Bloomberg’s Emily Chang Tells Women to ‘Shoot for the Moon’ at Women Business Leaders Forum

By Anthony Birritteri, Editor-in-Chief On Sep 9, 2020

At today’s virtual Women Business Leaders Forum (WBLF), keynote speaker Emily Chang, anchor and executive producer at Bloomberg TV, as well as author of bestselling book “Brotopia: Breaking Up the Boys’ Club of Silicon Valley,” said there is no reason why women should not “shoot for the moon and follow their hearts” when it comes to not only pursuing a career, but making career changes. She warned, however, that talent is everywhere, but opportunities are not.  One needs to “find those opportunities … and go to the places you love; where you could be your true self.”

The WBLF, an annual event hosted by the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA), is the largest statewide conference of its kind. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference has moved to an all-online format, but it has been extended over a four-day period (Sept. 8 – 11).

In a Q&A fireside chat, Michele Siekerka, NJBIA president and CEO, interviewed Chang on diversity, inclusion and equity in the workplace. “Some companies are getting the message on diversity and inclusion, but the vast majority are not,” Chang said. Additionally, one cannot just raise awareness on the issue of unconscious bias in the workplace. People must be given the tools to combat it because it “creeps in.”

As an example, Chang says a white male engineer in Silicon Valley may have an easier time landing a job compared to a black woman. Interviewers may be skeptical of the black woman and have her meet a higher threshold by answering harder questions for the job.

Chang says to these businesses, “You have to widen your idea of who can do the job. Women are 50% of the population. We are everywhere. We just need the opportunities. If you look hard enough, you will find talented women to fill the jobs you need filled.”

Business also should not back down on diverse hiring during the pandemic. “To ensure that businesses survive, you have to have the right people at the table,” Chang said.

Being a mother and a professional businessperson can also be difficult during the pandemic. Working mothers have always worked “double shifts,” Chang said. “Now they are working double, double shifts” as they deal with their children’s remote learning and other care needs.

Because of that, Chang said she has lost her “transition” downtime, as her daily show is now being broadcasted from her home. “I step out of my office and my children are immediately on me. I don’t have time to decompress.”

She said it is important to talk to one’s work colleagues about setting boundaries during this period. “Communicate with the people you work with. They will generally understand. You need to have space for yourself because it’s not going to come to you on a silver platter,” she said.

It is also important for women to advocate for what they want in order to be successful. “If we don’t ask for something, it is not necessarily going to happen. You have to be the entrepreneur of your own career,” Chang said.

Her best advice is to “not settle for the status quo” and “to expect the unexpected and welcome it. Every challenge is an opportunity. And … we are not alone. We will get through this together.”

Today’s WBLF event started with the traditional champagne toast with Michele Siekerka saying that the virtual event “affords us to spread the good word of the forum even further across many states and beyond.”

There are also many new participants at this year’s WBLF, as well as returning attendees. “That’s the great part of this event; the new relationships, the networking, and the awesome programming.  This year will be no exception. We have a great line up for you!” Siekerka commented.

The WBLF continues tomorrow with networking opportunities, breakout sessions, and awards presentations.  More information about the forum, including the complete agenda and speaker bios, can be found here.

To access more business news, visit NJB News Now.

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