Guidelines for Male Allies
To foster a respectful, empowering environment for female founders and funders, male allies are encouraged to follow these guidelines:
1. Listen Actively and Respectfully
- Prioritize listening over speaking.
- Avoid interrupting conversations.
- Show genuine respect for women’s perspectives.
2. Promote Inclusivity
- Advocate for diversity at all levels.
- Challenge exclusionary behavior and biases.
- Use inclusive language.
3. Share the Stage
- Create opportunities for women to lead discussions.
- Elevate female voices in leadership roles.
4. Provide Constructive Feedback and Mentorship
- Offer objective and supportive feedback.
- Mentor female entrepreneurs while respecting their autonomy.
5. Stand Up Against Bias and Harassment
- Call out inappropriate behavior and bias.
- Educate yourself on unconscious biases.
6. Advocate for Equal Opportunities
- Support efforts to close gender gaps in funding and leadership.
- Sponsor female entrepreneurs for opportunities.
7. Be an Ally in Private and Public
- Advocate for gender equality in all settings.
- Promote female entrepreneurs within your network.
8. Reflect and Grow
- Educate yourself continuously on gender equity.
- Seek out learning opportunities for improvement.
9. Collaborate, Don’t Take Over
- Allow women to take ownership of their projects.
- Acknowledge female leadership in collaborations.
10. Be Accountable
- Commit to personal accountability and growth.
- Encourage other allies to uphold these guidelines.
Acknowledgment:
By attending this event as a male ally, you acknowledge the importance of these guidelines and agree to uphold them to ensure a respectful, inclusive, and empowering environment for all participants. Given we will make mistakes in our communication at times, as is natural with any learning process, we will use these “learning moments” to listen and learn how to be a better ally for all future interactions. If you have suggestions or findings from your journey to improve these guidelines, please share. We will make a better future working together.