Overcoming your biases to be an effective ally
summary
Workshop adapts the Ada Initiative IGDA Allies framework into concrete tactics: a behavioral model for when to coach, confront or escalate, language fixes (remove names, gendered words) and event policies. Cited evidence: blind auditions raising women from 10% to 35%, identical resumes needing 9 vs 15 submissions by name, and a Google simulation where a 1% advantage for men cuts women to 35% at senior levels. Gives phrases to use—“we don’t do that here”—and steps for intervention and preserving agency.
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chapters (12)
- 0:00Start
- 14:39Inclusivity: Being welcomed at the party
- 19:36Acceptable language changes according to the speaker, their audience, and their goals.
- 21:02Intent is not as relevant as the impact of words or actions.
- 31:08In a meeting, your colleague, Grace, presents an idea that is ignored. A few minutes later, John presents the same idea, which is met with interest and acclaim.
- 32:09You are speaking with your colleague, Amy, who has recently had her hair done. Another colleague approaches, touches Amy's hair, and then compliments the new style.
- 34:50A colleague, who you knew as Jessica, has announced that they are transitioning, they now want to be known as J, and that their pronouns are they/them.
- 37:10You're talking about new concept art for a game with two colleagues. One of them suggests the villain be Muslim; your colleague Osama starts to object, and is told, "This isn't about YOU, Osama. You're one of the good ones."
- 39:44approaches you and says they are being harassed by another colleague.
- 42:24A colleague, Aubrey, is presenting a new strategy at work. You know Blake made a significant contribution to the strategy, but their name is nowhere to be found in the presentation.
- 43:31You're talking with a senior leader at the company about a possible new role, which comes with a promotion, for someone on your team. You suggest Jenny, but they respond that she "hasn't really shown that she can handle those new responsibilities".
- 46:02Your team just finished a major project, and you'd like to reward them with an offsite day. Gabriel suggests a wine tasting and cooking class at a local winery. Max recommends an all-day hike at a local national park.
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