Redefining Mothers as Leaders at Work

Forty-seven percent of the U.S. workforce is comprised of women who are also mothers. Yet many mothers still face challenges at work. In this talk, Dr. Naber shatters the stereotypes that create these challenges. Audiences learn how to redefine and empower mothers as leaders in the workplace.

• The demands of motherhood can create a challenging environment for women in the workforce–like the pressure to hide their role as parents, which creates isolation and impacts their career growth.
• Working mothers can face scrutiny—portrayed either as falling short of parenting expectations or celebrated only if they live up to the image of the “supermom” who can do it all.
• Working mothers can become overextended by taking on unpaid, “gender-specific” tasks such as organizing events, or providing emotional support to colleagues.
• Yet motherhood fosters crucial leadership qualities – adaptability, empathy, and strong communication.

Dr. Naber explores the negative impact of these stereotypes—not just on biological mothers but on all women, genders, and career stages, and society as a whole. Audiences learn how to champion the role of mothers as invaluable leaders and to advocate for greater inclusivity in the workplace for everyone.

Arab Americans: Beyond Invisibility and Stereotypes

Discussions about diversity rarely address the growing U.S. Arab American community. Yet Dr. Naber knows how misunderstandings and racial stereotypes about Arab Americans matter and have grave consequences in the real world and the workplace. In this talk, audiences will learn about Arab Americans beyond common perceptions of oppressed women, belly dancers, rich oil sheikhs, and terrorists. They will gain tools for understanding Arab American cultures in the real world, beyond stereotypes. She will help them see Arab Americans as individuals from 22 countries that span northern Africa to western Asia with many faiths and racial/ethnic identities. She will discuss the Arab American and Middle East/North Africa (MENA) invisibility in the US census. She will help your company recognize the Arab Americans all around us, from our neighbors and co-workers to to trailblazers like Apple founder Steve Jobs and actress Salma Hayek. Participants will leave this talk having shifted what they notice and remember about Arab Americans while growing a sense of belonging for all while preventing inequity.