Welcome to the second of this two part episode. On this episode I will continue my conversation with an author, blogger and story-teller Hannah Drake on the role of ally and how to be and do better as an ally.

Please note: some of the material we cover on this episode, in relation to racism and slavery, some people might find upsetting.

Make an active choice to be better and do better and start from a space of self love. This work starts with you and within you. 

We as citizens of the world and even more so leaders need to pay vigilant attention to how women and especially women of colour experience the world, in professional settings stay alert to inequities and disparities. As one white male executive once said: “Once you put on that lens, you can’t take it off. The world never looks the same.”

Assume racism is everywhere, every day. Just as economics influences everything we do, just as gender and gender politics influence everything we do, assume that racism is affecting your daily life. Because it’s true, and because a privilege of being white is the freedom to not deal with racism all the time. However, we have to learn to see the effect that racism has. Notice who speaks, what is said, how things are done and described. Notice who isn’t present. You already notice the skin colour of everyone you meet—now notice what difference it makes.

Taking a stand against injustice can feel scary and difficult at first, it may bring up feelings of lack of self-confidence or fear of making mistakes, but
ultimately it is the only healthy and moral human thing to do. 

On this episode Hannah and I talked about:

1) Are white women really innocent bystanders?
2) YOU have the power the change the narrative
3) Who are you taking in the room with you that others have no access to?
4) Ally vs. accomplice
5) Are you willing to pay the price of standing on the right side of the history?

Liked the conversation? Let me know by rating & reviewing this podcast and engage in the conversation on Twitter by using #changeagentpodcast.

You can follow and reach out to Hannah via:
Twitter: @HannahDrake628
Instagram: hannahdrake628
Website: www.writesomeshit.com

Get in touch with Baiba via:
Twitter: @BaibaZiga and @Consulting_LHC
LinkedIn & Instagram: Baiba Ziga
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.lakehouse-consulting.com (subscribe to a weekly newsletter with handpicked articles, podcasts, videos and books)

Baiba is a People and Culture Transformation Consultant, with passion for cultural intelligence and leadership development. Get in touch with Baiba to talk about how she can help your organisation with cultural intelligence and leadership development on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion topics.

Sources quotes & further reading:
https://reflections.yale.edu/article/future-race/becoming-trustworthy-white-allies

https://www.racialequitytools.org/resourcefiles/kivel3.pdf

https://www.forbes.com/sites/elissasangster/2020/09/28/how-allyship-makes-workplaces-more-inclusive/?sh=515704e884ae

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/socf.12148

https://hbr.org/2020/11/be-a-better-ally