Allyship in Action

Jennifer Brown is back to unpack her new book, The Shape of Change, the journey through allyship and change. Together, we discuss:

How change can feel like being in a dark hallway and trying to find the path forward in uncertain times

What inclusive leadership looks like when we are called to be brave in unprecedented times

The tools to build resilience to shape the changes necessary to our important work

Follow Jennifer and get her book at https://jenniferbrownspeaks.com/

Culture isn't just a poster on the wall. Culture is the heartbeat of a thriving business. This interview with Teresa Johnson, CEO of Color Me Mine, explores the incredible journey from being a single mom to purchasing a pottery studio on a credit card, leading a franchise empire of over 150 locations. Teresa shares her secret sauce for scaling businesses through intentional culture and the unique challenges of leading remote teams across the country.

Key Takeaways

Leading Without Hallways: Building culture in a remote or franchised environment requires a new leadership skillset. Teresa emphasizes the importance...

In this episode, Julie Kratz welcomes Jennifer McCollum, President and CEO of Catalyst, a global nonprofit focused on workplace equity. They discuss the critical role of men in gender partnership and the release of Jennifer's book, Men at Work. The conversation delves into the systemic challenges women face, the data supporting inclusive leadership, and how men can transition from passive support to active, mutually accountable leadership.

Key Takeaways  

Mutual Accountability Over Passive Support: The concept of "men as allies" has evolved into gender partnership, emphasizing that progress requires men and women working together with mutual ac...

In this episode of Allyship in Action, Julie Kratz is joined by HBR writer, executive and team coach, Kathryn Landis, to explore capacity erosion—the gradual depletion of energy and focus facing today's leaders. In an era of constant change and cognitive overload, Landis shares how leaders can reclaim their impact by shifting from micromanagement to intentional empowerment and strategic reflection.

Key Takeaways

Focus on Your "$100 Activities": Leaders often gravitate toward low-impact tasks for a quick sense of productivity. Reclaiming capacity requires identifying the high-level strategic work that only you can do.

"Get re...

Alyssa Dver, founder of the ERG Leadership Alliance, joins us this week to highlight the critical shift toward structured governance and the use of hard metrics to demonstrate how these groups drive corporate engagement and long-term business impact.

My Key Takeaways:

Governance is the future of ERGs: Alyssa emphasizes the shift from informal groups to structured organizations with clear governance and professional development paths for leaders.

Measurement is mandatory: To gain executive buy-in and sustainability, ERG leaders must track metrics ranging from membership growth and event participation to high-level retention and engagement data.<...

In this episode, Julie Kratz discusses global workplace culture strategies with Abi Adamson, founder of the Culture Partnership and a LinkedIn Top Voice. Abi introduces her "SERN" framework—Soil, Exposure, Roots, and Nutrients—as a way for leaders to move beyond performative DE&I and begin gardening their organizations for sustainable growth.

Three Key Takeaways

Cultivate Your Culture Like a Living Ecosystem. Instead of treating culture like a static construction project with a fixed end date, leaders should act as gardeners who constantly tend to the environment. "Organizations still treat culture like a construction project inst...

Lily Zheng is a no-nonsense DEI strategist and best-selling author of DEI Deconstructed and Fixing Fairness. They discuss the limitations of traditional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and introduce Lily's FAIR framework: Fairness, Access, Inclusion, and Representation. Lily challenges the industry's reliance on "one-and-done" training and advocates for a 90/10 split—prioritizing system-level changes over individual interventions. This conversation is a masterclass for leaders who want to move beyond performative buzzwords to create workplaces that truly work for everyone.

Key Takeaways

Evolving DEI to FAIR: Lily proposes replacing the broad, often misunderstood terms of DEI wit...

In this episode, I'm sitting down with the incredible Dr. Caroline Fleck, clinical psychologist and author of the transformative new book, Validation. We often talk about allyship as a series of seemingly small, intentional actions, and some of the most profound work happens in the small, everyday moments of how we see and hear one another.

Dr. Fleck joins me to pull back the curtain on validation—a skill that is frequently misunderstood but serves as a fundamental prerequisite for belonging and true connection. We dive into her "Validation Ladder" and explore how these techniques can revolutionize not...

This week, I welcome David Glasgow and Kenji Yoshino, co-authors of the new book How Equality Wins: A New Vision for an Inclusive America. As leaders of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at NYU School of Law, David and Kenji discuss the legal and political landscape of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) following the 2023 Supreme Court decision on affirmative action. They provide a practical roadmap for leaders to advance equality while navigating legal risks and political backlash.

My Key Takeaways

The "Three Ps" of Legal Risk: A DEI program is generally only...

