Learning Objective: Boost executive communication skills Description: “She’s too aggressive, too bossy.” “She isn’t tough enough to lead.” -- Two seemingly contradictory statements that have both been used and can leave women confused as to just what is the right thing to say in the workplace. The fine lines between competent and bossy, or empathetic and too easy-going, can be walked with a clear understanding of the art and science of effective communication. How to deliver messages in one-on-one, small group and large group settings is a game-changing skill for anyone interested in ascending the corporate ladder. This session will examine these skills and the many ways women can leverage them to speak up in the workplace while offering techniques to overcome the fear of being disliked by their peers.

1. “The Communication Edge: What Great Leaders Talk About”

2. Kimberly Capers - Moderator
Professional Experience:
Systems Engineer and Section Supervisor of the Systems Engineering Test &
Evaluation Section at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
(JHU/APL). Section consists of five people spanning 10 programs and supporting
field test events across the US. for Sensor and Weapon Integration and Test of
Navy systems. 19 years in the Space and Defense industry and held several
leadership roles at various institutions focused on systems development, systems
integration, mission operations, and customer satisfaction.
Areas of Expertise:
• Systems Engineering, Line Management
Culture Carrier:
• Committee Member for APL Technology Leadership Scholars (ATLAS) Intern
program (JHU/APL)
• Mentor for Air and Missile Defense Sector Mentor Program (JHU/APL)
• Member of African American Culture Club (AACC) and Black Faculty and Staff
Association (BFSA) (JHU/APL)
• Board Member for Women’s Global Impact Initiative
Personal Interests:
• Mom of 2 amazing kids (12 yr old son and 10 yr old daughter)
• Love spending time with friends and family, traveling, cooking, baking,
CHOCOLATE, and powerlifting
• Have 4 MD state records with 100% Raw Powerlifting Federation to prove it : )
The Communication Edge:
What Great Leaders Talk About

3. Greg Dunn - Panelist
The Communication Edge:
What Great Leaders Talk About
Professional Experience:
Program Manager for Lockheed Martin Corporation, with oversight over a $35M program based
in Colorado and is a cutting-edge team developing embedded systems solutions targeting
problems related to cyber security. 11 years of experience in the defense industry and held
several leadership roles focused around building customer relationships and delivering business
value.
Areas of Expertise:
• Program Management & Strategic Planning
Culture Carrier:
• African American Council of Excellence (Lockheed Martin)
• Women’s Impact Network Ally (Lockheed Martin)
Personal Interests:
• Married for 5 years and dad of an amazing son (4 yrs old).
• Leading teams to achieve results that are beyond their deepest imagination – “DIG DEEP”
• Spending time with family, distance running, watching sports, reading, and playing video
games with the family.

4. Daphne McRae - Speaker
The Communication Edge:
What Great Leaders Talk About
2020 Women of Color - Technology All-Star Award Recipient
Professional Experience:
IT Portfolio Manager for J.P.MorganChase Consumer Card Banking, with oversight for a
$32MM+ Book of Work of strategic discretionary and non-discretionary initiatives across 29
feature teams, across the US and India. 23+ years of experience in financial IT industry and
held several senior roles at various institutions, where she drove high quality, strategic agile
initiatives at scale.
Areas of Expertise:
• Agile Portfolio, Program and Release Management
Culture Carrier:
• D&I Lead for Workforce Equality Working Committee
• US Global Technology D&I Program Lead for Black Technology Community
• Chase Executive Forum (CEF) D&I Committee Member
• CCB Consumer Lending Technology Hire Pillar Lead
• Card Diversity Leadership Team
• TakeITForward Working Committee Member
Personal Interests:
• Married for 21 years and mom of 2 beautiful girls (13 and 9 yrs old).
• Love spending time with family, cardio kickboxing, running half-marathons, reading and
traveling internationally.
• Women’s Empowerment Coach & Licensed Minister - SheThrives LLC

5. The Communication Edge:
What Great Leaders Talk About
It’s Time to Connect!

6. The Communication Edge:
What Great Leaders Talk About
Polling Question #1
Do you feel your voice has been silenced because
you are female, a person of color or both?

7. Polling Question #2
How you ever been told that your communication
style is too aggressive or too passive?
The Communication Edge:
What Great Leaders Talk About

8. The Communication Edge:
What Great Leaders Talk About
Polling Question #3
When you hear the word ‘amplification’ what comes
top of mind for you?

9. Myth vs Reality:
Myth #1
“She comes across too soft-spoken and quiet.”
Our Reality
“Oftentimes, our voices are the strongest, yet the
last to be heard, and respected in many rooms, so
we choose our words carefully.”
The Communication Edge:
What Great Leaders Talk About

10. The Communication Edge:
What Great Leaders Talk About
Myth vs Reality:
Myth #2
“She is always so aggressive and very confrontational.”
Our Reality
“We are known to be (second woman first) in terms of
our responsibility and influence, yet still we have to fight
for our seat at the table.”

