are you "one of the guys"?

emily nichols loved working in factories…

But she didn’t always love being ‘one of the guys’. Earnest yet entertaining, Emily explains that words become habits, language evolves, and that we control them both.

She shines a light on needlessly gendered language, shares more inclusive alternatives, and implores us to deliberately choose our own words. But she also contradicts herself, pokes fun at her own double-standards and makes it ok for the rest of us to make mistakes.

You’ll feel inspired, relieved, and ready to transform your workplace, one conversation at a time.

in this program, you will…

• Recognize when business as usual may work for some, but not for everyone.
• Discover why words like “guys” aren’t as gender-neutral as they appear (and what to say instead).
• Notice how words shape our world, and start choosing yours with intention.
• Relax. We’re all going to make mistakes (including your speaker!)

this program is perfect for organizations…

• Striving to be more welcoming and inclusive
• Struggling to recruit and retain women
• Engineering, manufacturing, agriculture, and related industries

specifications…

• This is an interactive, story-based keynote that works in just about any venue. Town hall meeting in the warehouse? Keynote on the shop floor? No problem. Slides are beneficial, but not absolutely required.
• For best results changing hearts and minds, invite the whole company. This program is often requested by women’s employee resource groups, but the intended audience is everyone (and especially the men!).
• Where possible, allow time for Q&A and a meet-and-greet. The Q&A helps advance a shared understanding of the challenges and solutions. A meet-and-greet allows people to ask their more sensitive questions in a 1:1 setting.
• To preview this program, watch Emily’s TEDx talk, read the press release, or check out one of her many interviews & podcast appearances.

rave reviews

Andre Lacasse | Project Manager, Manufacturing

This talk uncovered a blindspot in my awareness. I thought I was one of the converted, one of the few who recognized the inequality and the barriers placed in the way of women entering the workforce and worked to level the playing field.

All I can do is smile… you got me. I use guy, guys, man as the primary term for a person in nearly every instance I can think of. And without bringing it to focus I would mindlessly continue to do so.

Jennifer Marvin | Senior Project Engineer, Boeing

After protesting gender-specific language in my 20’s, I had succumbed to the familiarity of using guys. As a female engineer in my 50’s, I’m going back to my roots, thanks to Emily’s talk. Language is so powerful; let’s use it to accelerate change.

Gordon Drakes | Commercial Financial Services, RBC

A captivating topic that makes you reflect on the origin of our language. Emily takes you on a journey of referencing someone without pausing to reflect on the impact of the reference. Thought-provoking topic that shows how bias can be created unintentionally. Well researched and presented. The key message reverberated with me.

Sarah McVanel | Chief Recognition Officer, Greatness Magnified

I brought two young women with me to hear Emily’s talk, and it was such an empowering message for them that we discussed it the whole ride home! Emily’s advice to be mindful of how we default to male words like “guys” is a powerful message that resonates well beyond the trades, engineering and other traditionally male-dominated professions. After experiencing Emily’s talk, you will never be able to “unsee” our biased language and commit to doing something about it.

Marcel Verner| Principal Engineer, Aerospace Industry

Looong before she was sharing this message with the world (and galaxies, far far away), Emily was using her Jedi word tricks to correct my ‘man’erisms. Her simple approach makes it feel effortless to learn and adapt.