Jenn Willey

Did you know that four out of five male leaders say a lack of confidence is the biggest barrier holding back women from climbing the corporate ladder? Or that men hold more than 80% of leadership roles, partially because they approach networking and mentorship differently than women do? Or that women are interrupted 3x more than men at work?  Informed by original research, Advance Women At Work offers inspiring and actionable content to help women be more fearless at work and in life. This keynote empowers the women (and men!) in your organization to become more effective leaders and create a collaborative culture. We focus on five key pillars–Confidence, Communication, Control, Connections and Courage–while combining data and insights across assertive language, personal development and business networking.

Attendees will leave with:

• An understanding of what’s holding them back and strategies to overcome personal roadblocks
• More confidence in their strengths and abilities, and a plan for developing skills they need to fulfill their mission
• Ways to communicate more assertively to enhance credibility and effectiveness
• A roadmap to advance their careers by developing a Personal Board of Directors
• Additional strategies to transform their professional growth and personal relationships

Cultivating an inclusive culture is a top priority for ‘modern leaders,’ but it is easier said than done.  Sexual harassment and unconscious bias training are just the first steps in creating an organization where everyone can thrive equally.  Male executives and managers are expected to build collaborative cultures that drive innovation, engagement, loyalty, and the bottom line, but they aren’t given a playbook on how to make that happen.  Until now.

In this helpful, supportive, and non-judgmental program, we provide ‘the good guys’ with an insider’s look at the top growth barriers for women, the science behind it, and what they can and should do, to achieve gender equity. We help the men in your organization tackle the necessary attitudinal, operational, and behavioral changes, including topics like non-promotable work, the double bind, the broken rung, micro aggressions, and meeting interruptions, among others. Your team will learn new strategies to help female reports and colleagues be more empowered and effective while promoting an inclusive culture.

Attendees will leave with:

• Knowledge of the top factors holding women back from achieving their potential and what they can do about it
• A better understanding of the Gender Issue Spectrum–from harassment to micro aggressions
• A plan to shift how they operate across key leadership functions including talent recruitment, pay and promotion equity, culture and team dynamics
• Simple methods to create a psychologically safe environment and encourage collaboration

Collaborative cultures drive innovation, engagement, loyalty, and the bottom line.  But while cultivating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive equally is a priority for most leading organizations, there is no ‘playbook’ for understanding and embracing equity, until now.  In this new keynote, we examine the internal and external barriers holding women back from achieving their potential.  We explore workplace realities like non-promotable work, the double bind, the broken rung, microaggressions and meeting interruptions, among others. Your team will learn new strategies to help empower and advance women while making it easier for men to understand their role in promoting an inclusive culture.

Attendees will leave with:

• Knowledge of the top factors holding women back from achieving their potential and what can be done to solve these challenges
• A better understanding of the gender inequities in today’s workplace
• A plan to shift how they operate to change the equity equation at work – regardless of their gender
• Simple methods to create a psychologically safe environment and encourage collaboration

In today’s dynamic business environment, it is critical that employees re-imagine how they embrace change, collaborate, and take risks.  Your team needs to confidently pursue new opportunities with higher-level decision-makers and fresh channels for growth while operating without all the answers in a way that resonates with potential partners.  This keynote provides your team with the building blocks to be confident, agile, and collaborative.

Attendees will leave with:

• Inspiration on how the most successful, innovative companies adapt and take risks
• Insights into how diverse teams deliver better business outcomes and drive higher innovation revenue
• An understanding of how others who lack confidence can self-sabotage and limit creativity, innovation, and growth
• Simple methods to create a psychologically safe environment and encourage collaboration

Have you ever thought of yourself as a fraud or a fake, waiting for others to ‘find out’ that you aren’t really as smart or talented as everyone thinks you are?  If you haven’t personally felt this way, your team members probably have.  Impostor Syndrome affects the majority of women at work, but men also struggle with it too.  The vast majority of professionals secretly lack confidence at work and identify with one or more Impostor Syndrome ‘competence types’—and they are hungry for strategies on how to understand and overcome their own limiting beliefs.  Imposter Syndrome holds high performing, intelligent and creative people back from achieving their potential and can wreak havoc on team dynamics.  Those touched by the impostor wand withhold their best ideas, shy away from promotions, delay taking action, burn themselves out and compromise the team.  This workshop provides effective methods to build confidence and manage Impostor Syndrome so together we can overcome roadblocks that prevent us from reaching our goals.

Attendees will leave with:

• An understanding of how pervasive Impostor Syndrome is and why it matters
• The ability to identify various Impostor Syndrome ‘competence types’
• Strategies to improve their own mindset and behaviors
• Methods for managing team members who suffer from low self-confidence or Impostor Syndrome

The relationships you forge along the road to success can have a tremendous impact on your professional growth.  Research shows that men are more likely to build sponsor and mentor relationships to help them navigate tricky political situations at work and position themselves for promotions.  All too often women are told “they should find a mentor or sponsor’ but aren’t sure where to begin or how to do this in an authentic way.  The result is that women are ‘slipping’ on the proverbial “broken rung” and not promoted at the same rate as their male colleagues.

This valuable and actionable workshop makes it easy for women to map out a plan of who can help them on their professional journey and how to build those win-win relationships.  Attendees will identify the critical role sponsors, mentors, peer thought partners, allies, and protégées play in supporting their careers.  Participants recognize their personal career growth needs, learn the value that each member of a personal board can provide, and build a network of trusted partners who will share a vested interest in their future.   

​Attendees will leave with:

• An understanding of how a personal Board of Directors can help them meet their career goals
• A clear view of their top developmental priorities and the ‘gifts they have to give’ to mentor others
• A roadmap of how to identify each type of board member and the role he/she plays
• Strategies to help them approach potential advocates and win their support