ELLA’s mission is to help increase Latina representation as key decision-makers across all sectors of our community. As it stands now, what we see in most businesses, organizations and institutions is Latinas as front-line service providers. We run storefronts and front offices. Upon entering most establishments, we are the first point of contact for customers or clients. But the higher up the chain of command or hierarchy, the less likely we are to be seen. Why? Because Latinas are rarely represented in management and executive roles.
Without Latinas, most workplaces would not function properly. We are covering every minute detail to ensure customers and clients are served well, we guarantee businesses and organizations are managed efficiently, and we make sure that managers and executives have what they need to “lead”. Latinas are in the trenches, laboring from the belly of the beast, but rarely directing from the ivory towers.
Most Latinas are quite capable of leading based on work experience alone, but we are also earning college degrees at a faster rate than many other groups, giving us the sought-after credentials that employers believe increasingly legitimizes their workforce. However, there are still several factors at play that affect a Latina’s ability to climb the proverbial corporate ladder, including management biases, sexism/machismo, microaggressions, discrimination, and even dealing with imposter syndrome.
ELLA provides a space to dive into the complexities of each of these factors, and more importantly, several recommendations to mitigate those challenging circumstances. We start by strengthening a Latina’s approach. The way we approach a problem and present ourselves has much to do with breaking glass ceilings in our respective workplaces. And often, whether it’s because of traditional cultural upbringing that teaches Latinas to be passive with the “calladita se ve más bonita” crap, or trauma from a history of workplace exploitation, gaslighting and abuse, many Latinas are sitting the sidelines too afraid to proactively move their careers in the direction they desire. We are encouraging Latinas to deal with these issues so they can move forward, deliberately taking their careers into their hands.
Taking command of your career invariably means having to speak in front of groups and making presentations, but it’s a difficult task for most people. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that over 70% of the population has extreme anxiety and fear of public speaking, or glossophobia, stating that it is feared more than death. If you’ve ever seen anyone give a public speech or workplace presentation, there is little doubt that person was very nervous. The most anxious but successful presenters practice techniques to public speaking that help them get through it while leaving their audience inspired and more knowledgeable.
It may seem like a workshop about public speaking and workplace presentations has little to do with moving the needle towards equity for Latinas, but it is extremely relevant. Our workshop for improving your public speaking ability is much more than being taught that it’s improper to say “um” and “uh” while speaking in front of a group. We go beyond teaching how to best represent the organization or company you work for. It’s really about learning how to best represent yourself, showing the people around you who you are and what you have the capacity to do.
This workshop is about building confidence, finding the strength and power you already possess, and learning techniques to better prepare yourself for more than just speaking in front of a crowd. There are fundamental principles and practices that every Latina should live and work by to increase the probability of her upward mobility and shape the career she wants.
ELLA’s public speaking and presentations workshop will make you a more effective communicator. It will teach you how to minimize your anxiety in front of large groups, provide tips for how to better organize for presentations, use your voice and body language to your advantage, and teach you how to be more persuasive and compelling.
If you’re wanting to get ahead, it starts with speaking up and showing out. Most of us have already paid our dues. It’s long past time for us take up space and take for ourselves what we’ve already rightfully earned. Join us for purposeful personal and professional growth with our public speaking and presentations workshop.
