Mary Shapiro

Associate Professor, Faculty Affiliate, Center for Gender in Organizations
P: 617-521-3860
F: 617-521-3880
mary.shapiro@simmons.edu

M.B.A. Wright State University; M.S. Wright State University; B.A. Wright State University


“If two [people] think alike on a team, one of them is redundant.”  William Wrigley

Specialization

Communication Strategies, Career Strategies, Public Speaking, and Team Leadership

Bio

For more than 20 years as a consultant, executive trainer, and faculty member, Professor Shapiro has worked with public and private companies to develop the infrastructure and competencies critical to reaching organizational goals. She joined the Simmons MBA faculty in 1993, and has developed and delivered Simmons Executive Education programs since 1988. Shapiro specializes in four areas: team building and intervention, communicating in a diverse and virtual environment, personal effectiveness in influence and motivation, and strategic career management. She developed "The Communication Styles Diagnostic," a tool that has been used by thousands of managers to improve their effectiveness with individuals and teams. She co-authored two books—Your Job Interview: An Easy, Smart Guide to Interview Success; and Take Charge of Your Career with SOM colleague Dr. Cynthia Ingols—which extend an understanding of interviewing and work strategies to include the nuances of gender and many dimensions of diversity. She continues her research in the area of women, their careers, and their relationship with power.

Throughout her professional career, Shapiro has consulted with public and private Fortune 500 clients, such as ESPN and Merck Pharmaceuticals. She continues to create and deliver an inventory of seminars, serve as an executive speech coach, and help organizations launch teams and turn around teams in crises.

Current Course(s)

  • Career Strategies (MBA)
  • Communication Strategies (MBA)

Publications

Academic Articles (Peer Review)

  • Shapiro, M., Ingols, C. , & Blake-Beard, S. (March, 2008). Confronting Career Double Binds: Implications for Women, Organizations, and Career Practitioners. Journal of Career Development.

Books

  • Shapiro, M. & Ingols, C. (2005). Taking Charge of Your Career, Silver Lining Press.
  • Shapiro, M. & Ingols, C. (2003). Your Job Interview: An Easy Smart Guide to Interview
    Success    , Silver Lining Press.

Professional Publications

  • Optioning In Versus Opting Out: Women Using Flexible Work Arrangements for Career Success, CGO Insights, No. 25, Center for Gender in Organizations, School of Management, Simmons College, Boston, MA (2007).

Invited Articles/Reviews

  • Shapiro, M. (2006). Branding Your HR Department. Hr Magazine.

Research

Women's career choices, impact of race and ethnicity on women’s careers, women facing gendered career dilemmas, high performing work teams, and women's relationship with power

Professional Memberships

Member:

  • 2004-present: Society for Human Resource Management
  • 2001-present: Eastern Academy of Management

Positions Held in Civic Organizations:

  • 2003-present: Patriots Trail Girl Scout, Board of Directors
  • 1992-2004: Girl Scout Leader, resulting in 3 girls receiving Gold Award
  • 1993,1994,1996, 2000, 2008: Proposition 2˝ Override, Leadership on committee to pass Proposition 2˝ Override

Consulting Work

Confidential work with Fortune 500 companies, private institutions, and non-profits.  Work with Boards and teams, including:

  • Creating vision, mission and strategic plan. 
  • Launching teams with goals, roles, norms, project plans. 
  • Planning with Balanced Scorecard, SWOT, and other planning tools  Training and development of team members; intervention of teams in crises.

Speaking Engagements

2008

  • Can There Be Flexibility in the Unionized Public Sector?,  Massachusetts Municipal Association Convention (Local).                                                                            
  • What’s Their Problem? Why Don’t They get it? Understanding Communication Styles, CASE Conference (Local).                                                       
  • Creating Credibility and Authority, The Exchange’s 2008 Women’s Lyceum (Kansas City).
  • Changing Career Paradigms,  The Exchange’s 2008 Women’s Lyceum (Kansas City).
  • Creating Credibility and Authority, National Council Conference (National).

2007

  • Can there be flexibility in the Unionized Public Sector?,  Naragansett Bay Commission Conference (Local).
  • Speak their Language: A Model for Making Your Case, Harvard University Alumni Affairs and Development Conference (Local).
  • Persuade as if Your Job Depended on It, and it Does, Women in Development Regional Conference (Local).
  • Can There Be Flexibility in the Unionized Public Sector? 9th Annual Summer Labor and Employment Conference (Maine).
  • Optioning In Versus Opting Out: Women and Flexible Work Arrangements, CGO Distinguished Scholars Lecture Series (Local)
  • Optioning In Versus Opting Out: Women and Flexible Work Arrangements, SOM Leadership Donor Group (Local).
  • Optioning In Versus Opting Out: Women and Flexible Work Arrangements, Madrinas Leadership (Local).
  • Optioning In Versus Opting Out: Women and Flexible Work Arrangements, NECN TV, “Wired” Interview (Regional).
  • Establishing Credibility and Authority, Ernst & Young (Texas).
  • Speak Their Language: A Model for Making Your Case, CASE Conference (NYC).

2006

  • Rules for Career Success, Ernst & Young (Local).
  • Communicating Across Differences: Being Effective in a Diverse Workforce, Harvard University Diversity Council (Local).
  • Towards Collaboration: Creating Support Across Library Teams, Boston Library Consortium (Local).
  • Communicating Across Differences: Make Your Case and Make the Sale, American Marketing Association (Local).
  • Positioning for Success: Managing Your Career, SOM Alumnae Day (Local).
  • Communicating Across Differences: Effective Leadership in a Diverse World, Network of Executive Women (Local).

2005

  • Establishing Credibility and Authority, Ernst & Young (Local).
  • Cross Cultural Differences in the Workplace, Women in Transportation, Boston, Massachusetts (Local).
  • Leading Teams, Dana Farber Development Office, Boston, Massachusetts (Local).
  • Establishing Credibility and Authority Across Gender, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Boston, Massachusetts (Local).
  • Career Dilemmas Facing Women Today, Hewlett Packard Women (Local).

2004

  • Presenting with Credibility and Authority, Women's Association of Verizon Employees (Local).
  • Women Facing Career Dilemmas, Women's Association of Verizon Employees (Local).
  • Credibility in the Classroom: Gender Dynamics in Making Presentations, Association of Harvard Women's Medical Faculty, Boston, Massachusetts (Local).
  • Establishing Credibility and Authority: Standing Before a Venture Capital Board, Women Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology (Local).
  • Boards as Teams, Boston Library Consortium (Local).

2003

  • Putting Your Best Foot Forward when Presenting, Women's Transportation Seminar, Boston, Massachusetts (Local).
  • Managing Your Career in Turbulent Times, SOM Alumni Reunion Day (Local).
  • Differing Realities: Gender Dynamics in Communications, Boston Chamber of Commerce (Local).
  • Marketing the Brand Called You, EMC Women's Leadership Forum (Local).

 

Last Updated: May 20, 2008 12:12 PM | Content Editor: SOM