11. The Communication Edge:
What Great Leaders Talk About
Myth vs Reality:
Myth #3
“She lacks confidence and I want her to be seen as a credible leader
of leaders.”
Our Reality
“Oftentimes, we have to contend just to be heard, while others
‘mansplain' (and get credit for) the very idea that we just conveyed 5
minutes earlier. We have to constantly defend our ideas and work
from the open-faced discrediting and knit-picking that occurs in
broader audiences and behind closed doors.”

12. Her Sound - The Lioness Roar
The Communication Edge:
What Great Leaders Talk About
Link to Lioness Video

13. 1. Direct & Deliberate
2. Passion & Fulfilled Purpose
1. To Protect
2. To Connect (Reconnect)
3. To Warn
3. Sound Frequency
4. Timing is Everything
The Communication Edge:
What Great Leaders Talk About
Lioness Lessons: The Importance of Our Sound

14. Game-Changer Techniques:
The Communication Edge:
What Great Leaders Talk About
1. Having A Seat Is Not Enough
2. Trust Your Own Voice
3. Be the Expert in the Room
4. Stop Asking for Permission
5. The Power of Amplification
6. Personal Story
7. Men As Allies
8. Personal Board of Directors
9. Executive Presence & Gravitas
10.Make Your Presence Felt

15. Having A Seat Is Not Enough
• What we have to say is just as important as
having a seat.
• Women are at the forefront effective change.
• Make your presence known as a leader and
collaborator.
The Communication Edge:
What Great Leaders Talk About
“Women belong in all places where decisions are being make.
It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.”
~ Ruth Bader Ginsburg

16. Trust Your Own Voice
The Communication Edge:
What Great Leaders Talk About
• Speak your truth
• Take control of your thoughts
• Trust and use your voice, you deserve to be in the room.
• The lioness owns her sound; it is strong, it is powerful, it is
fierce and it is laser-focused!
“Don’t let a title get in your way to inspire. Watch your
inner voice and don’t get it confused with your
environment.”
~ Rosalind Brewer, COO Starbucks

17. Be the Expert in the Room
• Learn to speak the language of your business
• Establish your credibility
- Research the competition
- Understand E2E business and driver(s)
- Familiarize yourself with industry best practices
The Communication Edge:
What Great Leaders Talk About
“Where there is change, there is a woman involved. We need
more transformational, not transactional leadership
in this time. ”
~ LaTosha Brown, CEO TruthSpeaks LLC

18. Stop Asking for Permission
The Communication Edge:
What Great Leaders Talk About
• Men seize the opportunity and just do it!
• Shift your word choice to affirmative declarations.
• Negotiate from a position of greater strength instead of
relinquishing power.
“You’ll never grow if you’re too comfortable. If you are too
comfortable, then you need to reassess.”
~ Ginni Rometty, Former CEO of IBM

19. The Communication Edge:
What Great Leaders Talk About
• Public solidarity with other women
- Endorse the idea of another woman
- Open the floor to another woman
• The Lioness and the Creche
The Power of Amplification
“If you don’t take action, then it’s not a gutsy move,
it’s just a gutsy thought. Give yourself permission to engage.”
~Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour

20. The Communication Edge:
What Great Leaders Talk About
A Personal Story
(Kimberly Capers)

21. What is a Male Ally
The Communication Edge:
What Great Leaders Talk About
Men who associate with, empathize with, cooperate with, and supports women.
They understand and value gender diversity and are actively engaged in eliminating the inequities.
Allies:
1. Listen, observe
2. Co-create opportunity
• Active engagement, speaks up, corrects behaviors (self and
others)
3. Build a personal brand for accountability & trust
• Provides objective career support while continually gaining
knowledge on their own behaviors and biases.
4. Advocate
5. Mentor

22. Be a Male Ally
The Communication Edge:
What Great Leaders Talk About
Gender partnership advances One Team,
demonstrates Relationships Matter, and
recognizes each employee for their strengths
& skills
Diverse perspectives benefit men and the
organization to catalyze innovation, team
cohesion, and earnings.
When men, at all levels, appreciate the value of
gender diversity they gain advantage, can
better affect change, and will advance equity.
Male Allies are essential to advance workplace gender equality

23. How to be a better Male Ally
The Communication Edge:
What Great Leaders Talk About
First and foremost, Listen!
Resect the Space
Remember, it’s not about
you
Get comfortable being uncomfortable
Engage in supportive partnerships with women
Remember the TWO parts to Ally-ship

24. Make Your Presence Felt
The Communication Edge:
What Great Leaders Talk About
• When some leaders walk into a room, others take
notice. When they speak, others listen.
• Leaders with executive presence are typically
considered to have weight, authority and gravitas.
- Confidence without arrogance.
- The ability to challenge without being adversarial
- Strong opinions based on solid experience
“There is no force more powerful than a woman
who is determined to rise.”
~Unknown

25. Call to Action - Reset to Rise!
The Communication Edge:
What Great Leaders Talk About
Like the Lioness, we are being called from our ‘hidden places’ to the
forefront! Our presence is being demanded at certain tables - your seat has
been earned and secured!
You have prepared for this moment. It’s time to RISE, they are WAITING
ON US!
“The lioness is dangerous when she is fully awake. What about
us? What would happen if we were dangerous and fully awake?
We must wake up, rise up and remember who we are.”
~Lisa Bevere