I'm going to tell you a story. It's not a true story, it's not even based on any specific person that I know, but it's the type of story that happens all the time. Maybe it's even happened to you or someone you know.
This is the story of Jane.
Jane had always dreamed of becoming a lawyer. Growing up in a low-income neighborhood, Jane had to work hard to overcome the many obstacles in her way. She was an excellent student and graduated from high school with top grades and even attended a good college and received her law degree with honors.
But...she ran into a problem. Despite her impressive credentials, Jane struggled to find a job. She applied to law firm after law firm after law firm and sat for several interviews, but was always passed over for the job. She couldn't figure out why and now that the student loan payments were due, she had a lot of external pressure influencing her decisions. Jane couldn't understand why she wasn't getting hired, especially since she had done everything right, so she decided to take a job working the front desk at a law firm. After all, she had bills to pay...and as long as she got in the door, she was confident she could get the job she wanted.
But that didn't happen either. Jane watched as lawyer after lawyer was brought in and hired...mean while she hadn't even been considered for those roles. And eventually...the frustration and sense of failure started to build.
We won't finish Jane's story because...well, it's kind of all of our stories. Factors we cant control such as gender expression, sexuality, race, and other socioeconomic have a unique ability to limit the list of potential opportunities that come our way.
And it's time that we learn about it...and not only that, but learn how to end it. So get excited, because this is Tiny Leaps, Big Changes.
My guest today is Jessica Nordell.
Jessica Nordell is a science writer, award-winning author, and speaker known for blending rigorous science with compassionate humanity. Her first book, The End of Bias: A Beginning, won the Nautilus Award and was shortlisted for the Columbia Journalism/Lukas Prize for Excellence in Nonfiction, the NYPL Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism, the Royal Society Science Book Prize, and the National Association of Science Writers Book Prize. The End of Bias was also named a Best Book of the Year by the World Economic Forum, Greater Good, AARP, and Inc. and is currently being used by organizations from newsrooms to NBA teams to healthcare organizations to solve some of their biggest cultural challenges.
This is the first of a two part conversation on bias so, if you are interested in this topic, be sure to tune in tomorrow to catch the 2nd part.
Instagram: https://instagram.com/tinyleaps
The End of Bias: Website
Who We Are To Each Other: https://jessicanordell.substack.com/