Lead Like an Ally: A Journey Through Corporate America with Proven Strategies to Facilitate Inclusion

by Julie Kratz, W. Brad Johnson (Foreword)

Lead Like an Ally facilitates positive change by including six leadership strategies, such as clean up the culture, stretch talent equally, establish ally networks, manage meeting behavior, promote belonging, and measure success. Leaders, now more than ever, are wrestling with how to attract and retain diverse talent and be inclusive leaders. Despite the best of intentions, very few organizations are reaching their equality goals, even those deeply committed to diversity and inclusion. Leaders have the biggest impact on culture, yet they need tools to do this. Lead Like an Ally provides proven strategies, teaching leaders how to be inclusive with its companion manager tool kit to facilitate sustained success. Within its pages, Lead Like an Ally:


Teaches leaders how to be inclusive through an entertaining fableProvides a window into the woman's journey through Corporate America and the unique challenges women face Facilitates inclusive cultures with proven strategies for positive change Includes a manager tool kit and checklist to take action right away

Genres: Nonfiction, Business

103 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 31, 2020

About the author

Julie Kratz is a highly acclaimed TEDx speaker and inclusive leadership trainer who led teams and produced results in corporate America. After experiencing many career “pivot points” of her own, she started her own speaking business with the goal of helping leaders be more inclusive. Promoting diversity, inclusion, and allyship in the workplace, Julie helps organizations foster more inclusive environments. She is a frequent keynote speaker, podcast host, and executive coach. She holds an MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, is a Certified Master Coach, and is a Certified Unconscious Bias Trainer, and Certified in Social Emotional Learning (SEL).

Her books include Allyship in Action: 10 Practices for Living Inclusively; Pivot Point: How to Build a Winning Career Game Plan; ONE: How Male Allies Support Women for Gender Equality; and Lead Like an Ally: A Journey Through Corporate America with Strategies to Facilitate Inclusion; and her new children’s book and coloring book, “The Little Allies.”

Find Julie at NextPivotPoint.com, @NextPivotPoint, or on LinkedIn.

Reviews

[Gretchen Schott · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This is a must read for all leaders! The story is a wonderfully written tale of business in our time. The tools and takeaways in EVERY chapter are practical, useful and can be implemented right away. And because it is written so concisely you can pick it up and read it in about 2 hours. It’s one for my shelf I will be going back to time and time again. I’d recommend this highly!!"

I had the pleasure of being asked by the author to preview a draft before this was published. She’s the real deal and speaks truth into business issues like few do. This book is one you want to buy and give to friends.

[Steve Bullington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you a people leader? If so, you need to read Julie Kratz (she/her) new book, Lead Like an Ally. If you like Ken Blanchard or Pat Lenconi's books where they use a parable format to share their point, then you will appreciate this book.

Follow "Jane" on her journey from college recruiting through senior leadership and all of the challenges she faces being a woman in today's work environment. Not only does it include her story, but every chapter ends with insights and ideas that you can employ.

[Karen Cornwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julie takes you on an experience in her Lead Like An Ally book. She then unpacks what’s been experienced by pulling the threads to draw out the insights and ideas. Finally, Julie offers tools that you can easily apply at work. A quick read that let’s you get started right away.

- Karen F Cornwell, author of You Can’t Fix What You Can’t See: An Eye-Opening Toolkit to Cultivate Gender Harmony in Business.

[Bill Heestand · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a male ALLY this book is an excellent guide

As a male ALLY this book is an excellent guide.

I sold my business to two women. Well being an ally was somewhat natural to me, I understand and it's a learning curve for many. This book is a great road map, a template. Instead of thinking you know all there is to know, consider getting some help from an expert. Author Julie Kratz is just the right expert.

[Darcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Julie hits the nail(s) on the head. Her unique storytelling approach makes the struggles many women face, although sometimes subtle, more real and understandable. I especially liked the Lead Like an Ally Insights and Ideas coupled with the Manager Toolkit at the end of each chapter. These sections are goldmines, and could each be unpacked in their own book!

I suggest reading Lead Like an Ally once for overall impact, and again to take notes and create your own action plan.

This book is a great read for those looking to understand the barriers working women and people of color face, those looking to be better allies and inclusive leaders, and women seeking guidance on how to create more inclusive, diverse, equitable workplaces.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read book for all leaders. Excellent book with stories and tools to help understand what it means to be an ally and to “lead like an ally.” In the current environment with diversity and inclusion being of utmost importance, Julie Krantz takes the reader through the experience of Jane to understand what needs to be done and how to do it.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read with lots of great takeaways for anyone on how to be a better ally in the workplace. It’s told in a fable and a debrief at the end of each chapter.

[Susan M · Rating 3 out of 5]

good advice regarding external sources. My reading group thought the protagonist demonstrated privilege related to work that many women (and others) don't have.

[Michele Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hits Close to Home

I couldn’t put this book down. So many of the stories hit close to home on experiences I have faced in my career. As a leader in our newly formed Women’s network, I enjoyed the insights at the end of each chapter as a means of ways to draw attention to our current downfalls and how we can work through them as an organization. I am looking forward to implementing what I have learned and will be passing this book along to others as well. Very quick read and very well written and to the point. Loved it.