In this episode, Ciaran McArdle, CEO of XL Sports World and author of The Soccer of Success, joins Julie Kratz to discuss how the principles of the "beautiful game" can be used to transform corporate leadership.

McArdle shares three key strategies for high-performance leadership, drawing parallels between the soccer pitch and the professional workplace:

1. Tailored Leadership: Meet Team Members Where They Are

Effective leadership requires a nuanced approach, much like a soccer captain managing a diverse squad.

Individualized Communication: McArdle notes that while one teammate may need direct, vocal feedback to...

Join us for an insightful conversation on the critical state of workplace culture and talent retention with Sean D'Arcy, Chief Solutions Officer at Kahoot!.

Based on their latest research, we explore a startling paradox: many leaders are burned out, and nearly half would give up their title to feel engaged at work. This lack of manager engagement creates a difficult environment for the newest generation, with almost two-thirds of managers finding Gen Z to be the hardest group to engage.

Sean D'Arcy dives deep into the findings on both leader burnout and Gen Z's unique...

This week, I welcome researchers Hana Milanov and Amelie Pahl on their work exploring entrepreneurship through the lens of first-time parents.

The researchers interviewed founders who were already deeply identified with their "venture baby" before having a "biological baby," challenging the common narrative that parenthood diminishes career success. They discovered that instead of being a hindrance, parenthood can be a catalyst for positive change in a founder's business and their professional growth.

The key finding revolves around two main strategies founders adopt:

Founder Firewalling: Keeping the parental and founder roles separate to protect...

Mark Scullard is this week's guest from Wiley. Wiley's research recently found that managing change was the biggest area of professional development investment for leaders. He shares how to meet someone where they are at in times of tremendous change. My key takeaways are:

Get ready for your annual "Christmas morning" with this deep dive into the 2025 Lean In Women in the Workplace Report.

In this candid conversation with Rachel Thomas, Co-founder and CEO of LeanIn.org, we discuss the key findings from the largest study on the state of women in Corporate America.

The discussion highlights alarming signals in the data, including a potential rollback in the company's commitment to women's advancement and its effect on women's ambition. Rachel highlights the importance of the often underutilized role of sponsorship and issues a powerful call to action for companies...

Jon Rosemberg is the author of the new book, A Guide to Thriving. He was a successful leader in Corporate America and made a pivot to executive coaching. This conversation with Jon was truly insightful, reminding us that workplace culture and retention aren't just HR buzzwords, but are fundamentally linked to our ability to shift from surviving to thriving. My takeaways were:

Prioritize Employee Agency to Foster a Thriving Workplace Culture: The shift from "survival mode" to thriving starts when individuals courageously reclaim their agency—the capacity to make intentional choices based on the belief that those ch...

In my new interview with Melissa Loble, Chief Academic Officer at Instructure, we discussed the evolving educational landscape. She made a few key predictions for the future of education in an AI-driven world:

1. The Blended Curriculum: Academic Content Merges with Human and Career Skills

The traditional focus on purely academic content will radically shift. The future curriculum will be a blend that incorporates three critical components:

Academic Content: The core disciplinary knowledge.

Human Skills (Soft Skills): Due to AI handling entry-level technical tasks, there will be an increased emphasis on human...

This week, I interviewed Claude Silver, the Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX. Her new book, Be Yourself at Work, offers key insights into the role of authenticity in the workplace culture and its impact on retention.

Here are my three key takeaways:

1. Authenticity as a Business Superpower for Workplace Culture

The core message is to "be yourself at work," which Silver argues is today's greatest business superpower. This speaks directly to workplace culture, suggesting that genuine self-expression, rather than hiding or "code-switching," is crucial for both individual and organizational success. Silver makes the c...

Kristen Kavanaugh is the author of Courage Over Fear and the founder of The Agency Initiative, working to connect people's work with meaning in alignment with their values. Previously, she was the vice chair of the Defense Advisory Committee on Diversity & Inclusion and the senior director of inclusion, talent & learning at Tesla. Here are my key takeaways:

Values Dissonance Drives Talent Away: The conflict between personal values and the actions or culture of a company—especially at the leadership level—causes significant personal distress and ultimately leads to attrition. Kavanaugh described experiencing anxiety and physical symptoms, including pani...

This week, I welcome Shanna Hocking to the podcast to talk about her new research in higher education and what's holding women back in university advancement. You might be surprised that the answer is disturbingly simple. Here are my favorite takeaways:

The Crisis in Higher Education Leadership: A shift is needed from a scarcity mindset focused only on fundraising to a focus on leadership and culture as the key to success. The profession is at a crossroads, needing to re-evaluate what has historically worked versus what is needed for the future, especially post-pandemic.

