As we got closer to the event, I realized I was the only female speaker on the docket. It was shocking.

Communications is a female-dominated industry, and plenty of talented, high-profile women in Chicago could have participated. Instead Cision had male speakers for both the opening and closing keynotes. I shared my panel with four men.

To be fair, our panel did have a female moderator, the PRSA Chicago president. However, during the cocktail reception, I had several attendees (both men and women) ask me: “Why were you the only woman who spoke? Don’t we dominate this industry?”

Yes and no.

Women are still underrepresented