As part of our ongoing efforts to maintain an open and supportive office culture, Montgomery Sisam’s Working Group for Equity and Inclusion hosted a panel discussion to explore and raise awareness of unconscious bias – social stereotypes we may form beyond conscious awareness. Unconscious bias can be a barrier to understanding the experience of many marginalized groups, and interfere with employees’ sense of comfort and belonging in the workplace.
Panelists were three women who are exceptions in their field: Debbie Lewin, president of general contracting company StructureCorp, Frances Martin Di-Guiseppe, founder and principal of Q4 Architects, the largest sole female-owned practice in Canada, and Vicki Saunders, founder of SheEO, a global initiative transforming support to promote female entrepreneurs. While the discussion was hosted by women, the office-wide discourse focused on this topic as it pertains to many other groups with intersecting experiences and untold stories.
The discussion was enlightening, challenging, empowering, and constructive. We look forward to continuing this dialogue and learning from one another’s perspectives, to better represent the diverse culture within our office and design for the diversified nature of our cities.