hi I’m Annie Dean and I’m Anna Arabic and we are the code
and we are the code
and we are the code and co-ceos of work work is a
and co-ceos of work work is a
and co-ceos of work work is a marketplace of flexible work
marketplace of flexible work
marketplace of flexible work opportunities for ambitious women we’re
opportunities for ambitious women we’re
opportunities for ambitious women we’re a startup that just raised a million
a startup that just raised a million
a startup that just raised a million dollars from investors we are about to
dollars from investors we are about to
dollars from investors we are about to unveil a new technology product and we
unveil a new technology product and we
unveil a new technology product and we just tripled the size of our team anna
just tripled the size of our team anna
just tripled the size of our team anna and i are both parents in new york city
and i are both parents in new york city
and i are both parents in new york city and we have 11 years of marriage and
and we have 11 years of marriage and
and we have 11 years of marriage and three sons between us but we were not
three sons between us but we were not
three sons between us but we were not always this cool back in eighth grade
always this cool back in eighth grade
always this cool back in eighth grade Anna and I both cut our own bangs I went
Anna and I both cut our own bangs I went
Anna and I both cut our own bangs I went to rush in math camp I went to Colonial
to rush in math camp I went to Colonial
to rush in math camp I went to Colonial Williamsburg and dressed up in full
Williamsburg and dressed up in full
Williamsburg and dressed up in full costume I played the trombone but we
costume I played the trombone but we
costume I played the trombone but we were ambitious I was the class president
were ambitious I was the class president
were ambitious I was the class president I found a way to take six years of
I found a way to take six years of
I found a way to take six years of science and four years of high school
science and four years of high school
science and four years of high school back when we were younger girl power was
back when we were younger girl power was
back when we were younger girl power was everywhere we were obsessed with what
everywhere we were obsessed with what
everywhere we were obsessed with what opportunities we might be able to make
opportunities we might be able to make
opportunities we might be able to make if we just worked harder and tried a
if we just worked harder and tried a
if we just worked harder and tried a little bit longer but we had different
little bit longer but we had different
little bit longer but we had different female icons than you guys did you had
female icons than you guys did you had
female icons than you guys did you had this and we had this back when we were
this and we had this back when we were
this and we had this back when we were obsessed with girl power we knew that if
obsessed with girl power we knew that if
obsessed with girl power we knew that if we worked hard we could be whatever we
we worked hard we could be whatever we
we worked hard we could be whatever we wanted to be so we skinned our knees and
wanted to be so we skinned our knees and
wanted to be so we skinned our knees and we raised our hands and we knew that we
we raised our hands and we knew that we
we raised our hands and we knew that we would be the future and we were right
would be the future and we were right
would be the future and we were right today girls consistently get better
today girls consistently get better
today girls consistently get better grades and boys of college
grades and boys of college
grades and boys of college undergraduates 57% are women fifty
undergraduates 57% are women fifty
undergraduates 57% are women fifty percent of science and engineering
percent of science and engineering
percent of science and engineering degrees are women forty-eight percent of
degrees are women forty-eight percent of
degrees are women forty-eight percent of medical degrees forty seven percent of
medical degrees forty seven percent of
medical degrees forty seven percent of law degrees and fifty-nine percent of
law degrees and fifty-nine percent of
law degrees and fifty-nine percent of the college educated entry-level
the college educated entry-level
the college educated entry-level workforces women but but but that’s
workforces women but but but that’s
workforces women but but but that’s where the progress tapers off if you
where the progress tapers off if you
where the progress tapers off if you look at the fortune 500 companies there
look at the fortune 500 companies there
look at the fortune 500 companies there are only 27 female CEOs and if you look
are only 27 female CEOs and if you look
are only 27 female CEOs and if you look at the S&P 1500 which is just a longer
at the S&P 1500 which is just a longer
at the S&P 1500 which is just a longer list of big companies there are more
list of big companies there are more
list of big companies there are more CEOs named John than there are women all
CEOs named John than there are women all
CEOs named John than there are women all together you might think this is just a
together you might think this is just a
together you might think this is just a business problem so let’s look at other
