Allyship in Action

Julie Kratz

Inclusive workplace cultures don't happen by accident. They require intentional, consistent engagement from all leaders. The goal of Allyship in Action is to provide practical, actionable tools from inclusion experts to help people be more effective allies and inclusive leaders at work.

  1. How to Use History and Personal Gifts to Rise and Resist

    22. MÄRZ

    How to Use History and Personal Gifts to Rise and Resist

    In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Janice Gassam Asare, founder of BWG Business Solutions and author of the new book, Rise and Resist: How to Reclaim Workplace Equity and Justice .  Following a period of intense personal and professional backlash—including being targeted by high-profile political figures—Janice discusses why looking to historical legacies of resistance is the key to enduring today's challenging DEI landscape. We explore how "everything is cyclical" and how we can draw strength from the stories of lesser-known figures who challenged the status quo long before us. Whether you are feeling powerless or looking for strategic ways to advocate for change, this conversation provides a roadmap for using your unique gifts to push for equity. Resistance as a Historical Blueprint: Current opposition to DEI and civil rights is not new; by studying the legacies of figures like Ida B. Wells and Toni Morrison, we can find proven strategies to navigate and endure modern-day backlash. The Strategy of "Exiting": Resistance doesn't always mean staying and fighting in a toxic environment. Taking a leave of absence or exiting a harmful workplace can serve as a powerful catalyst for institutional change, as seen in the career of legal scholar Derrick Bell. Micro-Resistance and Personal Gifts: You don't need to lead a country to create impact. Meaningful resistance can be as simple as using your specific skills—such as graphic design, baking, or providing a safe space—to support larger movements and build community coalitions. Follow Dr. Janice's work at https://www.drjanicegassam.com/

    27 Min.
  2. 333: How Capacity Erosion Is Redefining Leadership in 2026 with Kathryn Landis

    22. FEB.

    333: How Capacity Erosion Is Redefining Leadership in 2026 with Kathryn Landis

    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 really clear on what's the work that only you can do... what you actually could be focusing on that's going to move the needle the most is perhaps working with your cross-functional colleagues, the other members of the C-suite, to strengthen those ties." — Kathryn Landis Empower Your Team Through Clarity: High-performing teams thrive on a clear purpose and defined decision rights. To reduce your own workload, ensure your team understands exactly what they own and what success looks like. "Do people have a clear purpose? Do people know why they're a team? Most people know what their job description is... but I was leading an off-site last week; they didn't know what their team goals were. They don't know what success looks like." — Kathryn Landis Prioritize the "Lamp Post" for Reflection: Intentional reflection is a non-negotiable for effective leadership. Creating a dedicated space to process information—even just by talking to a metaphorical lamp post—can provide significant mental clarity. "If someone would go and speak to a lamp post for an hour every day at the same time, they'd get 60% of the benefit of coaching... just creating the space and time to be intentional about where you're spending your time, reflecting on what you're doing." — Kathryn Landis Connect with Kathryn and take her free team assessment here: https://kathryn-landis.kit.com/3dcf1c4440

    18 Min.
  3. 332: The Future of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) with Alyssa Dver

    15. FEB.

    332: The Future of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) with Alyssa Dver

    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. Allyship is a strategic bridge: Modern ERGs are moving away from exclusive "safe spaces" toward inclusive "brave spaces" where allies are formally invited to lead, learn, and advocate alongside marginalized groups. My Fave Quotes: "Got to have governance. Not because you want to control people, but because you want to have equity. And equity means budgeting is fair; the way that people apply and run these has to be fair." "It's a professional development leadership pipeline. So if you're starting to see these group leaders getting hired into better jobs, getting promoted, that's also a really good metric." "Employees involved in healthy ERGs typically show 10% to 15% higher engagement levels than those who are not." "There are currently at least 500 million people participating in ERGs around the world, and 95% of companies continue to offer and support ERGs because of their proven impact on organizational health." Follow Alyssa's work and research at https://www.ergleadershipalliance.com/

    41 Min.
  4. 331: How to Nurture Workplace Culture as a Living Ecosystem wtih Abi Adamson

    8. FEB.

    331: How to Nurture Workplace Culture as a Living Ecosystem wtih Abi Adamson

    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 instead of what it is. That is why I call workplace culture a living ecosystem." Build Psychological Safety to Uncover the Truth. A healthy culture requires an environment where employees can be honest with leadership about what isn't working without fear of retaliation. "When you're able to have an organization that's built on psychological safety... everything else will follow." Reframe Resistance as a Sign of Progress. Friction and pushback are natural responses to major social or organizational changes; history shows that these moments often precede a shift in the right direction. "History has always taught us: whenever big changes happen, there's always resistance... to get to a good place, you do need to go through a bit of a gauntlet."  Follow Abi at https://www.abiadamson.com/

    26 Min.

Info

Inclusive workplace cultures don't happen by accident. They require intentional, consistent engagement from all leaders. The goal of Allyship in Action is to provide practical, actionable tools from inclusion experts to help people be more effective allies and inclusive leaders at work.