Happy International Allyship Day! Today we celebrate and promote the power of allyship across the globe.  

What is allyship?

Allyship is the act of actively advocating for marginalised individuals or communities who face systemic oppression or discrimination. Allyship is key to creating inclusive workplace cultures, where everyone has the potential to thrive.

Why is allyship important?

The need for allyship could not be greater, as systemic barriers continue to limit progress. For example, the World Economic Forum estimates that reaching true gender parity at the current rate of progress will collectively take us 134 years… LEAD Network wholeheartedly rejects this status quo.  

We have the power to accelerate the pace of change, creating more equitable environments that enable women across the retail and consumer goods industry to make impactful contributions. By doing so, it’s a triple win: we do right by individuals, deliver sustainable business value, and create a fairer society. But this can only be achieved by coming together as a community of allies dedicated to Doing, Not Trying.  

How can we foster allyship?

Fostering inclusion takes ongoing, intentional effort. Language, and the words we choose in our daily conversations, is one example of how we can take small steps towards being a better ally. Small adjustments in the words we choose to use can totally change an environment and impact how welcome others feel. Take pronouns as an example. Here are some key pointers on how to respectfully use pronouns to make everyone feel welcome and included.

• Pronouns are the words we use to refer to someone in the third person    
• Pronouns are deeply personal, as they reflect our gender identity   
• Don’t assume someone’s pronouns – listen to how they describe themself and mirror. If in any doubt, use ‘they’ e.g. ‘their desk is currently free’.  
• If you know someone’s preferred pronouns but you accidentally misgender them; apologise, correct the mistake, and move on.   
• It may not feel safe for some individuals to disclose their gender identity, but proactively choosing to share your pronouns signals a powerful act of allyship and respect for individuals.  

For more resources related to allyship and DEI, become a Member of LEAD Network here.