WIL Talk (Women in Leadership Talk)

Are you curious about the truth or myth in the differences between male and female brains? We had the opportunity to speak with Professor Gina Rippon Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Neuroimaging at the Aston Brain Centre, Aston University. She is the past President of the British Association of Cognitive Neuroscience, and her research involves state-of-the-art brain imaging techniques to investigate developmental disorders such as autism especially regarding unrecognized females on the autistic spectrum. Her research also involves the use of neuroscience techniques to explore social processes, particularly those associated with sex/gender issues. She is a passionate supporter of initiatives to address the underrepresentation of women in all spheres of influence, especially science, and advocates an understanding of ‘the neuroscience of belonging’ as a framework to address the gender gaps. She is the author of “ Gender and Our Brain”.

During our conversation, we discuss the myths associated with brain differences or the lack of them and how 18th-century beliefs have continued to the present day with little progress in shifting the thinking around our brains. It was positioned for men to be seen as superior and women inferior. We still see in today’s world that most CEOs are men and that fewer women are representatives in positions of power. She clarifies that there is overlap in research data to point to the minimal differences in male and female brains but our environment plays a significant role in how our brains are developed. Whether that be starting as young as a newborn baby and how we condition the baby to engage with society. She cautions us to pay attention to our definitions and language as we speak about even things like the gender pay gap which are sex gaps. How boys are taught to be brave, and girls are taught to be perfect, these beliefs carry forward into how our lives are shaped and even in more progressive countries where there is still a little impact in more women working in the sciences, mathematics, technology, etc.

And finally, the elephant in the room is around AI, and how that will impact our society going forward. Without having more women and diversity engaging in the setup, design, input, and sharing of their personal experiences – we are in for a bigger challenge that will set us back even further. Let us know your thoughts on this conversation.

If you want to learn more about how you show up as a leader, take our free leadership quiz at www.wilempowered.com

#neuroscience #brainandgender #Genderandourbrains #wilempowered #womenleaders #ginarippon

What are the learnings young people need to understand when they are ready to hit the job market? And what is your money story? Lynn Herrick, COO of Bluecrest joins us again on the WIL Talk podcast to dive into these very important topics. Lynn previously joined us for episode #109 and today we are back to take a deeper into these topics. Lynn by trade is an international lawyer and has been able to use her skills in many different industries and today she is on the mission to find a business to take over and turn it around. Her experiences are incredible and her passion for sharing how to support our younger generations is priceless.

Kids need role models and to know they can be whatever they choose. Today we have endless possibilities but there are some foundational skills they must require to better navigate the real world. In our discussion, we discuss energy and what you are putting out – does it match what you want in life? You must pay attention and change it if it’s not going the way you want. We raise our kids to believe that if they get good grades, they will be fine and that is not reality. Once you enter the working world they must be prepared. Having a customer service mindset is helpful and what she means by that is going above and beyond, it’s not a check off the list, it is immersing yourself into the work and learning, asking for opportunities, having a great attitude and just doing it. Saying “yes” is super important and the willingness to try things.

She recommends preparing a 3-5-10 minute elevator pitch with a mindset of “I AM”. She shares some amazing examples of shifting failure to opportunity. When we don’t get what we want such as a job, what do we learn from it? How would you present differently next time?

Be aware of your communication. Kids are so used to social media and texting, but older adults might find the language rude, so check yourself regularly and ask someone to criticize you. A few tips she shares are about being able to carry on a conversation with an adult, ask questions, and be curious.

What is your money story? Money provides many options so how do you prepare yourself with strong financial acumen?

There are many myths about money, and it is our responsibility to educate ourselves on money and know our money philosophy. You can do that by reading books, listening to podcasts, attending conferences, or bank events on wealth management. Do not leave money decisions to your partner. You must know and consciously plan together for the future. She shares a great example about a woman who reached out after our last podcast and the experience they shared talking about money.

If you have questions about money reach out to Lynn or me, we are happy to share our own experiences or connect you with someone professionally trained.

Curious about what is happening at WIL Empowered? Visit our website at www.wilempowered.com and subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

#moneytalk #confidence #pitch #emergingleaders #wilempowered #wiltalk

In this episode of the Women in Leadership Talk podcast, host Vicki Bradley sits down with Illana Raia, a former corporate lawyer turned entrepreneur and founder of Être Girls. Illana shares her journey from the legal world to launching a groundbreaking organization that helps young women gain confidence and envision their futures by connecting them with female role models from leading companies like Spotify, the United Nations, and NASDAQ.

Illana explains how Être, meaning "to be" in French, encourages girls as young as 10 to ask, "Who do I want to be?" rather than "What do I want to be?" Through mentoring, hands-on experiences, and inspirational conversations with industry leaders, Être provides girls with opportunities to engage with women from all fields, giving them the confidence to see themselves in those roles.

This conversation covers the importance of mentorship, the power of micro-mentorship moments, and how building confidence in girls at a young age can have a lifelong impact. Illana and Vicki also discuss the systemic barriers that young women face, the importance of representation in leadership, and how Illana’s platform is helping to level the playing field by creating a space for girls to raise their voices.

Tune in to hear how Être is shaping the future of young women across the globe and discover how you can get the girls in your life involved in this movement for change!

Take Action: Visit etregirls.com to learn more about Être and how to get involved.

Perfect for: Parents of young girls, educators, mentors, and anyone passionate about female empowerment and leadership.

Don't miss this inspiring episode—share it with the young women in your life today!

Imposter syndrome is a very real phenomenon that many individuals encounter so what do you do about it? Irene Sim, founder of the Coaching Alliance Group joins us to share her story where at the young age of 10 she encountered her first experience with having to speak up to the power that could change her and her family's life, then a second time when she migrated to Australia and didn’t feel like she belonged. Always struggling with this pit and ickiness in her stomach and then she realized her power when remembering the courage of her 10-year-old self.

She shares with us how we marinate in social expectations and tend to internalize and make these messages our realities. But we don’t have to. During our conversation, she graciously shares her 4 step method of overcoming. 1) Call it out, 2) Lean into the ABCD process 3) Marvel at what happens and then celebrate it 4) Let your inner champion rise to the call.

You have to listen to the full episode to really capture her ABCD method and I highly encourage it. Practical and informative, a gift that she shares beautifully. Her next mission is to put full attention on the systems we have and by creating her Allies in Leadership Network we can use privilege to make great changes.

Irene spent many years as a Senior Executive Service of Australia Treasury and Taxation Office, now turned Executive Coach supporting others of all stages on their journey to break free from societal biases, set their own terms and thrive as authentic and powerful leaders.

If you want to know you show up as a leader, visit us at www.wilempowered.com to take our free leadership quiz, and learn things about yourself that you might not have been aware of.

#Impostersyndrome #leadership #exerciseyourvoice #power #wilempowered #wiltalk

In this episode of the Women in Leadership Talk podcast, Dr. Hannah Chan, COO of Skinopathy, dives into the intersection of AI and healthcare, particularly in dermatology. She shares how Skinopathy uses AI to help patients better understand skin conditions and streamline access to care by triaging cases more efficiently. Dr. Chan emphasizes the importance of maintaining the human element in healthcare while leveraging AI to reduce administrative burdens and improve diagnostics. She also touches on the challenges of AI, such as data quality and ensuring ethical use. Dr. Chan’s vision for AI is a more equitable healthcare system, with expanded access and improved treatments worldwide. Don't miss this insightful discussion about the future of AI in medicine!