business problem so let’s look at other
business problem so let’s look at other fields in politics in the House and
fields in politics in the House and
fields in politics in the House and Senate only nineteen percent of seats
Senate only nineteen percent of seats
Senate only nineteen percent of seats are held by women fine politics aside
are held by women fine politics aside
are held by women fine politics aside what about startups we have a start-up
what about startups we have a start-up
what about startups we have a start-up only eighteen percent of venture funded
only eighteen percent of venture funded
only eighteen percent of venture funded companies have a female founder and then
companies have a female founder and then
companies have a female founder and then what about the Arts
what about the Arts
what about the Arts 88 years of the Oscars history there’s
88 years of the Oscars history there’s
88 years of the Oscars history there’s only been one woman that has won best
only been one woman that has won best
only been one woman that has won best director in only four have ever been
director in only four have ever been
director in only four have ever been nominated and we’ve obviously never had
nominated and we’ve obviously never had
nominated and we’ve obviously never had a female president how is this possible
a female president how is this possible
a female president how is this possible if more than half of the college
if more than half of the college
if more than half of the college educated workforce is women here’s the
educated workforce is women here’s the
educated workforce is women here’s the bottom line the rules weren’t made for
bottom line the rules weren’t made for
bottom line the rules weren’t made for us and it’s time to break them picture
us and it’s time to break them picture
us and it’s time to break them picture this you are the top associate in your
this you are the top associate in your
this you are the top associate in your law firm and you’re getting all of the
law firm and you’re getting all of the
law firm and you’re getting all of the best opportunities because you did all
best opportunities because you did all
best opportunities because you did all the right things you’ve got good grades
the right things you’ve got good grades
the right things you’ve got good grades and you worked harder than anybody else
and you worked harder than anybody else
and you worked harder than anybody else and made all of the right connections
and made all of the right connections
and made all of the right connections but then one day you get married and you
but then one day you get married and you
but then one day you get married and you decide to have a baby and you spend a
decide to have a baby and you spend a
decide to have a baby and you spend a couple of months on maternity leave
couple of months on maternity leave
couple of months on maternity leave understanding the world in a completely
understanding the world in a completely
understanding the world in a completely new way you come back to work excited to
new way you come back to work excited to
new way you come back to work excited to rejoin the workforce excited to get back
rejoin the workforce excited to get back
rejoin the workforce excited to get back on the leadership track because that is
on the leadership track because that is
on the leadership track because that is what you have always done but suddenly
what you have always done but suddenly
what you have always done but suddenly everything is different 16 hour workdays
everything is different 16 hour workdays
everything is different 16 hour workdays are no longer compatible with your needs
are no longer compatible with your needs
are no longer compatible with your needs as a parent and no matter how hard you
as a parent and no matter how hard you
as a parent and no matter how hard you try you can’t fix it because the very
try you can’t fix it because the very
try you can’t fix it because the very fact of your marriage and the very fact
fact of your marriage and the very fact
fact of your marriage and the very fact of your Parenthood means that you are
of your Parenthood means that you are
of your Parenthood means that you are taken less seriously and viewed is less
taken less seriously and viewed is less
taken less seriously and viewed is less committed then one day you have an
committed then one day you have an
committed then one day you have an epiphany you realize that you are just
epiphany you realize that you are just
epiphany you realize that you are just as smart and talented and ambitious and
as smart and talented and ambitious and
as smart and talented and ambitious and hardworking as you have always been it’s
hardworking as you have always been it’s
hardworking as you have always been it’s not you that needs to change it’s the
not you that needs to change it’s the
not you that needs to change it’s the workforce so what now so by the way that
workforce so what now so by the way that
workforce so what now so by the way that story’s about Annie if that picture
story’s about Annie if that picture
story’s about Annie if that picture wasn’t enough of a tip-off but Annie
wasn’t enough of a tip-off but Annie
wasn’t enough of a tip-off but Annie isn’t alone and so many of our peers
