4pm PT (7pm ET)
We Should All Be Feminist ... Entrepreneurs
Session Overview
We should all be feminist entrepreneurs, so that we can transform the world of work and the experience of business, and then create an economy that supports the thriving of every living thing.
But, before we can all be feminist entrepreneurs, we need to learn what it means to practice feminism in our businesses, and how to create business entities that themselves demonstrate and advocate for feminism.
Join me in a conversation about feminist entrepreneurship and feminist business. We’ll start by considering a collective, inclusive feminist perspective from which we’ll launch our exploration of business practice. I’ll define what makes a business “feminist” and contrast that to a conventional business. I’ll offer a quick history of the activist, feminist entrepreneurial movement so that you can locate our present energy in an historical context. I’ll explain the seven dimensions that I use to explore the level of feminism that a business reflects, and explain how these seven dimensions help us organize where a fledgling feminist business could best invest its efforts. Then, in a more practical turn, we’ll discuss how to use feminist principles to reshape your everyday business practices. I’ll share a few examples from contemporary feminist businesses, and then we’ll open up to conversation and questions.
"How to Get Paid to Be a Full Time Feminist"
As feminists, we all want to change the world to make it a better place for women and all living things. This is a big job-- and seems overwhelming when we consider the amount of time we have outside of work to march, write letters, raise our consciousness, and pound our keyboards to make statements on social media.
What if there were some other ways to make a difference? Ways that were less part-time and more full time? Ways that were more 'in the thick of things' than 'pushing from the margins'? Ways that helped you remain authentic, whole, spirited, and creative?
In this talk, I'll describe how feminists we know are weaving feminist principles and practices into their everyday work lives. I'll share the basics of feminist business practice, and help you set a plan for infusing your work role, your work identity, and your work contributions with everyday feminism.
Considerations for an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding)
For speaking invitations, workshop invitations, and panel discussions, here’s an initial list of items that I like to consider as part of my participation in your event. These include things that are directly valuable to me, as well as ways that I might enhance the value that I offer to you.
Asking, from you, for:
- An honorarium / Speaker Fee, depending on the scope of your event
- Agreement re: control over my intellectual property, specifically the access to video recaps, handouts, and reference lists (e.g., people not having ‘downloadable’ access to my presentation, making sure my work and materials are cited properly, etc.)
- Reimbursement for direct expenses to participate (with agreement in advance as to what these will cover, and/or a budget)
- Adding a few questions to your event feedback survey to elicit feedback specifically about my talk
- Giving me a summary of the feedback on my talk, and where possible some feedback about the other (anonymized) speakers so I can put my feedback in context
- Connecting me with other speakers and the sponsors so that we might coordinate and support each other’s contributions (e.g., so I can follow up on what they share, in my talk, to offer continuity)
- Giving me a ‘testimonial’ about how my talk was received, what I was like to work with, with a specific person’s name and the event.
- Making my email & contact information easily visible and available so people can follow up directly with me.
- Access to the event’s email list, one time, to invite people to sign up for my email newsletter
- Professional-quality video (copy is fine) of my presentation
- Copies of professional-quality photographs of me participating, and permission to use these in my own social media
On my end, offering to you:- A talk, workshop, or participation that is crafted to fit the needs, interests, and energies of your community — even where it’s material I’ve shared before, I would love to customize it to your needs.
- My enthusiastic participation in the event itself, not just the X number of minutes I’m actively involved.
- Enthusiastic contribution to the marketing of the event by promoting the event on my own twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram pages. Possibly a write up on my own website and LinkedIn page.
- Contribution to the marketing by a pre- or post-event interview about the event.
- Conscientious, timely responses to your needs for promotional materials, rehearsals, etc.