Beneath The Surface

Male Allyship

Episode Summary

Lee Chambers (CEO, Male Allies UK) reveals the principles - and transformative powers - of male allyship and allyship in general.

Episode Notes

Lee Chambers is the CEO of Male Allies UK. Lee was awarded the Freedom of the City of London for services to equality in business and outstanding contribution to gender equity at work, as well as being the 2023 UN Women Changemaker of the Year for his work on male allyship and gender equity.

In this fascinating interview with hosts Lila and Perminder, Lee explains how allyship is something that can make a huge difference to individuals and organisations alike. It starts with curiosity and a desire to embrace difference as opposed to feeling threatened by it.

Topics included in this episode include:

• How male allyship can benefit both men and women
• How so many business terms (like "soft skills") are actually problematic language in terms of equality and gender bias
• Why the power of the social media algorithm can lead to us being more closed off (and how to challenge this)
• The effect that "the world we grew up in" has on our attitudes and behaviours without us realising
• A debate on the value of targets and quotas in progressing diversity
• How groups that often get banded together as one unit (e.g middle-aged men) can have vast differences within them
• Why well-intentioned EDI campaigns can land badly at different levels of organisations

Find out more about Lee and Male Allies UK here.