675: How to Be a Better Ally, with Lauren Wesley Wilson

Apr 8, 2024

Lauren Wesley Wilson, founder of ColorComm Corporation and author of "What Do You Need?", dives into the crucial aspects of allyship in this engaging conversation. She emphasizes the importance of asking, "What do you need?" instead of just offering help, to better support women of color. Lauren discusses the gap between perceived allyship and the real, tangible actions that create opportunities. She highlights how true allyship is about proactive engagement, understanding privilege, and fostering genuine, reciprocal relationships in professional settings.

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ADVICE

Ask "What Do You Need?"

Instead of asking "How can I help?", ask "What do you need?"
This encourages specific, actionable requests, not broad, unhelpful offers.

INSIGHT

Unreciprocated Efforts

Women of color invest heavily in building relationships with majority culture colleagues.
However, this effort often feels unreciprocated, hindering workplace equity.

INSIGHT

Allyship Disconnect

White employees often equate allyship with speaking out against discrimination.
Women of color prioritize advocacy for new opportunities as more impactful allyship.

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Lauren Wesley Wilson: What Do You Need?

Lauren Wesley Wilson is a leading thought leader on media relations, diversity and inclusion, and crisis communications. At 25, she became the founder and CEO of ColorComm Corporation. Prior to that, Lauren worked as a communications strategist at a prestigious crisis communications firm in Washington, D.C.

Lauren has been featured in The Washington Post, Forbes, and People, as well as on MSNBC and CNBC, and more. She has been recognized by PR Week’s 50 Most Powerful in PR, Ad Age’s Women to Watch, and New York Women in Communications. She is the author of What Do You Need?: How Women of Color Can Take Ownership of Their Careers to Accelerate Their Path to Success*.

Many of us wish to be good allies in the workplace, especially to those who are underrepresented. Yet, what we assume that means isn’t always what’s most wanted or needed. In this conversation, Lauren and I discuss what leaders and peers can do to be better allies.

Key Points

Instead of asking “How can I help?” consider, “What do you need?” That’s more likely to generate specific actions.
Women of color feel like they are putting in tons of work into relationships with the majority culture, but it often feels unreciprocated.
White folks think of allyship as speaking out against discrimination. Women of color say it’s way more critical to advocate for new opportunities.
Tie allyship to economic goals: conference attendance, nominations for recognition, inclusion on high-profile committees, and position/promotion considerations.
Make invitations to people of color to be at the table. This contributes more substantially than proclamations of support.
When you make a mistake, apologize, own it, and move on. Don’t tell a story to explain yourself.

Resources Mentioned

What Do You Need?: How Women of Color Can Take Ownership of Their Careers to Accelerate Their Path to Success* by Lauren Wesley Wilson

Interview Notes

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