Structural Barriers...

I have to admit, I was nervous to do this interview. I met Ruchika Malhotra by chance years ago, and have been in awe of her work ever since. She is the visionary author behind the new book, Uncompete.

Building on her viral conversation about imposter syndrome, Ruchika delves into the core thesis of her latest work: the necessity of rejecting a destructive culture of competition to unlock true, sustainable success. She challenges the ingrained notion that scarcity and cutthroat individualism are the only paths to achievement, arguing instead that collaboration, abundance, radical generosity, inclusion, and solidarity a...

Kae Williams is a global software marketing executive on a mission to empower women in their careers through her work and her forthcoming book, Not Made For You. Kae works diligently to raise awareness about bias and hostile work cultures so that every woman will feel supported, respected, and enabled to achieve her full potential.

Here are three key takeaways from the conversation about measuring organizational culture:

Culture Needs Tangible Metrics, Not Just Talk: Organizations must treat culture like a business outcome, measuring it with the same rigor they apply to revenue and profit. This...

This episode features Landon Ashworth, an actor, director, and filmmaker with a background as a pilot and a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He discusses his personal journey as an autistic individual and the inspiration behind his award-winning new film, Go On.

Here are three key takeaways from the discussion:

A Journey of Resilience and Reinvention. Landon Ashworth shared that as a child, he was a bullied autistic kid who was advised to try acting classes to mask his autism and learn to fit in. This led to a lifelong background in the arts, even a...

Chantelle Lewis and Jason Arday, co-authors of the book We See Things They'll Never See, join the show to discuss their work. Arday, a professor of sociology of education at the University of Cambridge, and Lewis, an Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Black British Studies at Pembroke College, the University of Oxford, delve into how their experiences as Black, neurodivergent academics influenced their book.

Together, they share the motivation behind their work, highlighting the importance of challenging societal infringements and advocating for marginalized communities.

Here are my favorite takeaways:

We discuss...

Nancy Levine Stearns, founder of ImpactDevise, a nonprofit journalism project, discusses the corporate response to the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) backlash. Stearns' project covers DEI initiatives in the private sector, and her reporting on corporate social responsibility has been cited by publications like The New York Times, NBC News, and Forbes.

Stearns, a former executive recruiter, began focusing on the DEI space after the "heated" backlash following a recent election. She was initially intrigued by a story about Costco taking a public stance on DEI. This led her to discover that other companies were also standing f...

Developing a strong talent pipeline is no longer just a good idea—it's a business imperative. But how can companies be more proactive and intentional about building the workforce of tomorrow?

In this episode, we explore innovative strategies for proactive talent pipeline development. We'll discuss the importance of starting earlier to engage with potential talent long before they're looking for a job, and how to create relationships that last. We'll also break down what it means to be ready for Gen Z, a generation with unique expectations around purpose, flexibility, and communication.

Finally, we'll talk ab...

Building an impactful allyship program requires a strategic and thoughtful approach. This video breaks down the key steps to creating a program that goes beyond good intentions and drives real change within your organization.

In this episode, I will guide you through the process, covering:

Research: How to conduct a needs assessment to understand your organization's unique challenges and where to focus your efforts.

Format: The different program structures you can use, from workshops and training modules to mentorship and sponsorship programs.

Audience: How to identify and engage the right participants...

Join us for a powerful conversation about building a truly inclusive workplace. In this episode, we're moving beyond buzzwords to discuss the concrete policies and practices that make a difference.

We'll dive into the vital role of inclusive caregiving leave policies and how they support all employees, not just parents. We'll also unpack what inclusive hiring practices really look like—from writing unbiased job descriptions to creating a fair and equitable interview process.

Finally, we'll explore how to embed inclusion into your company's culture so it's not just a set of rules, but a living, br...

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have to connect with others, and when it comes to allyship, it's essential. In this video, we're diving into the power of allyship storytelling and how sharing your own experiences can create a ripple effect of change.

We'll explore why modeling the behavior you want to see is so important, and how showing vulnerability can build trust and open hearts. Discover how sharing your story, not as a hero but as a learner, can inspire others to begin their own journey of allyship.

Throughout the video...

"Psychological safety is the belief that one will not be punished or humiliated for speaking up. It's a shared belief that a team is safe for taking interpersonal risks." - Amy C. Edmondson

Psychological safety paired with perspective taking is a game changer for hopeful allies in power.

In this mini-sode from the new book We Want You: An Allyship Guide for People with Power, I talk about the importance of separating intentions versus impact, asking open-ended questions that start with "what" or "how," and extending grace to yourself and others.

Allyship is about showing up, even when it is hard. It's about progress over perfection. 