isn’t alone and so many of our peers
isn’t alone and so many of our peers were facing the exact same issue and
were facing the exact same issue and
were facing the exact same issue and they thought if they just worked a
they thought if they just worked a
they thought if they just worked a little bit harder and a little bit
little bit harder and a little bit
little bit harder and a little bit longer they could fix this themselves
longer they could fix this themselves
longer they could fix this themselves and why you look at the media every
and why you look at the media every
and why you look at the media every article tells us that women need to
article tells us that women need to
article tells us that women need to speak louder work harder advocate more
speak louder work harder advocate more
speak louder work harder advocate more negotiate better but we were already
negotiate better but we were already
negotiate better but we were already good negotiators we had mentors we just
good negotiators we had mentors we just
good negotiators we had mentors we just had sponsors and we worked harder than
had sponsors and we worked harder than
had sponsors and we worked harder than anyone else so what was really going on
anyone else so what was really going on
anyone else so what was really going on here what cause women to be
here what cause women to be
here what cause women to be underrepresented in leadership in every
underrepresented in leadership in every
underrepresented in leadership in every single industry to really get to the
single industry to really get to the
single industry to really get to the root causes we decided to stop reading
root causes we decided to stop reading
root causes we decided to stop reading the news and start looking at the data
the news and start looking at the data
the news and start looking at the data we spent a year talking to hundreds of
we spent a year talking to hundreds of
we spent a year talking to hundreds of women we interviewed dozens of companies
women we interviewed dozens of companies
women we interviewed dozens of companies to understand their gender diversity
to understand their gender diversity
to understand their gender diversity goals and we read every sink
goals and we read every sink
goals and we read every sink academic article on women and work and
academic article on women and work and
academic article on women and work and here’s what we found we found two things
here’s what we found we found two things
here’s what we found we found two things number one structural issues I’m forcing
number one structural issues I’m forcing
number one structural issues I’m forcing women to quit the workforce and number
women to quit the workforce and number
women to quit the workforce and number two there’s an absolutely easy and
two there’s an absolutely easy and
two there’s an absolutely easy and simple solution and that is flexibility
simple solution and that is flexibility
simple solution and that is flexibility over thirty percent of the most talented
over thirty percent of the most talented
over thirty percent of the most talented women leave the workforce entirely and
women leave the workforce entirely and
women leave the workforce entirely and so many op down to non leadership track
so many op down to non leadership track
so many op down to non leadership track roles of the women that leave the
roles of the women that leave the
roles of the women that leave the workforce seventy percent would have
workforce seventy percent would have
workforce seventy percent would have kept working if they had flexibility and
kept working if they had flexibility and
kept working if they had flexibility and a recent study showed that women value
a recent study showed that women value
a recent study showed that women value flexibility over and above almost every
flexibility over and above almost every
flexibility over and above almost every single job factor in their job search
single job factor in their job search
single job factor in their job search over pay title location even job
over pay title location even job
over pay title location even job function but today there’s no place to
function but today there’s no place to
function but today there’s no place to find flexible jobs so here’s the problem
find flexible jobs so here’s the problem
find flexible jobs so here’s the problem nobody understands what flexibility is
nobody understands what flexibility is
nobody understands what flexibility is companies are treating flexibility like
companies are treating flexibility like
companies are treating flexibility like it’s a lifestyle perk like office serial
it’s a lifestyle perk like office serial
it’s a lifestyle perk like office serial or a personal favor given out to
or a personal favor given out to
or a personal favor given out to specific individuals in reality
specific individuals in reality
specific individuals in reality flexibility is a low-cost high-impact
flexibility is a low-cost high-impact
flexibility is a low-cost high-impact strategic tool that helps retain an
strategic tool that helps retain an
strategic tool that helps retain an advanced women and get them to
advanced women and get them to
advanced women and get them to leadership over time so how do we solve
leadership over time so how do we solve
