204: How To Be a Better Ally at Work And Build an Inclusive Culture, with Karen Catlin

Finding Brave

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“When we don’t take action, we become complicit with the status quo, meaning we are ok with how things are, how things are unfolding, and how our culture is. That’s why it’s important to realize that we all have a role to play to stand up, to move from being a bystander of something to an upstander for what we believe is right.” - Karen Catlin

Being an ally and building a more inclusive work culture is a job for everyone in the workplace, not just for people who work in Diversity and Inclusion roles. Today’s Finding Brave guest shares how being an ally is a journey that starts with a single step, and in this episode, she reveals what we all can do to ensure equality in the workplace, and in all parts of society.

After spending 25 years building software products and serving as a vice president of engineering at Adobe, Karen Catlin witnessed a sharp decline in the number of women working in tech. Frustrated but galvanized, she knew it was time to switch gears. Today, Karen is a leadership coach and a highly acclaimed author and speaker on inclusive workplaces. She is the author of three books, including Better Allies: Everyday Actions to Create Inclusive, Engaging Workplaces, which we will discuss today.

There is so much that we’re not aware of that gives us benefits and privileges, but as an ally, the more that we can become aware of and explore these seemingly small things, while not judging or avoiding these issues, the better we all will be.

I encourage you to review Karen’s list, “50 Potential Privileges in the Workplace” that is linked in the show notes for this episode, and explore the emotions that come up for you with each one. The work won’t be easy to do, but it is necessary for us to see real change in the world. And check out our recent interview in my Forbes column on 5 Errors Managers Make When Providing Feedback To Employees.

To learn more about today's guest, visit: https://karencatlin.com/ or https://betterallies.com/