Conference Presentation, Panel, Fireside Chat
Is Gender Parity Possible in the 21st Century?
Milken InstituteMolly Ashby, Geena Davis, Deborah DeHaas, Manju Ganeriwala, Ann McElaney-Johnson, Willow Bay, Kathleen Sullivan, Subha Barry, Dr. Nita Arindapol, Kelly McElhaney, Brenda Bates, Nancy, Chris McGrath
- Panelists anticipate successful execution of a new speed round format despite prior inexperience.
- Gina Davis projects that increased visibility of female characters in nontraditional roles correlates with higher likelihood of girls pursuing such careers.
- Specific media exposure data indicates that depicting a female president 18 times increases the probability of viewers voting for a female candidate by 68%.
- DeHaas and Ghaneriwala predict that legislative and board mandates similar to Norway's could accelerate female representation if timelines and consequences are established.
- Molly Ashby expects a generational shift within 10 years where millennials and the next generation reject unfair environments via consumer spending and workforce choices.
- Economic trends are forecasted to include more men staying home for childcare and women out-earning husbands.
- Older board members are predicted to struggle to understand digital discourse unless explicit change occurs at the leadership level.
- DeHaas foresees innovation around talent becoming a critical business imperative for organizational success.
- Participants express intent to increase female participation in programs and build leadership positions quickly to address future demographics.
- Anne McElhenney Johnson expects that delaying career decisions until ages 22 or 24 may mitigate issues for women at age 36.
- Future consumers and entrepreneurs are predicted to prioritize authenticity and realness, driven by the enabling nature of the internet.
- DeHaas predicts that diversity goals will remain unmet without intentional organizational focus, while success will favor entities that innovate.
- Davis anticipates that once female representation on boards is demonstrated as effective, resistance will diminish.
- Ashby expects organizations to respond to five-year strategic self-assessments by integrating diversity without creating a perception of inequity.
- DeHaas envisions a future where no barriers exist to women's success in any chosen path.
- Davis predicts that questioning character gender feasibility will reveal opportunities to cast women in roles previously assumed to be male-only.