logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2020
46m 34s

Helping Men Help Us

Harvard Business Review
About this episode

Gender equity at work won’t happen without men. But what exactly should men be doing? How should they support the women they work with? And in what ways can women shape those efforts so that they actually help us?

We speak with three experts on diversity and inclusion about how men can become effective allies. Brad Johnson and David Smith share best practices for men trying to build stronger relationships with women, and Lily Zheng joins us to talk about allyship on a systemic level.

Our HBR reading list:

Sign up to get the Women at Work monthly newsletter.

Email us: womenatwork@hbr.org

Our theme music is Matt Hill’s “City In Motion,” provided by Audio Network.

Up next
Jun 2022
Emily’s Taking a Break from Nine-to-Five
Our free-spirited, entrepreneurial co-host is applying advice from all our episodes on side gigs, freelancing, starting a small business — and quitting — to her own life. Emily reflects on her decision to leave her design job at HBR to fully focus on a long-time creative passion, ... Show More
8m 43s
May 2022
When a Relationship with a Colleague Goes Sour
Say someone on your team who had previously been friendly turns on you and is now making your life miserable and collaboration nearly impossible. Maybe they won’t respond to your emails or even look you in the eye? This is the distressing situation that “Cindy,” a listener of Con ... Show More
34m 25s
Apr 2022
The Essentials: Delegating Effectively
Delegating is a leadership skill that benefits you and your team. But determining when and how to delegate which tasks to whom can be overwhelming. And the discomfort many of us feel around assigning responsibilities to others or making requests of our colleagues can lead us to f ... Show More
45m 22s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2020
David Smith and Brad Johnson on How Men Can Be Better Allies for Women in the Workplace
David G. Smith and W. Brad Johnson are gender-in-the-workplace experts. Their new book is Good Guys: How Men Can Be Better Allies for Women in the Workplace. In this conversation they talk about: How men can partner with their female colleagues to advance women's leadership and e ... Show More
46m 51s
Dec 2019
Gender Equality Issues
Are you being treated unfairly at work because of your gender? Dan and Alison answer your questions with the help of Michelle King, the director of inclusion at Netflix. They talk through what to do when you and other women on your team are being marginalized, you’re a man experi ... Show More
39m 12s
Oct 2020
Sexism
Are you experiencing gender bias at work? Dan and Alison answer your questions with the help of Katie Coffman, a professor at Harvard Business School. They talk through what to do when you are held to a higher standard as a female manager, you’ve been promoted but a male deputy h ... Show More
34m 57s
Oct 2018
When Men Mentor Women
David Smith, associate professor of sociology at the U.S. Naval War College, and Brad Johnson, professor of psychology at the United States Naval Academy, argue that it is vital for more men to mentor women in the workplace. In the post-#MeToo world, some men have shied away from ... Show More
22m 5s
Oct 2020
How Those With Power and Privilege Can Help Others Advance
Tsedale Melaku, sociologist at The Graduate Center, City University of New York, and David Smith, professor at the U.S. Naval War College, have been looking at the ways people with the most power in society and organizations can become better allies to those who have less authori ... Show More
38m 24s
Jun 2020
Self-Promotion
Are you unsure of when to toot your own horn? Dan and Alison answer your questions with the help of Meredith Fineman, a communication coach and the author of Brag Better: Master the Art of Fearless Self-Promotion. They talk through what to do when your boss takes credit for your ... Show More
28m 45s
May 2023
Shattering the Six Gender Bias Barriers Still Holding Women Back at Work with Amy Diehl
Amy Diehl and Jason Mudd discuss how bias against women persists in female-dominated workplaces. Guest:Our episode guest is Amy Diehl, Ph.D., the chief information officer at Wilson College and a workplace gender bias expert and consultant. She has a 27-year career in information ... Show More
28m 11s
Jan 2021
1152: How Women Can (and Should) Make More Money with Claire Wasserman
Ladies Get Paid is not only a fast-growing community for women seeking career support and guidance, it is now a bestselling book. Co-founder and author Claire Wasserman joins to share some of her best advice for navigating your career in 2021, why promoting gender equality at wor ... Show More
29m 56s
Feb 2018
#120 - How To Understand Men
There are false myths about men that are unhelpful to everyone; themselves, the people who love them, and their relationships. So on this episode of the Love, Happiness and Success Podcast, our mission is to understand men and "the male experience," especially when it comes to se ... Show More
1h 5m
Jun 2022
The club teaching women to say 'no' at work
Ever heard of the term non-promotable task? Well, if you’re a woman, the chances are you’ve been doing a lot of them at work. Leanna Byrne speaks to the authors of The No Club, a book tracking the problems that arise when women are tasked with doing mindless jobs. We are talking ... Show More
18m 43s