Women and Storytelling : Don’t forget the me

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Women and Storytelling : Don’t forget the me
In my upcoming book Storied, I have written a little bit about communication challenges specific to women in workforce . In this short read I share one of them, a self inflicted issue which secretively transforms itself in to a roadblock to women’s stories being told. Despite being aware of this issue, I am a victim too. Let’s begin with me. August…
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Storytelling: Knowledge is Useless

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Storytelling: Knowledge is Useless
Knowledge is useless, the problem is that knowledge is not understanding. Storytelling is a great tool to shift knowledge in to understanding. In this blog I share how despite having access to so much knowledge we are unable to retain women in workforce.  Knowledge is something that you accumulate through learning. Understanding is something that you know because you have lived through …
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Guest Blog: IWD2021: Looking at what is holding women back

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Guest Blog: IWD2021: Looking at what is holding women back
The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day, is “Women in leadership, achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.” Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and UN Women’s Executive Director Phumsile Mlambo-Ngcuka’s statement called out the sobering reality that COVID-19 has taken a disproportionate toll on women world-wide, from poverty to violence to a disproportionate share of household burdens falling on women’s…
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Storytelling for Women : Fighting failures

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Storytelling for Women : Fighting failures
Eve is head of communications for a multinational organization. She called me for help in preparing a talk on trade law changes and their impact in her industry. I asked, “Where do you want my help? Content? Delivery? Something else?”
Her response: “None of those. I have anxiety about this talk.” Anxiety? Isn’t that a medical problem? I suggested we meet and
…
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The First Woman Story

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The First Woman Story
It’s 22 September 2019, at 8.15 a.m., and I’m on the Shinkansen (Japanese bullet train) travelling from Fukuoka to Hiroshima. I receive a  message from my husband. The message contained the google doodle for the day that linked to an article about the first woman, a Japanese, to climb the Mount Everest. The newspaper’s article heading read, “Junko Tabei: Google Doodle celebrates…
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Online success is not corporate success

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Online success is not corporate success
I am watching videos of corporate leaders such as Indra Nooyi, Meg Whitman, Ginni Rometty and Sheryl Sandberg to learn how successful women communicate? There is a clear link between these women’s online success and the vulnerability they demonstrate. Their vulnerability creates connection. So, it’s tempting for one to think, “I am also going to be vulnerable because that is what leads…
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Storytelling :Women in Boardrooms Part 5 of 5

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Storytelling :Women in Boardrooms Part 5 of 5
Recently, Sarah (not her real name) told me that she had received feedback from her boss that she needed to demonstrate more empathy. She was perplexed because she considered herself to be someone, who was not only professional but had strong social intelligence. Feedback on personality traits and workplace demeanor can be a double-edged sword —women have been known to be penalized…
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Storytelling :Women in Boardrooms Part 4 of 5

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Storytelling :Women in Boardrooms Part 4 of 5
This blog is part 4 of 5 of blog series Storytelling: Women in Boardrooms. In this blog I share strategies to overcome Manterruption. If you want to know what is Manterupption please read our previous blog. It is important to start with an understanding of why is a man interrupting? Men often perceive women to take things personally and overreact as…
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Storytelling : Women In Boardrooms Part 3 of 5

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Storytelling : Women In Boardrooms Part 3 of 5
YEARS ago, while producing the hit TV series “The Shield,” Glen Mazzara noticed that two young female writers were quiet during story meetings. He pulled them aside and encouraged them to speak up more. Watch what happens when we do, they replied. Almost every time they started to speak, they were interrupted or shot down before finishing their pitch. When one had…
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