Dr. Sondra Thiederman
Workplace diversity, cross-cultural business, and bias reduction

Dr. Sondra Thiederman is one of the nation's leading experts on workplace diversity, cross-cultural business, and bias reduction. As President of Cross-Cultural Communications, a San Diego-based training firm, Sondra has 25 years experience as a speaker, trainer, and author helping professionals in Fortune 500 companies, public sector organizations, and dozens of associations find ways to successfully navigate our increasingly-diverse and global workplaces.

Since receiving her doctorate with an emphasis on cross-cultural studies from UCLA, Sondra has helped hundreds of organizations develop solutions to their cross-cultural and diversity challenges.

Among her clients are such leading organizations as Xerox Corporation, FedEx Corporation, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Marriott Corporation, Century 21 Real Estate, American Express, The Federal Reserve Bank, Motorola, and AT&T.

She has also addressed notable associations including the Arthritis Foundation, the Mortgage Bankers Association, the American Society of Association Executives, and the American Immigration Lawyers Association. In addition, she has served as consultant to the University of California and the American Cancer Society and has been appointed by Elizabeth Dole to serve on the Diversity Cabinet of the American Red Cross.

Sondra has extensive media experience including mention in such national publications as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and U.S.A Today. She is published in professional journals ranging from T&D to Real Estate Today to Association Management, has written on diversity for the web site Monster.com, and is the author of four books including:

• Bridging Cultural Barriers for Corporate Success: How to Manage the Multicultural Work Force
• Getting "Culture Smart": Ten Strategies for Making Diversity Work
• Profiting in America's Multicultural Marketplace: How to do Business Across Cultural Lines
• Making Diversity Work: Seven Steps for Defeating Bias in the Workplace.

Most Requested Programs:

• "Bias-Free Leadership: Your Competitive Advantage"
  Bias in the workplace has for too long been misunderstood, mis-defined, and misdiagnosed. This involving and informative presentation takes a fresh look at what bias is, how it impacts our workplaces, and, most important, what to do about it. Designed to entertain and motivate change while providing practical skills, "Bias-Free Leadership" is based on Sondra's latest book, Making Diversity Work: Seven Steps for Defeating Bias in the Workplace. Through the use of anecdotes and real workplace examples, it takes participants through the key steps for identifying and defeating the subtle biases that can compromise the decision-making ability of even the most skilled managers.
  
  
• "Is 'Guerilla Bias'™ Making War on Your Organization?"
  Based on the premise that even "nice" people have biases that interfere with effective workplace performance, this entertaining and involving presentation provides the audience with practical skills for minimizing bias in themselves and others. Drawing on material from her book, Making Diversity Work, Sondra focuses, less on the blatant "isms" (racism, sexism, etc.), and more on a particularly incidious brand of prejudice -- "Guerilla Bias."™ Called "Guerilla Bias"™ because, like a guerilla warrior who lies concealed in beautiful jungle foliage, this kind of bias hides behind seemingly kindly thoughts and compassionate acts.
  
  
• "Gateway Events: How to Turn Diversity Tension into Diversity Dialogue"
  Moments of tension are inevitable when working with people whom we perceive to be different from ourselves. This does not mean, however, that these encounters need be destructive or disruptive to your ability to function effectively. They can, instead, serve as "Gateway Events" to increased understanding and reduced bias. This skill-based presentation supplies participants with techniques for turning diversity-related conflicts into opportunities for connection and increased understanding. Illustrated with real-workplace examples and sprinkled with respectful humor, participants will learn exactly what to do when workplace tensions arise.
  
  
• "Bias-Free Sales: The Key to Success"
  In today's increasingly-diverse marketplace, sales professionals cannot succeed without the ability to interpret accurately the needs of each and every prospect. More than any other single factor, it is biases - inflexible beliefs about a particular category of people - that create the misunderstandings that in turn bring about reduced sales, lost prospects, and, ultimately, diminished profits. Using real workplace examples along with a touch of humor, this presentation provides skills for overcoming the subtle biases that all-too-often interfere with successful sales relationships.
  
  
• "Bias-Free Customer Service"
  Accidental offense, missed communication, negative word-of-mouth, lost customers - each of these revenue-costing nightmares is the certain result of the subtle biases that many of us bring to our interactions with customers of diverse backgrounds. This practical yet entertaining talk supplies specific information about diverse populations while showing audiences how to overcome the biases that prevent us from meeting the individual needs and expectations of each and every customer.

Testimonials:
"Sondra's perspective and her ideas about diversity are new and refreshing. That, coupled with her engaging, energetic delivery style, made our conference a success. She did a fabulous job." Jo Jerman Vice-President, Southeast Business Group, Merck & Co., Inc.

"When I book a speaker, I always hope he or she will either inspire, educate, or motivate the audience. You did all three and you did it with ease-I couldn't recommend you to others more highly."
Deb Curtis, Principal Financial Group

"The enthusiasm Sondra generated carried throughout the entire conference and back into the workplace. She allowed us to look at ourselves without fear and gave us a clear route to increased effectiveness."
Janet Peterson, U.S. Department of Agriculture

"'Refreshing,' 'Entertaining,' 'Valuable Material' - these are some of the comments we received following Sondra's talk at our International Conference."
Cici Thompson, Vice President, Meetings, Employee Relocation Council

"You inspired and educated with a sense of fun our audience of over 400 people. Your address made a lasting impression. It will make a real difference in our workplace."
Rebecca E. Steele, Director, OD and Training, SteinMart

Travels From: California

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