Robin Hauser

Persuasive unconscious gender bias creates a particular challenge for women leaders. Women, unlike men, are rarely perceived as both competent and likable. The more competent a woman is, the less likable she is judged to be by both men and women. In this talk, Robin dives deep into the competence/likability dilemma, unpacks the research behind it, and explores how it influences performance reviews, promotions and leadership opportunities. She provides practical tools and strategies women can use to navigate these double standards and become respected, effective leaders without compromising their authenticity.

In this interactive session, Robin works with her audience to uncover why women tend to turn a blind eye to finances. Supported by her own experience and her extensive research on the historical, societal and cultural norms around women and money, this session invites participants to reflect on their relationship with money and to become empowered by taking the reins of their personal finances. Robin creates an open and honest dialogue about financial confidence, economic independence and the stories we inherit about wealth and worth.

By nature, humans are biased – but these biases unconsciously influence professional culture and policies that perpetuate racial and gender disparities in hiring, promotion, and performance. In this talk, Robin examines the effects of bias and what companies can do to reduce the impacts of bias on their employees. Drawing from her documentary bias and current research, she explains how assumptions are formed, how they shape decisions and how organizations can implement measurable actions to build fairer and more inclusive workplaces.

There is a dearth of women and people of color in certain fields, especially computer science and technology fields. Yet, research shows more diversity leads to greater innovation, increased engagement, higher productivity, and more market share. In this talk, Robin looks at what is responsible for this lack of diversity and how organizations can encourage inclusion. She challenges leaders to examine systemic barriers and offers concrete approaches to fostering cultures where diverse talent can thrive and contribute fully.

Persistent gender roles around money leave women particularly exposed. Eight of ten women in the U.S. will be solely responsible for managing their finances at some point in their lives. Yet, 56% of women and 61% of millennial women still abdicate major financial decisions to the men in their lives. In this talk, Robin explores why it’s more important now than ever for women to take the reins of their personal finances, how financial engagement strengthens long-term security, and what practical steps women can take to build confidence and lasting independence.

Women, on average, live longer than men. Yet women 65 and older are 80% more likely to be impoverished than men of the same age. In this talk, Robin emphasizes how important it is for women to engage in personal finance in order to secure their financial future and offers guidance on how to get started. She addresses longevity, career breaks, caregiving responsibilities and wage disparities, and provides accessible strategies to help women plan, invest and advocate for their financial well-being.

Humans are unconsciously programming bias into AI, resulting in algorithms that depict a skewed version of reality. For example, job posting sites are less likely to recommend prestigious roles to women, and predictive sentencing tools used in courtrooms are almost twice as likely to predict recidivism for African Americans than whites. In this talk, Robin explores what leads to algorithmic bias, how data reflects historical inequalities, and what organizations can do to mitigate it. She outlines practical steps for building more transparent, ethical and accountable AI systems.

Women make on average 79% of white men’s earnings. For African American women, that number drops to 63%, and for Latina women, it drops to 54%. In this talk, Robin explores what is behind this pay gap, including bias, occupational segregation and cultural expectations, and what companies can do to narrow it. She shares insights on pay transparency, equitable evaluation processes and leadership accountability as tools to drive meaningful change.

As of summer 2017, US-based Venture Capitalists invested only 4% of their funds in women-founded startups. Why aren’t Venture Capitalists investing equitably in women? In this talk, Robin looks at the reasons behind this disparity, what entrepreneurs can do to increase their chances of getting funded, and what they can do to convince investors to take a chance on someone who doesn’t “fit the pattern.” She also examines how pattern recognition, bias and networks shape investment decisions and what can be done to open access to capital.

What does it mean to be a “male ally?” How can men – both professionally and socially – be supportive in reducing expressions of gender bias and creating a more equitable playing field for women? In this talk, Robin explores what a male ally is, why allyship matters for organizational culture and performance, and how women can recruit such male allies. She provides practical examples of everyday actions that help shift norms and create shared responsibility for equality.

Women tend to leave the workforce at higher rates than men. This is not only a poor outcome for women but also for companies that benefit from gender diversity. In this talk, Robin explores the phenomena of the Competence-Likability Dilemma and the “Mommy Penalty” that contribute to women leaving the workplace and explains how companies can create supportive policies to retain female employees. She highlights leadership behaviors, structural adjustments and cultural shifts that encourage long-term engagement and advancement.

In Robin’s documentaries, CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap and bias, she explores the female experience in traditionally male environments. In this talk, Robin discusses how successful women thrive amidst gendered challenges and the benefits that female empowerment brings to workplaces, industries, and society. She shares stories from her films and from leaders she has interviewed, offering insight into resilience, confidence and collective progress.