Slides from the Agile 2014 session in Orlando, titled "Women in Agile: Creating Teams That Embrace Diversity," presented by Diane Zajac-Woodie and Michael "Doc" Norton.

1. Women in Agile
Agile 2014
Diane Zajac-Woodie :: @AgileSquirrel
Doc Norton :: @DocOnDev

2. Name That Gender

4. The first step to defeating our hidden biases is to be honest with
ourselves about the blind spots we have. Having a bias is only human.
Dr. Mahzarin Banaji

8. Empathy Gap
We underestimate the feelings of others going through
something that we are not or have not gone through.

10. Familiarity Heuristic
The familiar is favored over novel people, places and things.

13. Stereotype Threat
When members of a group are made aware of a negative
stereotype, they are more likely to perform according to that
stereotype.

15. “I am _________”
(Use Positive, Descriptive Words)

16. Imposter Syndrome
and Women

17. Women in the Workplace

18. Girl, Interrupted

19. Listener Bias
Our perception that women talk more causes us to overestimate
how much women actually contribute to conversations.

20. Girl, Ignored

21. Girl, Ignored

22. Girl, Diminished

23. Girl, Overlooked

24. Girl, Vilified

25. Girl, Vilified
John is a confident leader whose
command,
conviction,
and great passion
guarantee him success.
Janet is an arrogant leader whose
domineering behavior,
stubbornness,
and frequent emotional outbursts
keep her from success.

26. Girl, Silenced

27. Are Agile Teams
Different?

28. Retrospectives

30. Exercise
Stand Up
Pair Programming
Estimation
Iteration Reviews

31. Stand Up

33. Estimation

37. Pair Programming

39. Iteration Reviews
a.k.a. Product Demos

41. What can you do?

42. Stop Interrupting Women
(or anyone for that matter)

43. Seek Different
Perspectives
Ask Her

44. Practice Gender Flipping
Would you say that to a dude?

47. Stop Reminding Women
That They are Women

48. Use Gender Neutral
Language
Where appropriate

49. Use Gender Neutral
Language
HE
HIM
HIS
SHE
HER
HERS
THEY
THEM
THEIR(S)

50. The first step to defeating our hidden biases is to be honest with
ourselves about the blind spots we have. Having a bias is only human.
Dr. Mahzarin Banaji
The only shame is in making no effort to improve.

51. Women in Agile
Thank You!
Diane Zajac-Woodie :: @AgileSquirrel
Doc Norton :: @DocOnDev

52. References/Credits
• http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/Outsmarting-
our-brains/$FILE/EY-RBC-Overcoming-hidden-biaises-to-
harness-diversity.pdf
!
• http://dora.wikia.com/wiki/Dora_Marquez
!
• http://bitchmagazine.org/post/adventures-in-feministory-
what-women-can-be-on-sesame-street
!
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empathy_gap
!
• http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/01/showbiz/tv/tv-kids-self-
esteem
!
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Familiarity_heuristic
!
• Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg http://leanin.org/
!
!
• http://www.academia.edu/806308/
The_role_of_stereotype_threats_in_undermining_girls_and_
womens_performance_and_interest_in_STEM_fields
!
• http://www.ncwit.org/sites/default/files/resources/
impactgenderdiversitytechbusinessperformance_print.pdf
!
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/soraya-chemaly/10-words-
every-girl-should-learn_b_5544203.html
!
• http://www.rolereboot.org/life/details/2014-07-5-simple-
ways-men-can-better-respect-women/
!
• http://junkee.com/flip-it-and-reverse-it-how-to-fight-the-
gender-wars/15081

53. Images
• http://www.mashpedia.com/Mahzarin_Banaji
!
• http://www.parenting.com/article/real-difference-between-
boys-and-girls
!
• http://www.gamezplay.org/2011/10/kinect-sesame-street-tv-
fact-sheet.html#more
!
• http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/BN-
CL822_justic_G_20140421184947.jpg
!
• http://poshnicki.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/my-trip-to-
the-toy-aisle-girls1.jpg?w=300&h=168
!
• http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/
jcpenney-promotes-im-too-pretty-to-do-homework-shirt/
2011/08/31/gIQAxFD4rJ_blog.html
• http://www.vt.edu/spotlight/impact/2009-05-18-skelton/
M_photo5.jpg
!
• http://sorayachemaly.tumblr.com/post/84061311965
!
• http://blogs.versionone.com/agile_management/wp-content/
uploads/sites/3/2013/04/Daily-Standup-Landing-page21.jpg
!
• http://www.jeffgothelf.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/
2011/11/photo-43.jpg
!
• http://www.bicyclecards.com/images/uploads/news/Dogs-
Playing-Poker-Game.jpg
!
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agile_software_development
!
• https://www.flickr.com/photos/improveit/1986907257/