#19 Jan 14, 26

LIVE from Women Who Count, Part Two

Recorded live at AFWA’s Women Who Count Conference, Questian and Nancy are joined by employment attorney Kami Hoskins and HR leader Julie Thiel for an unflinching conversation about sexual harassment in accounting. From boundary-crossing “jokes” and unwanted physical contact to explicit quid pro quo threats, this panel breaks down how harassment actually shows up at work… and why it’s so often minimized, misread, or missed entirely in the moment. They pull back the curtain on what really happens when HR gets involved, why silence is often mistaken for professionalism, and how power dynamics shape who is believed and who is protected. This is Part Two of a two-part live recording examining how workplace culture enables harm—and what it takes to change it.

Sponsors
Forwardly - https://www.forwardly.com/shecounts
Relay- https://relayfi.com/shecounts
Client Hub - https://www.clienthub.app/lp/shecounts

(00:00) - Introduction and Overview
(01:32) - Addressing Harassment Beyond the Workplace
(02:32) - Handling Client Harassment
(03:39) - Building HR Resources for Small Firms
(04:26) - The Role of Supervisors in Reporting
(06:04) - Legal Recourse and External Resources
(08:37) - Strategies for Employees to Resist Harassment
(21:35) - Creating a Culture of Accountability and Respect
(30:20) - Using Data to Assess Organizational Culture
(31:31) - Audience Q&A Begins
(33:42) - The Importance of Tone from the Top
(36:27) - Handling Sensitive Situations in Volunteer Organizations
(39:34) - Addressing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
(49:53) - Rapid Fire Q&A
(53:09) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources

Slide Deck - https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1EVkM2HbslFIqWXhDHWxkgYpmtk_0ZG0lJ9yE-DgdNdw/

Live Audience’s Mentimeter Word Cloud - https://photos.app.goo.gl/jh2d42QmRRZwKL9R7

AFWA Women Who Count Conference - https://www.afwa.org/women-who-count/

Kami Hoskins - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kami-hoskins-132aaa2a/ - creates and implements effective solutions for employers navigating complex labor and employment law issues, providing meticulous defense in state and federal courts as well as before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, National Labor Relations Board, and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.She advises employers on employment policies and handbooks, performance management, accommodations, reductions in force, and workplace investigations. She negotiates and drafts employment-related agreements, including non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality agreements. She also has extensive experience leading employment practices trainings for attorneys, HR professionals, and managers.

In addition to her labor and employment practice, Kami advises businesses on sustainability and ESG strategies, including sustainability disclosures under relevant regulatory frameworks, greenhouse gas goal setting, DEI programs, and social impact programs. With a strong capacity for high-stakes, people-centered work and a decisive, detail-oriented approach to problem-solving, Kami’s dynamic practice also includes commercial litigation and business reorganization matters.

Kami has been a volunteer with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley since 2012 and a member of the Executive Committee since 2019. On Saturday mornings, you can find Kami volunteering with the Arizona Humane Society.

Julie Thiel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliemthiel/ - helps professional services firms transform high-turnover environments into talent magnets. With 30+ years in HR leadership, Julie implements her proven, practical retention framework to reduce costly turnover in accounting, engineering, and IT organizations. She combines expertise in emotional intelligence and retention strategy to deliver practical solutions that leaders can implement immediately. Julie has presented at APWA Minnesota, Dakota County Chamber of Commerce, School Nutrition Association, and the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Business. Her audiences praise her relatable style and actionable insights that transform retention challenges into strategic advantages.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - https://www.eeoc.gov/data/sexual-harassment-our-nations-workplaces

Women in the Workplace 2024 - https://leanin.org/women-in-the-workplace