Passionate Leadership Coach | Growth Minded Founder | 30+ years in Management Consulting
I spent sometime this morning reflecting on the amazing LEAD Network annual conference. Once again such an inspirational set of speakers and a phenomenal opportunity to network with like minded people. When I was asked by the wonderful Elaine Parr to co-chair the new LEAD Digital Chapter with the equally wonderful Anna Hannemann 🚀, PhD , I was worried about the stereotypical image this would portray. Why should a 50+ white male help to lead and drive this new chapter? Well, nearly 2 years on and, as I transition from Co-chair to being on the advisory board, I reflect on what is means to be a male ally and how critical this is to reach gender parity. How often as white males in the digital tech arena, do we find ourselves in the minority? I’d say almost never. Just attending the LEAD conferences first in Paris and now Dusseldorf changed that. I was surrounded by women, in group sessions with women and networked with women. I was the minority. I found myself acting and behaving differently. I was much quieter than my usual self (I realise those who know me would say that is impossible!😉) and I found myself reflecting more. What I took away was to think about being back in the work place where this position is reversed. As a male ally, it’s vital I learn to sit back, bring in the voices of the minorities in the room, and learn from the more diverse thinking that surely comes from this more inclusive interaction. #maleallies are critical to make the change. If you are a male ally and not already part of the LEAD Digital Chapter, then click here and select join. https://lnkd.in/eXzcRKiW The LEAD Digital Chapter work continues with the amazing team of Sukru Dincer, Caroline Basyn, John Hobson, Diane Levin , Neil Robertson, Megan Wainwright, Andrea Teichmann, Rachel Butler, Claire Longden, Elaine Parr, James Winters and Gabor Nagy #diversityandinclusion #growthminded #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipcoaching #leadnetwork23
