Allyship at Work: Advancing Gender Equity

Advancing workplace gender equity through allyship

The UN Global Compact Network Canada, with generous support from The Department of Women and Gender Equality through the Women's Economic and Leadership Opportunities Fund, is leading a transformative 30-month initiative to advance women's representation in workplace leadership by examining and elevating male allyship. This groundbreaking research project addresses systemic barriers such as gender norms, leadership models, and power dynamics, culminating in the development of a comprehensive Allyship Action Guide. This guide will empower organizations and individuals to integrate allyship into their diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies.

Project Objectives

• Supporting Inclusion: Amplify the voices of women, particularly from equity-deserving groups, to address systemic barriers to allyship in the workplace.
• Increasing Networks and Collaboration: Fostering connections between male allies and creating a network of women in leadership to champion gender equity.
• Changing Policies and Practices: Deliver actionable strategies and proven best practices through the Allyship Action Guide, tailored to support organizations and individuals to enhance allyship.

Key Activities

• Focus Group: Engaging women and gender-diverse individuals to share their lived experiences and shape actionable insights on allyship. The focus groups will be facilitated by Accelerate Her Future.
• Working Group: Convening nominated men allies to discuss challenges to allyship, pilot-test strategies, and build a network of gender equity champions. The working group will be facilitated by Michael Kaufman.
• Women in Leadership Advisory Committee: Drawing from senior women and gender-diverse leaders' insights to evaluate the impact of allyship and inform project outcomes. 
• Resource Development: Collaborating with an advisory committee, working groups, and subject matter experts to develop and refine the Allyship Action Guide before its implementation.

Why Participate?

There is a significant gap in research, practice, and programming that focuses on men as allies and their role in advancing gender-equitable policies in the workplace. While men hold disproportionate institutional power, this influence can either hinder or accelerate progress toward closing the gender power gap.

Additionally, limited resources exist to address the unique challenges faced by Black, Indigenous, and racialized women in workplace leadership. The research underscores the importance of workplace allies in supporting women’s career advancement, yet there is a disconnect between perceived allyship and real impact:

• 77% of men believe their corporate leaders are active allies for gender equality.
• Only 45% of women share this view.

This initiative seeks to bridge that gap by tackling systemic barriers, strengthening allyship knowledge and programming, and providing actionable strategies that organizations can implement to drive real change. Participants will have the opportunity to contribute insights, develop solutions, and shape a workplace culture where allyship leads to meaningful outcomes.

Who Can Participate?

This initiative brings together professionals committed to advancing gender equity in the workplace. Participants will contribute their insights and expertise to shape practical allyship strategies that drive real change.

• Women & Gender-Diverse Professionals: Share experiences in focus groups to help identify barriers and inform actionable allyship strategies. We especially wish to hear from those who are a part of Black, Indigenous, and racialized communities. 
• Men Allies: Nominated men from Canadian companies who have actively demonstrated allyship by promoting gender equity through their knowledge, beliefs, and actions in the workplace Participate in a working group to develop, test, and implement allyship practices.
• Senior Women and Gender-Diverse Leaders: Executive-level women and gender-diverse leaders from Canadian participating companies. Join the Women in Leadership Advisory Committee to provide insights on the role of allyship in career advancement and shape recommendations for systemic change.

Each group plays a critical role in ensuring that allyship moves beyond discussion into measurable workplace impact.

Project Timeline

This initiative will take place over 30 months, with key activities unfolding in phases:

• Recruitment Phase (January – May 2025)
  • January - May2025: Outreach and selection of focus group participants, men allies, and senior women and gender-diverse leaders.
  • January - May 2025: Recruitment for the advisory committee. This committee is reserved for Canadian Participants of the UN Global Compact only. 
• Focus Groups Sessions Facilitated by Accelerate Her Future (May – July 2025)
  • Discussions with women & gender-diverse professionals
  • Sessions conducted in Toronto, Montreal, and online

• Working Group Sessions Facilitated by Michael Kaufman (June – September 2025 & April – September 2026)
  • Series of working group sessions for nominated men allies
  • Development and pilot testing of allyship strategies

• Meetings of the Women in Leadership Advisory Committee (September 2025 - April 2026)
  • Executive-level leaders provide insights and recommendations on allyship in leadership
  • Review and provide feedback on allyship strategies

• Allyship Action Guide Development (2025 – 2026)
  • Compilation of research findings, lived experiences, and best practices
  • Guidebook refinement based on feedback from working groups and advisory committee

• Pilot Testing & Finalization (April – September 2026)
  • Organizations implement and evaluate the Male Allyship Action Guide
  • Adjustments made based on real-world applications and feedback

• Project Conclusion & Launch Event (Late 2026-2027)
  • The official release of the Male Allyship Action Guide
  • Event to showcase findings, impact, and next steps for sustaining allyship efforts

DOWNLOAD OUR BROCHURE

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How to join?

For more information, reach out to our Gender Equity Project Manager, Atifa Hasham, at atifa@unglobalcompact.ca.

Together, we can build workplaces where allyship thrives, and everyone can succeed.