Date/Time
Date(s) - 29/04/2025 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Audience:
CYGNA North/NARTI Online Event: Your Voice Matters!
Tuesday 29th April 2025
10.00-11.30 BST
Online via Zoom
Join us for a fantastic online event organised through CYGNA North and the Northern Advanced Research Training Initiative (NARTI). Our in-person event that took place on the 24th January in Leeds was disrupted by the storm, and many participants could not make it on the day. We are offering this shorter online version to all so if you joined us in January, you are still welcome to register!
Summary:
Standing up and speaking up can be challenging for many people but can be even tricker for some groups of people, e.g., women. Research by Karpowitz et al. (2012) show that in meetings on average women spoke significantly less than men. Not speaking up can hold back one’s career as it affects their visibility in the workplace. Although the number of female academics has grown in recent years across different disciplines, men still outnumber women in leadership positions. Even for those female leaders, it is a sadly familiar story of them being interrupted, talked over or ignored.
Programme:
10.00-10.05 Welcome and introductions (Professor Annie Wei)
10.05-10.30 Group discussions
Confidently communicating our vision and viewpoints and discussing experiences, achievements, and strengths can bolster our presence and credibility. During this session, participants will engage in an interactive discussion to explore the following questions: 1) how to find your authentic voice and deliver your vision to inspire others and make authoritative contributions to the discussion? 2) how to comfortably talk about your experience, accomplishment and strength? 3) how to overcome imposter syndrome?
10.30-11.30 Panel discussion and Q&A: How to make your authentic voice heard?
Panellists: Penelope Dick (Sheffield), Caroline Elliott (Warwick), and Sangeeta Khorana (Aston); Lilac Nachum (Leeds) and Lilian Otaye-Ebede (Liverpool)
This session explores finding and expressing your authentic voice. Panelists will share their perspectives on identifying unique viewpoint and style, both personally and professionally. They will delve into common internal barriers like self-doubt, fear of judgment, and imposter syndrome, as well as external challenges such as societal expectations, cultural pressures, and institutional constraints. Specifically, the session will address the unique challenges of finding and using your authentic voice. Practical strategies and tips will be shared for overcoming these obstacles, including building confidence, staying true to your values, and navigating difficult situations. The panelists will offer actionable insights and encouragement for those on this journey.
Furthermore, the session will explore how effectively communicating your vision, viewpoints, experiences, achievements, and strengths can bolster presence and credibility. Panelists will discuss how to highlight distinct skills and values, reflect on accomplishments, and the crucial role of self-awareness and self-assessment in this process. Finally, they will provide strategies for building self-confidence and combating self-doubt, shifting the mindset towards self-assurance.
11.30 Final words and close
Speaker Profiles:
Penny Dick is Professor of Organizational Psychology at Sheffield University Management School. Penny’s work can be broadly categorized as critical management and she is particularly interested in understanding the relationship between individuals and their social and institutional environments. Much of her work takes its inspiration from Michel Foucault and is thus focused on the role of power, embedded in taken-for-granted ideas and practices, in maintaining or challenging a status quo that advantages some groups relative to others. She has published in such journals as Human Relations, Organization Studies and Journal of Organizational Behavior. She was a Senior Associate Editor at the Journal of Management Studies from 2013-2018; Associate Editor at Organization Theory (2018-2022) and is currently Co-Editor in Chief at Human Relations.
Caroline Elliott is a teaching focused Professor in the Economics Department at the University of Warwick. Caroline is the Academic Director of the Social Sciences Connect Programme at the University of Warwick. This programme includes the development of new undergraduate and postgraduate programmes; the development of a global policy institute; a large capital project and developing further links with external regional, national and international organisations. She is an applied industrial economist with research in this area, as well as in the economics pedagogy field. Caroline is a member of the Government Regulatory Policy Committee, and Deputy Director of the Economics Network. She has a PhD from the University of Manchester, and is a PFHEA. Caroline has previously worked at the universities of Manchester, Lancaster, Huddersfield and Aston.
Sangeeta Khorana is Professor and Endowed Chair of International Trade Policy at Aston Business School in the UK. She also holds the position of a Trustee Director on various profit and not-for-profit organisation boards within the UK, USA and India. She has an extensive career encompassing academia, government, and management consulting. Her career also includes roles as a civil servant in the Indian government and a secondment with United Kingdom’s Department for Business and Trade to support the government on trade negotiations. As a leading researcher, Professor Khorana advises governments on trade negotiations and actively contributes her insights to various UK government committees. Her extensive academic portfolio encompasses a multitude of publications, including books, book chapters, and 70 journal articles on trade policy issues. She has a PhD from the University of St. Gallen, a summa cum laude Masters’ degree in trade law and economics from Switzerland, and MA (Honours) in Economics from India. She is full Member of the Chartered Institute of Export (MCIEx) and Senior Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy.
Lilac Nachum is a leading scholar in international business and global strategy at Leeds University Business School, University of Leeds. Her research explores globalization and strategic management in a global world, with work published in top journals such as Strategic Management Journal, Management Science, Academy of Management Journal and the Journal of International Business Studies. She has advised organizations like UNCTAD, UNIDO, the European Union, London’s Westminster City Council, the Governments of Turkey and the UAE, the US Department of Commerce. She serves as associate editor of major journals and is a recipient of multiple research and teaching awards.
Lilian Otaye-Ebede is a Professor in Human Resource Management & Organisational Behaviour at the University of Liverpool (UoL). Her research focuses on diversity management (race/ethnicity, gender, neurodiversity) developing inclusive practices, strategic HRM, work/life interface and employee well-being, and has been published in multiple, high ranking journals (e.g. Journal of Management Studies, Journal of Organizational Behaviour, Journal of Management etc.), and funded by institutions such as British Academy/Leverhulme, ESRC, and the CIPD. She is an Associate Editor of Personnel Review Journal, and seats on several journal editorial boards. Lilian is a Representative-at-large of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion division of the Academy of Management and is on the Board of Directors for the Open Eye Gallery UK, advising on HR & race equality. Alongside her academic research, she works closely with practitioners in the UK to facilitate the development of more inclusive practices for racially minoritised employees. Some of her previous work has been with the NHS England WRES Team; and the North West Business Leadership Team.
If you are able to commit to attending this event, please register using the ‘REGISTER HERE’ link at the top of this email.
With best wishes
Jo and Annie