Two weeks ago, Elena Rossini and I have been invited by SiliconRepublic to present our brand new study on the ‘Gender Gap in Science‘ at InspireFest in Dublin. It was a new, inspiring event about Science, Tech and Innovation – with about 70% women speakers. I was part of the 30% men speakers and I deeply enjoyed the conference content, so I want to share some of my takeaways with you.
1. Some leaders are born women
Please, pause and reflect one second on this title.
It summarizes, I think, why both men and women should care about gender equality.
We all seek freedom and social justice: the right to apply our skills and use our full potential for the benefit of ourselves and others.
We share a common interest in having the best leader in charge: in a project team, a company, a city or a country, the performance of the leader impacts all of us.
Shelly Porges shared the lessons she learned about leadership from the former US first lady and secretary of state Hillary Clinton. If you are a man and you lead, be a great leader: have a vision; take risks; adapt; elevate others. If you are a woman and you lead, be a great leader: have a vision; take risks; adapt; elevate others.
Watch the video
https://youtu.be/pP3rSvyUUas
2. Human talent cannot be confined
Women of Iran have found ways to express their talent despite many obstacles put in their way: through digital gateways, virtually crossing the artificial boundaries of a country’s border; or physically crossing those borders through emigration, expressing their skills in Diaspora.
In the ‘Gender Gap in Science‘ study we mention Maryam Mirzakhani, a Professor at Stanford University who was born and raised in Iran and was the first woman mathematician to be awarded with a Fields Medal (a mathematician’s “Nobel Prize”).
Dr Nina Ansary used a powerful video to introduce the amazing profiles of other high achieving Iranian women.
Watch the video
https://youtu.be/14Rt09PA5_U
Many of these women form a part of what Kingsley Aikins, an Irish expert on Diaspora matters, calls: ‘Diaspora Capital’. But many countries fail to engage their Diaspora – as the first condition is to establish trust. It will take time before these immensely talented women, as many ‘jewels’ shining in Diaspora or in the digitally connected world can effectively participate to the economic, cultural and scientific development of their country of origin.
3. Do social good, but make a ####load of money too!
Last but not least, Cindy Gallop gave the audience very practical advice to all of us, social entrepreneurs. Make a difference in the world, but make money in the way.
Cindy Gallop is a woman in advertising, founder and former chair of the US branch of advertising firm Bartle Bogle Hegarty, and founder of the IfWeRanTheWorld and MakeLoveNotPorn, a ‘pro-sex, pro-porn and pro-knowing the difference’ entrepreneurial venture.
Watch the video
https://youtu.be/AY6SRS-Wr7c
Thank you!
Thank you, dear Ann O’Dea for inviting us to Dublin, after a single meeting in Paris. Thank you, fellow InspireFest speakers for sharing your wisdom. Thank you, dear reader for spending a few minutes reading about InspireFest and perhaps considering participating to the 2016 edition.
You will find the full study ‘Gender Gap in Science’ below
https://gendergapgrader.com/studies/gender-gap-in-science/
The #GenderDataRevolution is launched, there is no stopping it.
@ElianCARSENAT, founder @NamSor_com, co-founder @GenderGapGrader
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