Cynthia Fortlage

It is much more challenging being an executive as a woman than as a man. I should know; I have been both! At 50 and the peak of my professional success, I transitioned on the job. In this class, I will share what I learned and tips for organisations to be more diverse and inclusive, based on my philosophy of Acceptance without Understanding™.

They say you can’t change what you don’t know. Through this class, we will raise your conscious awareness so that you can begin to do the work necessary to ensure you are not contributing to the oppression of others and perhaps even become an ally for them.

We will discuss life, sexuality, gender, identity, privilege, and many other aspects. Along the way, I will share some stories to help you grasp the concepts we are talking about.

In this session, we will discuss;
- Acceptance without Understanding
- What is Gender
- Elements of Gender
- Different Identities
- Why language matters
- What I wish my employer had known
- Active Allyship
- Q&A

Do you carry privilege? Have you ever done a privilege walk? Have you ever thought about what privilege looks like in your life? If your answer is No to most of these questions, then this session is for you.

There are 8 major aspects of socially constructed privilege, and in this class, we will explore two of them. You may not be aware of your privilege because of bias, so we need to explore that as well.

We will explore Gender-based privilege and how social dominance is given based on gender, and how that causes oppression to others. Learning what behaviours may signal that you enjoy privilege, as most oppressed folks are already keenly aware.

We will also explore White Privilege, not racism, as they are two different things. How race-based privilege affects relationships, safety, economic equity and much more.

They say you can’t change what you don’t know, so you will come to this class with unconscious bias that may originate from your privilege.

Learning to Live Life with Less Judgement
Learning to Live Life with Acceptance comes from a deeply personal space. Grasping the power of acceptance in your own life will empower you to rise above your current situation and find ways to realize your life's goals. Learning the 5-step model of Acceptance without Understanding ™ will equip and prepare you for your journey to success.
This workshop is for you if.
- You want to learn not to judge a book by its cover when it comes to people
- You want to know why language matters.
- You want to learn to find pearls of wisdom within yourself to find your purpose.
- You want to learn about being your authentic self.
- You want to learn to raise your consciousness in life.
Outline
• Cynthia Introduction/Exercise
• Acceptance Begin/Grow
• What is Acceptance
• Five steps acceptance
• Four pillars of authentic self
• Conscious vs unconscious competence
• Values
• Pearl exercise
• Language
• I am enough
• Be like a clock

Are you having a Pride event at work and need a dynamic, professional speaker who can share a story that touches peoples hearts, opens their minds, and educates them?

I will help you deliver value for their time?

Topics can include:
- transition story
- corporate life
- global audiences
- words matter
- gender isn't binary
- life lessons
and much more

Do you want to increase your economic power and increase representation in leadership within your organization? Do you know what it takes to get there? This talk will outline Cynthia's journey to harnessing both power and representation within her organization and beyond.

In this session, I will share reflections on;
- How Gender shapes your experiences in the boardroom
- Why Language Matters
- Allyship for Women and marginalized persons
- Open Q&A with the audience