From the colors we wear to the way we are described as infants, our brains are flooded with gendered information that we never consciously chose. This session uses the fun yet provocative "Cake Metaphor" to show how every experience you’ve ever had is an ingredient that flavors your perception. We’ll explore the science of Statistical Learning, showing how the brain groups similarities and magnifies differences to create a predictive model of the world. You’ll discover that while "sex" is biological, "gender" is a fluid social agreement reinforced by everything from children's books to office language. By the end of this talk, you’ll be able to see the "gendered water" you're swimming in and understand how to challenge these hidden programs to foster a more inclusive, high-performing environment