THE LADIES ROOM:  WOMEN WORKING WITH WOMEN
Darcie Harris, Founder and CEO, EWF International

PRESENTATION SUMMARY
With refreshing honesty and candor, Darcie Harris, founder and CEO of EWF International, explores the stereotypes, beliefs and behaviors that can cause us to be our own worst enemies as we work with and for women.  Drawing on insights learned from eleven years of consulting exclusively with women business owners and executives, Darcie inspires women to avoid oversimplification and identify the real issues that get labeled as simply “too much estrogen.” 

THREE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1.    To identify the often-negative stereotypes about women working with women, how they get created, and how we perpetuate them
2.    To understand how gender differences play out in the workplace
3.    To transform negative stereotypes into attitudes, expectations and behaviors that foster positive, healthy working relationships between women in the workplace

SPECIFIC BENEFITS

1.    Women will learn to look more deeply into workplace dynamics and identify the real issues that get oversimplified and labeled as “too much estrogen”
2.    Women will see how our natural predisposition for relationships and empathy can work for them, or against them, depending on their expectations and behavior
3.    Women will be inspired to take personal responsibility to transform negative stereotypes into positive, and transform unhappy work environments into productive and rewarding workplaces  that bring out the best in ourselves and others, without giving up our feminine side


HOW THE AUDIENCE CAN INTERACT WITH ONE ANOTHER

•    Offered as a keynote (45 minutes):  The audience is periodically asked questions that invite a response; Q & A time can be offered at the end of the presentation.
•    Offered as a workshop (90 minutes):  Includes reflective & groups exercises, plus de-briefing.

WHY THE TOPIC IS ESSENTIAL

•    Through our own behavior and oversimplified assumptions, women often participate in perpetuating negative stereotypes about women working with women.  Gaining a deep self-awareness of our own communication styles, expectations and assumptions helps us transform those stereotypes from negative to positive and fosters productive, healthy, rewarding workplaces with predominately female employees and female leadership. 

WHAT QUALIFIES MS. HARRIS AS AN EXPERT ON THE TOPIC

•    Since 1997 Darcie Harris has been a professional business consultant, group facilitator and business coach.  For the last eleven years she has worked almost exclusively with women business owners and executives, facilitating peer advisory groups, coaching, consulting, and training.  She is experienced at facilitating strategic planning and team building.  In addition, she developed and teaches several leadership training curriculums, designed specifically for professional women.  She built EWF International from an idea to a successful and respected company with international reach.