In celebration of Women's History Month, it's crucial to spotlight not just the achievements and struggles of women but also the support systems that play a significant role in their journey toward equality and recognition, especially in fields where they are underrepresented.
In our third installment of highlighting champions of inclusivity for Women's History Month, we're honored to feature Larry Goldberg—a visionary whose commitment to accessibility in media and technology extends naturally into advocacy for gender equality. With a career that cuts across some of the most influential organizations in accessible media, Larry’s dedication to equitable opportunities has organically aligned with the leadership of dynamic women driving innovation in his field.
Larry notes the undeniable presence and influence of women in accessible technology, recognizing their dual focus on sound business practices and social benefit as inherently promising for the future of the industry. His surroundings, bustling with female entrepreneurs and leaders, are not by his design but by the merit of their pioneering efforts. This environment exemplifies a culture where gender equality is not an afterthought but a naturally occurring state, reflecting a broader vision where inclusivity is the norm.
Acknowledging the roadblocks still prevalent in society, Larry emphasizes the richness that diversity brings to any professional discourse or panel. He points to the common oversight in conferences and media where male voices predominate, advocating for a more conscious approach to gender representation. His personal life mirrors his professional ethos; influenced by strong women like his mother, sister, and wife, he has been a living testament to a world free from the constraints of gender stereotypes. Larry lives his commitment to inclusion daily, allowing it to permeate through every interaction and decision, with a mindfulness that extends beyond gender to the intersectionality of identity.
His perspective on intersectionality is profound—seeing the human race as a spectrum of diverse characteristics, each adding value to an individual's "unique value proposition." In his collaboration with women-founded startups, he witnesses first-hand the diverse experiences that women, including those with disabilities and from various ethnic backgrounds, bring to the technology and media landscape. These experiences are not just additive but multiplicative, enhancing the richness of the network and its outputs.
Larry’s responses provide us with key insights into genuine inclusivity: an authentic appreciation for the diverse experiences and strengths that each individual, particularly women in this context, bring to the table. His vision and actions serve as a call to action for all of us, reminding us to challenge our perceptions, embrace a broader array of voices, and celebrate the multifaceted nature of human identity in our work and life.
We extend our deepest gratitude to Larry Goldberg for his openness and for embodying the values that enrich our conversations around gender and diversity—not just this month, but every day. His contributions remind us that at the intersection of technology and humanity, there is an endless opportunity for progress, innovation, and social good.
A pink gradient graphic that reads: "Women's History Month 2024, a project highlighting four supportive male allies who are doing the world to help build a more equitable society."
A pink gradient graphic with a black & white headshot of Larry Goldberg and text: "Larry Goldberg ACCESSIBILITY SENSEL, MASTER CONNECTOR, STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGIST"
A pink gradient graphic with a quote from Larry Goldberg: ""In many ways, assuring equity for women in my work is quite organic, in that a majority of the entrepreneurs and innovators in the field of accessible technology are women, women focused on equal parts good business and social benefit." - Larry Goldberg
A pink gradient graphic with a photo of Ashley Coffey & Larry Goldberg smiling and text: Building a more equitable world by challenging gender stereotypes."
Q: How do you ensure inclusivity and equal opportunities for women in your personal and professional spheres?
A: "In many ways, assuring equity for women in my work is quite organic, in that a majority of the entrepreneurs and innovators in the field of accessible technology are women, women focused on equal parts good business and social benefit. I look around me and find that the most promising and interesting leaders that I want to work with just happen to be women."
Q: How do you perceive the current state of gender equality in our society? Can you share an instance where you witnessed or became aware of gender-based discrimination?
A: "There are still too many situations where the benefits of the perspectives of diverse communities of women are overlooked. One common situation is conferences and panels (and news stories) where, inadvertently or not, the invited experts and sources are all men. The information you want to convey or discussion you want to engage in, will be so much richer if you attend to the mix of genders you reach out to."
Q: How do you challenge or combat gender stereotypes in your daily life?
A: "I am lucky to have so many smart, strong, accessible women in my life who strengthen my natural inclination toward inclusion. I was raised by a social-worker mother, my sister and my wife are both exemplars to women empowerment, and the startups I'm mentoring are all women-founded. Therefore, I strive to spend my time and energy living a life unencumbered by the burden and harms of gender stereotyping, and communicate that in all of my connections."
Q: How do you recognize and address the intersectionality of gender with other aspects of identity, such as race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status? Can you share an experience where you considered the intersectional aspects of a women's issue?
A: "My view of intersectionality is that the most important label we should be using is "human." Your race, your disability, your wealth or lack thereof, all add up to your being a member of the human race. That means you probably have a diverse set of characteristics that all go into your membership and the way you express those characteristics are your "unique value proposition" as the business world likes to call it. For example, the network of woman-founded startups I am working with in the field of accessible media and technology includes women with disabilities, women of various races, women from a number of countries - and they all bring their life experiences to enhance our network."
"I am very much honored to be asked these questions which help me to remind me of the values I care about and the ones I hope I explicitly share every day. And the ones that always need more attention."
Thank you to Larry Goldberg, for volunteering your time and energy to participate in this unique and special project!
