Overcoming Hidden Biases that Hinder Our Success
Unconscious biases are hidden, reflexive preferences that shape our world view. The presence of such biases can profoundly affect how welcoming and open a workplace is to different people and ideas. Unconscious predispositions shape the decisions we make by affecting the way we interpret information and how we interact with others. As HR professionals, we know that diversity is a business-critical factor in the ability to innovate, attract clients, and retain and cultivate the best talent amidst a changing population and unpredictable business conditions. This session will review the types, causes and impact of hidden bias, as well as the strong business case for diversity. It will also provide practical strategies to minimize or eliminate bias from our decision-making, interactions and processes to help build more diverse and inclusive workforces.
This session will provide you with:
· An understanding of the different types, causes and impact of bias in the workplace.
· An understanding of the strong business case for diversity.
· An understanding of individual and organizational strategies to minimize or eliminate bias.
· Strategies on how to apply knowledge about bias and tools to improve diversity and inclusion in your organization.
Shawn Andrews

She’s been a Forbes contributor, quoted in the Chicago Tribune, interviewed on dozens of podcast and radio shows, including NPR, and is a Women’s Media Center SheSource expert.
Shawn speaks and consults to a diverse range of clients, including the United Nations, Broadcom, Johnson and Johnson, Bristol-Myers Squibb, GSK, Rust-Oleum, Experian, National Diversity Council, Association for Talent Development, and Society for Human Resource Management.
With over two decades of corporate experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, she has helped thousands of leaders improve and develop using presentations, workshops, coaching, and psychological instruments. She is an accredited practitioner for EQ-i 2.0 and EQ 360 model and Insights Discovery Colors.
She serves as professor at both UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business and Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, teaching courses on Women and Leadership, Organizational Behavior, Diversity in Organizations, and Leadership and Ethics. Her specific areas of focus include Organizational Leadership, Learning & Development, Talent Management, Diversity & Inclusion, and Unconscious Bias.
Shawn earned her Ed.D. degree in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University, an M.B.A. degree from Pepperdine University, and a B.A. degree in Psychology from University of California, Irvine.
She serves as Board President, Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association, Orange County, is a member of 50/50 Women on Boards Leadership Committee, and is founder and CEO of Andrews Research International.
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