Executives involved in product development, innovation, research, data analysis, software development, hardware design, and other fields actively participate in the Women of Color STM Conference.
This highlights the critical role that diverse experiences play in efforts to recruit diverse talent.
During a recent workshop at the conference, STEM professionals presented the "Strategically Leveraging the Authenticity in You" (SLAY) workshop.
The executives with over 100 years of combined experience discussed the concept of "slay" as a metaphor for success.
Long before "Slay what you wanna slay" became popular on TikTok, the term "slay" was used as a metaphor for success in various cultures.
For example, one might say, "He slayed that presentation," to describe a colleague who performed exceptionally well.
During the SLAY workshop, one facilitator explained that slaying involves having confidence and effectively communicating it.
At another table, participants discussed the differing perceptions of confident women compared to men with similar characteristics.
Participants noted the differing perceptions of confident women versus men, with women often facing more challenges in being seen as leaders.
"Men are seen as leaders," the roundtable leader remarked, "while women may face different perceptions."
Other participants explored how individuals without formal authority can still influence others in the workplace.
A Millennial professional highlighted adaptability as key, emphasizing the importance of bringing different aspects of oneself to different situations.
Sharing her perspective, she stated that adaptability is key—bringing different aspects of oneself to various situations and knowing when to do so.
"Being aware of that flexibility is important," she added. "Being balanced and fluid like water doesn’t mean you aren’t being your true self."
Another speaker, a chief global diversity and inclusion officer, shared that to her, slaying means having situational awareness, being adaptable, soliciting feedback, and courageously linking accomplishments to business value.
As the chief global diversity and inclusion officer, she was responsible for developing and executing strategies that foster a culture of inclusion for thousands of employees.
For this executive, who had also held various roles within human resources, slaying meant having situational awareness, being adaptable, soliciting feedback, linking achievements to business value, and living life with courage.
