It's no secret that the publishing industry has a vertical segregation problem – lots of women at the bottom, very few at the top; more BIPOC and nonbinary folks at the bottom, even fewer at the top. Though addressing systemic and institutional inequalities requires much more than actions taken by those from marginalized communities, we still have great power as individuals. Imagine if you could: -bring more of your authentic self to your work; -gain the skills and confidence to rise to the top of the publishing industry; and, -feel empowered in your career and grow as a leader. This workshop is for anyone who identifies as a woman, BIPOC, a nonbinary person, or LGBTQQIP2SAA and wants actionable, high-impact tools and strategies to empower themselves in their day-to-day — and in their overall career trajectory. In this highly-practical workshop, you will: -identify the main ways in which you feel disempowered and held back in your organization or career; -learn key tools and strategies to tackle those obstacles; and, -craft an individualized accountability plan for making positive change in your career. techforum.booknetcanada.ca #TechForum

1. Be Seen, Be Heard
CYNTHIA PONG, JD
Feminist Career Strategist
Embrace Change
A workshop to help you reclaim power in your career

2. Photo by Anh Nguyen on Unsplash.

3. Your ideas, perspective, and lived
experience deserve to be included at
every decision-making level in
publishing.

4. Authors
Stories
Points of View
Representation Matters

5. Tools and strategies to help you
increase your visibility and impact
1
2
3
Objectives
Your skills and accomplishments
Your desired impact

6. What you bring
to the table

7. 1. Keep a Running List
of Accomplishments

8. Let's hear some!
1. Keep a Running List
of Accomplishments

9. 1. Keep a Running List
of Accomplishments
2. Display your diplomas

10. When you are already the elephant in the room,
you want to do as much as you can to draw
attention away from yourself, even if that
means not highlighting your accomplishments.
–– Paloma Beamer, PhD

11. Professional, successful women—and particularly
women of color—have the responsibility to be more
vocal about our accomplishments so that girls
feel empowered to become the thought-makers
and scientists of tomorrow.
–– Paloma Beamer, PhD

12. Your desired
impact

13. What do I want my legacy to be?1.
Self Reflection

14. 2. What impact do I want to have in the
publishing industry? What changes do I
want to see? What role do I want to
play in making those changes a reality?
Self Reflection

15. 3. What do I need to do in the next 3
months to make those things happen?
Self Reflection

16. How was that for you?

17. Tools +
Strategies

18. 1
2
3
Strategies
Speak up more in meetings

19. A
Speak up in the first 10 minutes.

20. Excuse me...
I'd like to jump in...
If I may...
I'd like to add...
Make room for yourself:
Try not to interject with an apology – unless it's strategic.
Ways to interject 1/4

21. Before we move on...
Before we leave this topic...
On that note...
Speaking of...
To seize the moment or pause the agenda:
Try not to interject with an apology – unless it's strategic.
Ways to interject 2/4

22. Clear your throat
Raise your hand
Sit up straighter
Use non-verbals:
Try not to interject with an apology – unless it's strategic.
Ways to interject 3/4

23. I agree because...
This may pose a problem...
What do you mean by that?
How about...?
Cut right to the chase!
Try not to interject with an apology – unless it's strategic.
Ways to interject 4/4

24. A
Speak up in the first 10 minutes.
B
Pre-meet and amplify each other.

25. Photo by Benjamín Hazael Rojas García on Unsplash.

26. Cynthia: Thanks for pre-meeting with me. Here's
what I want to talk about during the meeting:
We need more ice cream. Can you back me up on this
at the meeting?
You: Yes! But how?
[Go through explanation of how to amplify.]
Role Play

27. [At the meeting]
Cynthia: What we're ignoring here is that we
need more ice cream.
You: Like Cynthia said before, we need more ice
cream. Not only that, but we need more toppings to go
with the ice cream.
[Later on in the meeting]
Cynthia: Exactly, as __________ said, we need more toppings in
addition to ice cream and, ideally, we'd have waffles cones as well.

28. 1
2
3
Strategies
Speak up more in meetings
Strengthen your leadership skills

29. A
Find ways to demonstrate your leadership

30. Demonstrate your leadership
Within your organization
Within your industry
Online / in the world
1.
2.
3.

31. Demonstrate your leadership
Get involved in initiatives
Start initiatives
Write and speak (thought leadership)
1.
2.
3.

32. Write down 3 things that you can
do to strengthen your reputation
as a leader.

33. A
B
Build your own support network
Find ways to demonstrate your leadership

34. Identify Allies, Mentors,
Sponsors, and Champions
Within your organization
Within your industry
Online / in the world*
1.
2.
3.
*Going outside of publishing can help you access higher levels within publishing.

35. Make yourself visible to
Sponsors and Champions
Get involved in initiatives
Start initiatives
Write and speak (thought leadership)
Convert existing Mentors
1.
2.
3.
4.

36. 1
2
3
Strategies
Speak up more in meetings
Strengthen your leadership skills
Sharpen your communication skills

37. Sharpen your
communication skills
Deep listening
Non-verbal communication skills
Negotiation techniques
Practice in your everyday with family, roommates, friends – in-person or virtually / remotely.
Suggested reading: Never Split the Difference; Race Matters for Women Leaders.

38. Questions?

39. IMAGINE

40. Write down what
you just saw

41. Staying
Accountable!

42. Staying
Accountable!
1. What's one action you will take this week.
2. Think of an accountability buddy.
3. Text them:
Hi _______, I hope you’re doing ok today, I want
to ask you a favor. I’m in this workshop right now
and the facilitator is making me text you. Can you
check in with me in one week on April 29th, to
make sure I’ve done X? Thank you!

43. Visit embracechange.nyc
career coaching for women of color
free resources including COVID-19 Career Guides
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latest updates
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/in/embracechangeNYC
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