2023-March-20

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Action Drives Impactful Allyship

BY JEETU PATEL · EVP & GM, SECURITY AND COLLABORATION

4 MINUTE READ · 6 MINUTE LISTEN

At this year’s Women of Impact, I was honored to have a meaningful conversation on the importance of allyship with SVP, Chief Social Impact Officer Brian Tippens.

Brian gave one of the best definitions of allyship I have heard. He defined it as “active support for the rights of a marginalized group without being a member of that group”. Allies observe, listen, and learn about other people’s lived experiences. They show empathy, and most importantly, they act, utilizing their privilege as a tool to address prejudice and discrimination, such as intervening when someone makes an inappropriate joke or comment.

You cannot call yourself an ally. It’s something the marginalized community calls you once you become an active ally.

We can all become allies. It just takes intent and the recognition that we must actively drive inclusion by embracing our differences.

Notice the pattern here? Action is key.

I want to pass along ideas Brian and I discussed to help you on the road toward becoming a better ally:

1. Be curious.

There’s no way to know what someone’s experience is. It’s okay to ask questions. It’s the only way to understand what someone is really going through and how you can help make an impact.

If you aren't curious about a person’s journey, you’ll never gain a level of appreciation and empathy for what they might be going through. So, ask a lot of questions and listen closely to the answers.

2. Identify role models.

I mean both those you want to emulate and those you want to be an ally for.

I was close to two people growing up: My mom and my grandmother. They were fantastic role models — both very strong women. I was able to learn from them by watching, listening, and learning from their experiences.

I became an ally for women at a young age because I realized they weren’t always afforded all of the opportunities men were. Their experiences were extremely different. It wasn’t because they weren’t as smart, strong, or determined as the men I knew. It was simply because they were women.

That struck a chord in me that set me on my path of being a determined ally, set on effecting positive change. I started speaking up and questioning when things seemed unfair. Very often, just my question, my young voice, was all it took to change an interaction and outcome.

3. Don’t let fear of making mistakes keep you from taking action.

It’s okay to make mistakes as long as you acknowledge them, learn from them, and apologize with your actions as well as words. We have all made mistakes. I’ve made mistakes for which I have felt terrible, yet the grace and appreciation I have received once I have apologized and learned from those mistakes are some of my fondest — and humblest — memories. It’s where true growth happens.

I’m proud to work at Cisco, a company that prioritizes diversity, equality, and inclusion every day. There are very few companies that match Cisco in its culture, compassion, and generosity when it comes to global and local causes.

Communities like Women of Cisco, which I proudly sponsor, and others like it foster inclusion and create connections and friendships that last for decades and even lifetimes. It is an incredible environment to learn about true allyship.

I urge you to check out the Women of Impact 2023 sessions if you were unable to attend live. It’s a fantastic event.

In addition to my discussion with Brian, there is a talk on working internationally and the bias that brings, a panel discussion on how to align your career plan to your purpose, a conversation about the Cisco talent strategy, and more. I promise, it will be well worth your time.

Lastly, I would like to say that real men aren't insecure about strong women. They cherish and celebrate women. And real men are active allies to women every single day. If you’re a man reading this, and you’re not already doing so, take a step today in your journey to being an ally. It’s the right thing to do.

Employee Resources

• Women of Impact 2023: Powered by Purpose
• Women of Cisco Inclusive Community
• Women in Science and Engineering Inclusive Community
• Learning & Development
• Cisco Purpose Report 2022

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