Women in the Workforce: A Discussion on Pay Equity and the Gender Wage Gap

When:  Jun 25, 2026 from 05:00 PM to 07:00 PM (ET)

Join Emerge Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Bar Association on Thursday, June 25, from 5–7 p.m., at the Massachusetts Bar Association, 20 West St., Boston, for Women in the Workforce: A Discussion on Pay Equity and the Gender Wage Gap.

This engaging panel discussion will explore the persistent challenges and opportunities surrounding pay equity in today's workforce. Featuring Massachusetts State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg and Emily Kibbe, Legislative Coordinator for the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, the program will examine the gender wage gap, economic empowerment, workplace equity, and the policies shaping opportunities for women across Massachusetts and beyond. The discussion will be moderated by Jessica Bradley Rushing, Interim Director of Emerge Massachusetts.

Attendees will gain valuable insights into the economic and legislative factors influencing pay equity and hear perspectives on how leaders, policymakers, employers and advocates can work toward a more equitable future.

 

Panelists:

Deborah B. Goldberg, Massachusetts State Treasurer and Receiver General

Deborah B. Goldberg serves as Massachusetts State Treasurer and Receiver General, overseeing the state's cash and debt management, unclaimed property, and numerous boards and commissions. In 2015, she established the Office of Economic Empowerment, the first office of its kind in the nation dedicated to expanding financial literacy and economic opportunity. A former businesswoman and local elected official, Treasurer Goldberg is committed to fostering economic stability and opportunity for all Massachusetts residents. She is a graduate of Boston University, Boston College Law School, and Harvard Business School.

Emily Kibbe, Legislative Coordinator, Massachusetts AFL-CIO

Emily Kibbe joined the Massachusetts AFL-CIO as Legislative Coordinator in 2024 after serving as a legislative staffer in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Her work has focused on climate policy, healthcare equity, and economic mobility initiatives. Emily holds a B.A. in Political Science from Tufts University and an M.Sc. in Gender, Policy & Social Inequalities from the London School of Economics and Political Science, where her research examined gender data gaps in policymaking.

Moderator:

Jessica Bradley Rushing, Interim Director, Emerge Massachusetts

Jessica Bradley Rushing is the Interim Director of Emerge Massachusetts and a graduate of the Emerge Mass Signature Program. She previously served as Chief of Staff at AfghanEvac and as Deputy Director for Communications and Engagement in the U.S. State Department's Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts. An Army veteran, former Chair of the Pembroke Select Board, and mother of four, Jessica holds degrees from Boston University and the University of San Francisco.

Location

20 West St
Boston, MA 02111