Working Across Differences
As the first female columnist ever hired at Flying magazine, and a woman who spent 30 years working successfully in an industry that was 94% male, Lane is certainly aware of the challenges facing any minority working in a majority-culture environment. But those three decades taught her two critical lessons: First: that her success came from approaching her situation as a cross-cultural challenge instead of a fight for voice, respect, and inclusion. Second: that those cross-cultural challenges exist for ANY team of people, because we’re all different. Different worldviews. Different individual and cultural backgrounds. Different personalities. So the skills and approach she developed to work successfully across gender differences can improve how any diverse team or group interacts and works together.
Lane’s cross-cultural framework, which acknowledges that those on the outside often have to make the first move, and that everyone has an equal responsibility to reach across differences and build bridges wherever possible, sets her work apart from most traditional DEI efforts. Strong management standards and support for interpersonal conduct still matter. Effective avenues to address intentional harm still matter. But Lane’s approach is practical, not ideological. And the skills she teaches make everyone a better team player.
Men in Lane’s audiences have commented, after hearing her talk, that she was the first women they’d heard speak on diversity and inclusion whom they found themselves actually wanting to listen to; the first talk they’d sat through where they didn’t feel resentful at being made to feel like the bad guys. And, more significantly, that she was the first person they’d heard talk on the subject who made them really want to do more to help support women and minorities in their midst.
Women's Groups
In addition to speaking to diverse audiences, Lane also works specifically with women’s groups to help them develop more of the strength and skills they need to thrive in male-dominated environments. Based on the concepts she writes about in her “Core Strength” columns for Women in Aviation, International, she focuses on two key components. The first is how to build more emotional and psychological “core strength” by: 1) developing a more grounded sense of who we are and what matters most to us; 2) acquiring a sense of peace about ourselves and our choices, and 3) focusing our ambition on intrinsically-rewarding goals instead of external markers of success. The second component is how to apply that strength and self-knowledge to make happier career choices, pick the battles that matter, build bridges across differences, and become far more flexible, resilient, insightful and effective in our interactions with others .. especially in a challenging workplace culture.
“Lane Wallace has the exceptional ability to connect with her audience. She proved to be a great asset and she added tremendously to the success of our ventures. We highly recommend her!”
—Anna Pangrazzi
Apex Aviation, Toronto, Canada.
Living in a man's world: Lane with the blimp crew she lived and worked with, flying a blimp across Europe
“Lane exceeded our expectations and greatly enhanced our ability, both as individuals and as a group.”
—Craig Leach
President and CEO
Torrance Memorial Medical Center
Core Strength in action: Cindy Silong and Lane flying relief supplies in Africa
“Anyone who has heard Lane Wallace speak finds themselves being drawn back to hear her again. In venues with a dozen speakers performing simultaneously, her audiences consistently number in the hundreds.”
—Cam Martin
NASA
“Our industry executives were riveted by Lane Wallace's insightful and inspirational comments and advice.”
—Barbara Higgens
Plumbing Manufacturers International
Even with supportive leadership, being happy and effective as a minority in a majority culture requires a delicate balance between building bridges and drawing boundaries. If a woman is great at building bridges, she’ll have much more support in drawing those necessary boundaries. She’ll also be better at gaining support anywhere she wants to have impact or wishes to effect change––not just in the workplace, but in the rest of her life, as well.
Lane is available to speak to diverse audiences, including corporate teams and non-profit organizations; women’s groups or affinity groups of any minority; or to facilitate Core Strength-building workshops. Additional resources and support for her in-person work can be found in her “Core Strength” columns and on her No Map. No Guide. No Limits. website. For more information, contact Lane.
“Lane held us spellbound as she shared her stories. Her style ranges from lighthearted to a passion that enthralls and engages the audience with a genuine and very personal touch.”
—Phil Tartalone
Great Lakes Aviation Conference