Today will be a day I
will remember forever. WiSE turns 30, and
meanwhile I start the rest of my life with nothing
but excitement.
Reconnecting with old WISE friends and getting to
meet new ones! Our table really bonded and
had a variety of experiences to share which were
great to learn from.
Listening to the first two presenters [Elizabeth
Bierman and Dr. April Hill]
Opportunity to network with the professionals.
What was the most beneficial
part of the day?
Being inspired and learning tools that will help
me succeed.
Finding out that I am not the only one who
feels like they "aren't good enough" and
struggle with my own self-doubts
Heard different perspectives
Hearing that literally everyone else has failed
like me at some point and it always works out
in the end when you keep trying.
I realized it’s okay to not know what I want to
do. I often feel like I am in the wrong major
and after the retreat, I no longer felt like that.
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11. Qualitative Assessment: Overall
What was the most
challenging part of the day?
Choosing a table. Because I knew that I could
have different chance to meet different people
according to the seats.
Sharing my failures with a group.
Having to acknowledge that I can fail and it is
okay
Imposter Syndrome was the most challenging
because I did not realize that I react that way in
situations.
Getting the courage to ask the professionals a
question or talking in front of the group during a
session.
Perhaps coming to terms with the reality that this
journey will not be easy and less because we are
women. But it can be done and we will succeed.
What changes, if any, would
you make?
I wouldn't change a thing!!! This conference was
awesome!!! It has helped me overcome some
great difficulties I have had as a STEM major.
I would have more of those chocolate cupcakes.
They were heaven.
Encourage the quieter people to talk more during
sessions - I feel like we missed good opinions
because they didn't speak up as much.
Maybe a mixer type of session, I know I could
have easily changed seats and sat with a
different table for discussion, but making it
somehow an activity in which you don't sit and
talk but get moving!
I wanted to go to every break out session. It was
hard to choose because I'm sure I would have
benefited from all four
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12. A word(le) to the WiSE
Session 1: Fail Fast, Fail First, Fail Hard
Dr. April Hill, MSU, Denver, CO
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13. Qualitative Assessment:
Morning Breakout Sessions
Session 2a: Impostor Syndrome and
Stereotype Threat
It was liberating to know that I wasn't alone in feeling
afraid to "be found out." Identifying the problem is the
first step that has helped me address my insecurities. I
liked that we discussed ways to overcome Imposter
Syndrome, such as celebrating small victories and
taking pride and credit in our work.
I am still not really sure how to deal with this feeling of
inadequacy, though it was nice to talk with my peers
about barriers.
It was very enlightening and I will be able to recognize
when I feel like an imposter and how to deal with it.
Session 2b: Micromessages,
Microaggressions, and Microinequities
Great stories and explanations on their
importance and value and how we could learn
from their experience
I really would have liked to talk about the "don't
like you" idea to start with or as part of a group.
The conversation that I had with my group of
women was one of the best I've ever had. These
ladies get it. The problems we all face made us
connect and really discuss how to solve some of
these issues being a minority in our field and in
society as a whole.
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14. Qualitative Assessment:
Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Session 3a: Be Authentic
Especially appreciated their comments on
being authentic in not feeling like you need
to fit a mold, but being confident in yourself
and the skills and talents that you bring to
the table.
I felt like it was more of just people asking
questions about various things than really
about being authentic.
I enjoyed how they started the presentation
but let us ask any questions we had.
Rockwell ROCKS!
Session 3b: Maintaining Enthusiasm
Hearing about what this panel of women had to
overcome was just what I needed at this time in my
life. I hadn't had the greatest 2015 fall semester and
finding out that I'm not the only one who has so
many struggles with a STEM major was just the push I
needed to change my viewpoint and make 2016
one of my best years yet.
Great speakers, maybe would have made it 50/50
with industry members and academic individuals
The presenters were awesome, and it was great to
almost get your questions answered one on
one. The presenters really had some great
advice, even if it was just life advice, that I
think resonated with a lot of people.
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15. Qualitative Assessment:
Closing Session – Board of Directors
Dr. Diane was awesome. She gave us examples from her own life, both as a mentor and a mentee. She told us
about how her first "mentor" from when she was an undergrad nominated her for an educator award. She really
explained to us how important it is to make connections with everyone. The freshmen at my table, including myself,
were given great advice on how to find our mentors. The upperclassmen told us how they found their mentors and
how their mentors have helped them in finding opportunities. It was so enlightening to see how easy it is to make
connections with others.
I really enjoyed the fact that we had a woman come to our table to be an advisor to us and give us advice. Also
the idea of the thank you cards was a nice touch.
It was very eye opening and helps you think back on the people who have helped and are still helping you
LOVE THIS IDEA.
One of the presenters mentioned having someone in your panel that challenges you and thinks differently which I
think was a great and insightful idea. It is not easy to accept criticism or being told you are wrong but it is
something we need to learn to be okay with!
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16. Conclusions
After attending the 2016 WiSE Leadership Conference,
attendees…
…increased their confidence in and application of leadership skills
…were more willing to take risks and fail
…described less fear that others would discover they are “impostors”
…increased their understanding of micromessaging and its impact
…reported greater enthusiasm for their major
…increased their confidence in networking with professionals
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