Bay Path to Host Free Workshop to Teach Women How to Be Their Own Salary Advocate

LONGMEADOW — Attaining a college or graduate degree is only the beginning of the road to success, and when it comes to salary, women often fall behind before they even start. Women, and especially women of color, generally earn 20% less than their male counterparts who have the same degree and same years of experience, and stand to lose over between $250,000 to $500,000 over the course of their lifetime. Success and pay parity for women requires extra attention to navigating the various phases of their careers — especially learning how to self-advocate.

In a workshop slated for Thursday, March 28, titled “The Art of Being Your Own Advocate: How Women Fall Behind Before We Even Start,” attendees will examine why self-advocacy around salary discussions is often uncomfortable for women, and how to overcome it. The event will be led by Cynthia Medina Carson, a Western Mass. native who is now a New York City-based CEO of a salary networking site and an expert on salary negotiation. As a women’s empowerment activist, she believes wage transparency and advocacy are powerful tools for women in the workforce.

This free event is open to the public and will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Wright Hall, Bay Path University, 588 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow. The workshop is hosted by Bay Path University’s Center of Excellence for Women in STEM, and is a part of Bay Path’s “Educate. Negotiate. Participate.” — a series of workshops, presentations, and curriculum highlights centered on addressing the wage gap. Professionals and students across disciplines, career stage, and industry are welcome. To learn more and to register, visit www.baypath.edu/beingyourownadvocate.