Rachel Wimberly
Rachel Wimberly is Executive Vice President of Business Development at Tarsus Group, US. Follow her on Twitter @TSNN_Rachel.
Sexual Harassment/Gender Bias Are Major Issues in Trade Show Industry
December 4, 2017
Last week I had the great pleasure of taking part in the International Association of Exhibitions and Event’s Women’s Leadership Experience, held Nov. 28, the first day of Expo! Expo! in San Antonio Texas.
It wasn’t the first time IAEE has supported women’s leadership with an event, but it was the first time they were holding it during Expo! Expo!
The room was packed with mostly women (there was one man!), and the speaker – Emilie Aries – founder and CEO of www.BossedUp.org kicked things off by setting the stage on where things are for women in the workplace.
We’ve all heard the statistics, how far behind we are in the wage gap, how long it will take us to catch up, how few female executives there are on just about any list, etc.
She encouraged the room with “This world is full of injustice. You don’t get what you deserve, you get what you fight for.”
Heck yes, I believe in that 100 percent.
Then came the gut punch.
Aries polled the room, asking how many had experienced gender bias at work? 87 percent said that they had. OUCH.
Then she asked the next question – how many had been sexually harassed at work? 83 percent of the room said that they had.
BRUTAL. Absolutely brutal.
It’s not just happening in news rooms, or movie studios or comedy stages, sexual harassment is everywhere, and it’s just not acceptable. At all. Not one bit.
So, as an industry – what are we going to do about it? How can we work together and empower women to stand up for themselves, especially the younger women entering the workforce?
How can we also break the existing culture and make sure there are zero tolerance policies enforced in the workplace when it comes to sexual harassment of any way, shape or form?
It’s not a ‘male’ vs. ‘female’ problem alone. I have been in two different situations at major companies I worked at a long time ago at which I was sexually harassed by my direct boss and reported it to female managers above my boss who actually said they ‘did not want to rock the boat’ (their own executive boat that they had fought very hard to get into) by creating a ‘situation’ that was likely going to be a ‘he said, she said’.
Yes, ladies, we need to stick up for each other as well.
Aries had a few excellent possible solutions for tackling not only sexual harassment, but also gender bias.
She suggested that all staff needs to be trained on gender bias and sexual harassment; make sure you are hiring women into leadership positions; put processes in place for dealing with both gender bias and sexual harassment issues, and make sure they are followed; create mentoring/sponsoring programs for women; consider being transparent about everyone's pay; do a blind hiring (no names, just resume) and see what happens; and nurture women into leadership roles.
These are just a few great suggestions, more can be found on www.BossedUp.org.
The bottom line is NONE of us want 87 percent of the women in any room representing our industry to have experienced gender bias at work, not to mention the disgraceful 83 percent who had experienced sexual harassment at work.
We need to, and can, do better as an industry.
HERE is information on IAEE's Women's Leadership Forum April 30-May 1 next year in Washington, D.C.
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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