When men put themselves out there they are rewarded for their assertiveness. But for women, they face a backlash, and are often labeled as aggressive, bossy or overbearing.

The double-bind facing women aspiring to advance is real — even in 2021. Today’s listener is a 20-something woman in a male-dominated industry and one of the youngest in her position. There are many open doors for advancement within the organization, but between her gender and age, she isn’t quite sure how to get noticed without becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy of negative gender stereotypes.

In this episode of That’s a Good Question, we will explore how she can manage up, advocate effectively and gain visibility among senior management. Through active problem solving, practical advice and shared experiences, you will leave inspired, confident, and armed with tools to seize advancement opportunities without negatively impacting your reputation.

Guest Expert: Mary Beth Gracy

Mary Beth Gracy serves as the office managing director for Accenture Houston. In this role, she oversees Accenture’s efforts to expand business with clients in the Houston region and grow the firm’s impact in the community. She is also responsible for creating a strong work environment for Accenture’s 2,000 employees in the Houston market. In addition, she leads the Downstream Energy business where she focuses on bringing innovation to clients and shaping long-term strategies utilizing Accenture’s robust capabilities.

After graduating from Rice University in 1990 with a BA in economics, Gracy joined Accenture (then Andersen Consulting). She is recognized as a committed professional who balances the strategic and pragmatic to achieve results. She has been instrumental in leading Accenture’s International Women’s Day events and in spearheading Accenture’s recruiting efforts at Rice University. Gracy was selected for Accenture’s CEO Circle in 2015, and was named one of Houston Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business in 2019. In addition to her responsibilities at Accenture, Gracy serves on the executive committee of the Greater Houston Partnership as well as the board of directors for Genesys Works Houston and the United Way of Greater Houston.

Our Host: Celeste Headlee

Celeste Headlee is a communication and human nature expert, and an award-winning journalist. She is a professional speaker, and also the author of Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving, Heard Mentality and We Need to Talk. In her twenty-year career in public radio, she has been the executive producer of On Second Thought at Georgia Public Radio, and anchored programs including Tell Me More, Talk of the Nation, All Things Considered, and Weekend Edition. She also served as cohost of the national morning news show The Takeaway from PRI and WNYC, and anchored presidential coverage in 2012 for PBS World Channel. Headlee’s TEDx talk sharing ten ways to have a better conversation has over twenty million total views to date. @CelesteHeadlee

Additional Resources:

* Sign up for the Nov. 9th Pennsylvania Conference for Women Virtual Career Fair. This free online event features representatives from many companies dedicated to advancing women in the workplace. Remote & flex jobs are plentiful, so check it out even if you’re not local! Closer to Massachusetts? Register for the ...