Allyship in the workplace
This dynamic and interactive session delves into the meaning and practice of allyship within the workplace, with a focus on creating inclusive environments where everyone can thrive. Participants will explore what it means to be an effective ally and learn actionable strategies for supporting colleagues from underrepresented groups – particularly women in STEM fields.
The training addresses common barriers to allyship and guides participants through real-world challenges using open dialogue, small-group discussions, and collaborative learning activities. Emphasis is placed on self-reflection and personal growth, encouraging the participants to examine their own biases, behaviours, and opportunities to lead with empathy and intention.
By the end of the session, participants will leave empowered to use their influence to contribute to positive cultural change within the workplace.
Session overview
Understanding allyship
The session begins with a clear and practical definition of allyship in the workplace, emphasising its significance through relatable examples and real-life scenarios.
Participants will explore the Allyship Continuum - a framework to assess their current position on the allyship journey - and reflect on the steps needed to advance.
This section invites honest self-assessment and encourages participants to identify and navigate the common challenges and barriers that can hinder their progress as effective allies.
The role of bias and privilege
Building on the previous discussion, this section takes a deeper dive into the structural and cultural barriers faced by women and other underrepresented groups in STEM.
Through guided dialogue and illustrative examples, the participants will examine how unconscious bias and privilege interact and shape individual and group experiences, views and behaviours in the workplace.
The session introduces the concept of intersectionality, helping the participants understand how overlapping identities (e.g. race, gender, disability) affect people's opportunities and challenges - and why intersectional thinking is essential to meaningful allyship.
How to be an ally
The final part of the training focuses on equipping participants with practical strategies to support inclusive behaviour in teams and organisations.
Using the ABC Model of Allyship, participants are guided through a step-by-step approach to becoming more intentional and impactful allies.
Real-world examples showcase the transformative power of allyship, and the session concludes with a personal commitment exercise, empowering participants to define actionable next steps in their own allyship journey.
This session is developed and delivered by our team of experts including:
Dr Athina Frantzana – WISE Training & Delivery Manager
Athina has over a decade of experience in Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) in STEM fields. With a background in STEM, Athina’s PhD thesis was a pioneering study that laid the groundwork for understanding the representation and experiences of women within the advanced computing community.
Throughout her career, Athina has served as a trusted EDI consultant, designing and delivering impactful training programmes across a wide range of organisations in industry, academia, and the public sector. Her expertise spans data analysis, research, EDI policy and strategy development, and HR/leadership coaching, positioning her as WISE’s go-to expert on all services and products, ensuring their evidence-based consistent excellence and relevance.