The ally journey begins with understanding your role - as a mentor, sponsor, advocate, coach, or challenger.

It is a choose your own adventure approach. It starts with knowing what your allyship vision is and noticing and validating the experiences of others different from yourself.

This episode reveals the crucial "What's In It For Me" (WIIFM) for allies, moving beyond performative actions to genuine, sustained allyship. 

Discover the compelling human and business cases for inclusion: from increased happiness and longevity to significant boosts in profitability (up to 39% higher) and innovation (up to 19% higher revenue). Learn how Gen Z's expectations make inclusion non-negotiable for future leaders. This chapter provides tools to identify your unique strengths and embrace allyship as a vital leadership quality.

Inspired by Audre Lorde's powerful words, this episode explores how we can leverage our inherent power for good. Bernadette Smith's journey for LGBTQ+ marriage equality highlights how allies with power can fundamentally shift systems.

We reveal why power often feels invisible to those who hold it, and how underestimating our own influence hinders allyship. Discover the critical distinction between "power over" and "power with," advocating for a collaborative approach where power is shared, not hoarded. This episode challenges you to recognize your unique sources of power, align them with your values, and use them to create a...

This episode dives into the real, often uncomfortable, fears that can hold people with power back from being allies. We confront common misperceptions, like the "zero-sum game" mentality, and the anxieties around status, relevance, and making mistakes in the workplace.

Through compelling stories and expert insights, we'll expose why inclusion work can be imperfect, yet crucial. Learn to transform these fears into fuel, embracing vulnerability, curiosity, and the courage to challenge the status quo. Discover how active allyship isn't about being perfect, but about taking intentional, consistent action for a more equitable workplace for all.

Ever feel like you're on autopilot, navigating work without seeing its underlying systems? Like fish unaware of water, we often miss the crucial "water" of our workplace environment. This podcast invites you to consciously see this water and understand how others experience it differently.

We'll explore how diversity, inclusion, and equity are vital for a thriving workplace. Discover allyship as intentional actions leveraging your power for good, transforming your impact and organization. Learn from experts about true allyship and its business imperative in our increasingly diverse world.

This is your official invitation to become an...

This podcast episode features Sarah Kernion, a writer, podcast host of "The Inchstones Podcast," and mother of two profoundly autistic, nonspeaking children. Kernion advocates for a new conversation around profound autism, focusing on neurobiological barriers and redefining advocacy to prioritize presence, effort, and dignity over milestone achievements. She emphasizes the urgent need for distinct, research-grounded discussions on profound autism, particularly regarding the disproportionate caregiving burden on mothers and its impact on their careers.

Key Takeaways:

Are you tired of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives that feel like lip service? In this powerful episode, we sit down with Melissa Ng Goldner, Head of Strategy at Coqual, to uncover how leading organizations are moving past performative DEI to create truly equitable and thriving workplaces. Melissa, a daughter of Chinese immigrants, brings a unique perspective on intersectionality, combining cultural insight, data fluency, and bold storytelling to drive real business outcomes.

Discover how organizations are navigating the current landscape, operationalizing fairness, and redesigning power structures to future-proof their talent strategies. If you're a leader wrestling...

Katy Milkman is the James G. Dinan Professor at the Wharton School, the host of Charles Schwab's Choiceology podcast, and co-directs the Behavior Change for Good Initiative. Sophia Pink is a PhD student at the Wharton School studying decision-making and behavior change. They join Julie Kratz on the Allyship in Action podcast to discuss their new research on the gender gap in competition. They highlight that women are, on average, less likely to enter competitions (like applying for jobs or promotions) than equally qualified men, a phenomenon observed across many decades and countries, even at the top of the...

This episode of the Allyship in Action Podcast with Julie Kratz features Charlene Polite Corley, Nielsen's VP of Diverse Insights and Partnerships, and Stacie De Armas, Senior Vice President of Diverse Intelligence & Initiatives at Nielsen.

Together we discuss the long-term value of diversity for businesses, emphasizing that engaging historically excluded consumers is crucial for growth and brand loyalty. Stacie and Charlene highlight that while people can be "trickier" than money, diversifying your workforce and your approach to consumers is as important as diversifying your financial portfolio.  

Some key takeaways from this conversation:

Keivan Stassun is the Director of the Frist Center for Autism & Innovation at Vanderbilt University. He joins this week's Allyship in Action Podcast epidsode to unpack how to get the full ROI when appropriately practicing neuroinclusion.

Key Takeaways

Emily Kasriel is the author of Deep Listening: Transform your relationships with family, friends and foes. She joins the Allyship in Action Podcast this week to share insightful perspectives and practical tips on deep listening.

Key takeaways from the conversation: