AchieveHERs Luncheon Details the Art of the Ask: “He Said, She Said: How Men & Women Negotiate Differently”
Tampa Bay, FL (PRWEB) May 19, 2014 -- While the wage gap between men and women has decreased in recent years, women continue to earn significantly less than their male counterparts, on average, for the same performance, and they remain underrepresented in top jobs. This discrepancy has long been attributed to both conscious and subconscious biases, but another hidden contribution has been found: studies show that when a woman negotiates her salary, both men and women are less likely to want to work with or hire her – the negative effect was more than 5.5 times greater for women who negotiated than for men (1). The AchieveHERs, a women’s business networking group appointed by the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce (CRCC), has created a forum in which local professionals can examine the art of negotiation and the discrepancies found in the workplace among men and women. The event, a luncheon entitled, “He Said, She Said: How Men & Women Negotiate Differently,” features several locally-based keynote speakers and will be held June 5 from 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the Countryside Country Club, located at 3001 Countryside Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33761.
Despite the long held belief that the wage gap is the result of women failing to advocate for themselves in the workforce, a 2013 study found no significant difference between men and women when it comes to requesting a higher level position or greater compensation during the hiring process. The findings revealed that:
•Men benefited more from adopting proactive career advancement strategies.
•When women did all the things they have been told will help them get ahead—using the same tactics as men—they still advanced less than their male counterparts and had slower pay growth. (2)
At the upcoming luncheon, three guest speakers will moderate a panel discussion about the differences between men’s and women’s negotiation tactics, as well as how to effectively make business-minded requests, such as a wage increase or promotion. The speakers will include:
•Gene Evans, US Ameribank Senior Vice President;
•Sandy Soto, HSN's Vice President of Executive Talent Acquisition and Research;
•Brenda Jacobsen, CEO of Lakeside Occupational Medical Center
Carol Hague, founding committee member of AchieveHERs and COO of Johnson Pope Bokor Ruppel & Burns law firm, says the current landscape leaves women stuck between a rock and a hard place. Failing to negotiate will likely equal a smaller salary, but negotiating can lessen a woman’s chances of being hired – making for a tricky situation, especially in today’s recovering economy, per Hague.
“The simple truth is that everyone needs to understand the art of negotiation and approach it in a positive and prepared way, rather than being intimidated or uncomfortable with the process,” Hague says. “Learning how to ask for what you want out of your career, in a respectful yet effective way, is necessary for anyone desiring career advancement.”
The AchieveHERs is comprised of several recognizable names within the Tampa Bay community, including seven business owners, three politicians. Hague believes the luncheon will provide an insider’s look into how professional businesswomen can begin taking the next steps in building their careers. The AchieveHERs plans to continue creating opportunities by helping women overcome obstacles and increasing their competitive edge as entrepreneurs.
Seating space for the luncheon is limited. Tickets are $35 for CRCC members and $45 for non-members.
For more information or to reserve tickets to the event, call the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce directly at 727-461-0011 ext.226 or click here.
About AchieveHERs:
To meet the demand of businesswomen in the Clearwater region, AchieveHERs was established under the auspices of the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce to be a regional leader providing camaraderie, support, networking opportunities and valuable new insights to women in business. AchieveHERs will provide impactful quarterly events that share insight, ideas, skills and success stories to ultimately help women overcome obstacles to their success. AchieveHERs is open to both established women in business and those aspiring to lead. For more information or to inquire about membership or attend events, visit their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/AchieveHers or their website at http://www.achievehers.org.
About the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce:
Established in 1922, the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce set out with the vision to be the premier Voice of Business in the Clearwater region. Representing more than 750 member businesses, the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce (CRCC) is one of the largest chambers in the Bay area and has become a large and powerful voice for its members through its ability to partner with other agencies and advocate on behalf of business and its members. CRCC's mission is to enhance the business environment and promote economic health and growth in the Clearwater region. CRCC Division Partners include: Clearwater Gas System; Regions Bank; Bright House Networks; Progress Energy; Solar Sanitation, Inc.; Connelly, Carlisle Fields & Nichols Insurance Group; Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns Attorneys at Law; Radiance Medspa; and Phillies Florida/Clearwater Threshers. Visit http://www.clearwaterflorida.org.
1. Dykman, April. "Money Mythbuster: Women Don't Negotiate." Fox Business. N.p., 17 Mar. 2014. Web. 9 May 2014. foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2014/03/14/money-mythbuster-women-dont-negotiate/.
2. "The Myth of the Ideal Worker: Does Doing All the Right Things Really Get Women Ahead?" Catalyst, 1 Oct. 2011. Web. 9 May 2014. catalyst.org/knowledge/myth-ideal-worker-does-doing-all-right-things-really-get-women-ahead?WT.qs_osrc=fxb-182811910.
Karla Jo Helms, JoTo PR, +1 (888) 202-4614 Ext: 802, [email protected]
Share this article