Bridging the "Confidence Gap" - An Imperative for Women and Their Employers

As individuals progress along their careers, the impact of confidence, as opposed to competence, can play a critical role in determining who gets opportunities.  In The Confidence Code, Katty Kay and Claire Shipman discuss the gender dynamics relating to this issue, noting that women will often be reluctant to push for opportunities unless they believe themselves to be 100% qualified, whereas men will more readily embrace them even with fewer qualifications to prepare them for the position.  In a similar observation, Susan Cain (author of Quiet and a well-reviewed TED Talk) notes that introverts may also be less willing to present themselves as forcefully as their extrovert counterparts.  For employers, at both law firms and in house law departments, it is critical to ensure that opportunities are afforded based on the ability to perform effectively, not on individuals’ willingness to put themselves out there more aggressively.  

Moderator: Phil Weiser, Dean, University of Colorado Law School

Distinguished Panelists: 

• Fiona Arnold, Executive Director, Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade
• Rasmani Bhattacharya, General Counsel, Gates Corporation
• Jessica Brown, Partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP & CWBA President 
• Daphne O’Connor, Partner, Arnold & Porter, LLP

At this CLE co-sponsored by the Colorado Women's Bar Association and the University of Colorado Law School, we will discuss this challenge, evaluating how it manifests itself at different stages of a lawyer's career.

Registration includes buffet lunch from Maggiano's, courtesy of Gibson Dunn and Arnold & Porter.