What’s really working to change hearts and minds when it comes to diversity and inclusion? What’s the CEO journey like when you’ve been in an organization for a long time?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Meredith Gibson, CEO of the Association for Women in Science (AWIS). Meredith discusses:

• How she determined that what motivates her in her career is mission.
• When she became CEO of AWIS, she had conversations with staff, including someone who she thought was interested in the CEO job.
• The organization’s renewed commitment membership and relationships (with members, chapters, and staff) in 2018.
• AWIS’ Summer of Science which educates the public about how science impacts our world.
• AWIS advocates on issues that fall between gender and science, including DEI curriculum, Title IX activities, bullying, sexual harrassment, bias in hiring.
• One day DEI events can be exciting but they don’t change behaviors and habits. The AWIS Inclusion Project is a 90 day learning experience that gives participants a small activity or reflection every day in order to create new habits and insights.
• How AWIS changed the corporate sponsor package to allow anyone at the companies to access member benefits. This has exploded membership and participation!
• How Meredith’s superpower of conversation and how she’s able to ferret out insights from members, Board leaders and staff.

References:

• AWIS website
• AWIS Inclusion Project