Laura Bates

How can organisation leaders and managers navigate a shift to a more equitable workplace? What are some practical tips for managing different scenarios, including ‘low-level’ workplace sexism, to improve company culture? Laura explores how workplace inequality can be tackled at every career phase, from recruitment to maternity leave and beyond, and builds the business case for inclusivity: positioning your company to attract and retain talented employees via a progressive culture is a sure-fire way to enhance growth and profitability.

Included in the talk is a contextual framework of the wider picture of gender inequality and an in-depth look at how these issues manifest themselves uniquely within the workplace. Laura delves into the complexity of workplace harassment and discrimination, the ways it intersects with other forms of prejudice such as racism and homophobia and the barriers to reporting. A deeper dive into how gender inequality and discrimination manifest differently in specific spheres – policing, software engineering, finance, law etc – ends with robust and actionable solutions from both an organisational and individual perspective.

What can men in the workplace, at every level, from junior employees to the C-suite, do to help advance gender equality? Against a broader backdrop of societal inequality, this talk focuses on the importance of allyship, bystander action and a cohesive culture in which all employees play a positive role in improving culture and tackling inequality. Laura explores the ways in which stereotypes and expectations hold us all back and deconstructing some of the myths and misconceptions that might prevent people from becoming part of positive change. An active look at practical, positive action allies can take to shift stereotypes, support survivors and create change in their own sphere.

Exploring the reality of gender inequality across our society and looking at the ways in which it manifests itself in young peoples’ lives, Laura tackles issues such as intersecting injustice, media sexism, political inequality, gender stereotypes and sexual consent. Through examining questions like ‘what is sexual harassment?’ Laura looks at how young people can play a vital role in creating a more equal future. As well as talks for students, Laura also offers training for teachers and talks for parents.

A thoroughly researched exploration of the potential gendered implications of AI and emerging technologies in the workplace and beyond. We stand on the precipice of an explosion in AI and other emerging tech, leading to a seismic transformation in the online and corporate landscape. It is vital that businesses and leaders are aware of both the positive potential and the risks posed by innovative technologies such as metaverses, deepfake content creation and generative AI. In this talk Laura gives an overview of the potential pitfalls in the use of such technologies, how such mistakes risk embedding existing inequalities in the foundations of future business and society, and how to avoid replicating and exacerbating prejudice while adopting forward-thinking novel approaches. Issues examined include algorithmic bias, the potential benefits and pitfalls of utilising AI within recruitment and promotion processes, the use of virtual spaces for business settings, and the ways in which emerging technologies can best be harnessed to maximise productivity and benefit whilst avoiding unintentional bias.

A journey inside the secretive online world of the ‘manosphere,’ this talk is the result of 2 years of exhaustive undercover research during which Laura infiltrates communities from incels and men’s rights activists to pickup artists and ‘men going their own way.’ A comprehensive overview of this little-understood form of extremism, including close examination of radicalisation and recruitment techniques, particularly impacting vulnerable young people. Laura highlights some of the ways in which teachers, parents and law enforcement can recognise potential red flags and play a positive role in supporting young people who might be at risk.

Laura’s research and campaigning played a significant role in the UK government’s decision to recategorize extreme misogyny as a form of terrorism. This talk is a hugely insightful deep-dive into a topic that is pertinent for schools and teaching staff, police forces as well as counter-terror bodies.