Men as Allies: Evolving Workplace Dynamics

Gender equity at work won’t happen without men. But what exactly should men be doing? How should they support the women they work with? And in what ways can women shape those efforts so that they actually help us?

We speak with three experts on diversity and inclusion about how men can become effective allies. Brad Johnson and David Smith share best practices for men trying to build stronger relationships with women, and Lily Zheng joins us to talk about allyship on a systemic level.

Our HBR reading list:

• “How Men Can Become Better Allies to Women,” by W. Brad Johnson and David G. Smith
• “Social Distancing Doesn’t Have to Disrupt Mentorship,” by W. Brad Johnson and David G. Smith
• “Adapt Your D&I Efforts to the Reality of the Crisis,” by Lily Zheng
• “How to Show White Men That Diversity and Inclusion Efforts Need Them,” by Lily Zheng
• “Why Sexual Harassment Programs Backfire,” by Frank Dobbin and Alexandra Kalev

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Email us: womenatwork@hbr.org

Our theme music is Matt Hill’s “City In Motion,” provided by Audio Network.