leadership over time so how do we solve this we took all of our research and we
this we took all of our research and we
this we took all of our research and we came up with a definition flexibility
came up with a definition flexibility
came up with a definition flexibility now it’s a set of agreed upon terms
now it’s a set of agreed upon terms
now it’s a set of agreed upon terms between an employee and their employer
between an employee and their employer
between an employee and their employer at the outset of an employment
at the outset of an employment
at the outset of an employment arrangement used to modify and enhance
arrangement used to modify and enhance
arrangement used to modify and enhance traditional work structures in order to
traditional work structures in order to
traditional work structures in order to create and here’s the key word
create and here’s the key word
create and here’s the key word compatibility between an employee’s
compatibility between an employee’s
compatibility between an employee’s needs and an employer’s objectives
needs and an employer’s objectives
needs and an employer’s objectives flexibility is not eating granola and
flexibility is not eating granola and
flexibility is not eating granola and kashmir pajamas it is embracing ambition
kashmir pajamas it is embracing ambition
kashmir pajamas it is embracing ambition and self-care and care for others
and self-care and care for others
and self-care and care for others equally and without prejudice or fear of
equally and without prejudice or fear of
equally and without prejudice or fear of reprisal flexibility is the future of
reprisal flexibility is the future of
reprisal flexibility is the future of feminism annie and i realized that we
feminism annie and i realized that we
feminism annie and i realized that we could use technology to help advance
could use technology to help advance
could use technology to help advance women and so work was born our startup
women and so work was born our startup
women and so work was born our startup work is a marketplace of flexible and
work is a marketplace of flexible and
work is a marketplace of flexible and ambitious job opportunities we empower
ambitious job opportunities we empower
ambitious job opportunities we empower women to build the careers they deserve
women to build the careers they deserve
women to build the careers they deserve while honoring the lives that they want
while honoring the lives that they want
while honoring the lives that they want to live three things happen when you
to live three things happen when you
to live three things happen when you give women access to flexible and
give women access to flexible and
give women access to flexible and ambitious jobs first flexibility keeps
ambitious jobs first flexibility keeps
ambitious jobs first flexibility keeps women in the workforce advancing them to
women in the workforce advancing them to
women in the workforce advancing them to leadership over time second flexibility
leadership over time second flexibility
leadership over time second flexibility is just good for business companies that
is just good for business companies that
is just good for business companies that have a gender diverse leadership are
have a gender diverse leadership are
have a gender diverse leadership are fifteen percent more likely to out
fifteen percent more likely to out
fifteen percent more likely to out before
before
before their peers and third flexibility is
their peers and third flexibility is
their peers and third flexibility is good for society when women are
good for society when women are
good for society when women are represented equally and leadership
represented equally and leadership
represented equally and leadership something magical happens equal
something magical happens equal
something magical happens equal representation when you put women’s
representation when you put women’s
representation when you put women’s voices and give them the same chance
voices and give them the same chance
voices and give them the same chance that men has in the places where
that men has in the places where
that men has in the places where decisions are actually made in
decisions are actually made in
decisions are actually made in boardrooms in the media on set in
boardrooms in the media on set in
boardrooms in the media on set in Congress at in the Oval Office we can
Congress at in the Oval Office we can
Congress at in the Oval Office we can eliminate gender inequity wherever it
eliminate gender inequity wherever it
eliminate gender inequity wherever it lives so what now you you’re what’s now
lives so what now you you’re what’s now
lives so what now you you’re what’s now you have the power and the ability to
you have the power and the ability to
you have the power and the ability to identify the ways in which the world is
identify the ways in which the world is
identify the ways in which the world is broken and to fix it don’t fit the world
broken and to fix it don’t fit the world
broken and to fix it don’t fit the world fix the world to fit you thank you thank
fix the world to fit you thank you thank
fix the world to fit you thank you thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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