Unconscious bias (or implicit bias) is everywhere. It’s an innocuous trait that influences who we hire, the neighborhoods we live in, how we talk about different people, and even what we see in an internet search query. This article in Forbes magazine described a study where an AI algorithm learned to associate women with images of a kitchen from reviewing over 100,000 images from the internet. The results of the algorithm not only replicated the bias that we have (the association of women and kitchens) but further amplified it. We can see this from simple Google searches of phrases like ‘university professor’ or ‘CEO.’ What kinds of images dominate the search results? As discussed in the article, unconscious bias also surrounds names, gender, race, and other facets of identity.
Unconscious Bias: Overcoming Bias for Career Success
According to the Canadian Women’s Foundation, 35 percent of Canadian women in 2015 had a university certificate or degree, compared to 30 percent of men. Yet despite equivalent time at a job, women are significantly less likely than men to be promoted. They are over-represented in part-time work and lower-paid work, and some have yet to achieve pay equity. This session will present how to: (1) define bias and stereotypes and the sources of bias that affect women and other groups of people; (2) learn how our brains process information, and how that influences how we interact with others; (3) understand how our own unconscious bias holds us from advancing our careers and taking on opportunities to grow; and (4) network and discuss strategies to mitigate bias in ourselves and others.
Anne-Marie Pham’s Biography
Anne-Marie Pham is Senior Director, Learning and Knowledge Solutions, at CCDI – Canadian Centre for Diversity & Inclusion. Anne-Marie brings a unique set of skills and perspectives having worked as a diversity and inclusion lead for Spectra Energy and the City of Calgary, and as a trainer and facilitator for Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. Anne-Marie has a master’s degree in public administration (MPA), a BA in Sociology and a senior HR Professional certification. In 2013, she received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee award for her community service. In December 2017, Anne-Marie was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, a Crown Corporation dedicated to working towards the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination.
Women in Engineering Virtual Event Details
Join us at the third Women in Engineering Summit and the first virtual one on October 23rd. A Keynote by Aerospace Engineer Natalie Panek opens the day to a line-up of speakers and panelists addressing: unconscious bias, coping with stress, identities and inclusion, dream jobs, and the importance of tipping the scale to 30% of women in the profession. Sessions will be interactive, and there will be 2 networking opportunities throughout the day.
Telus World of Science
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