When and How Are Allies Promoters of Social Change? An Examination of Allyship in the Workplace

Allies have played instrumental roles in efforts to address inequity in society. In the wake of civil unrest triggered by the shooting deaths of unarmed Black people, the brutalization of Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic, and state legislatures passing laws that seek to reduce voting and women’s rights, the supportive action taken by allies is gaining attention once again. This year’s Academy of Management Conference theme “Creating a Better World Together” is a call to action for scholarship that provides insight into how organizations can anticipate and solve these important societal challenges. Yet, despite management scholars suggesting allyship is an effective way to create organizational change, the literature on allyship is still quite scarce. This symposium includes a collection of papers that examines open research questions pertaining to allyship including: who or what entities are able to engage in allyship behavior, why those actors choose allyship, and when (i.e., which contexts) support allyship. Following the presentations, Denise Lewin Loyd, a major contributor to research in the field of diversity and inclusion, will serve as our symposium’s discussant. Together, we hope that this symposium will provide important insights into how to create meaningful change in organizations through allyship. LEAP at Work: Examining the Effects of Race-Based Allyship Training in the Workplace Presenter: Stephanie J. Creary; The Wharton School, U. of Pennsylvania Presenter: Tianna Shari' Barnes; U. of Pennsylvania Presenter: Ozias Moore; Lehigh U. Institutional Allyship, a Ritual of Recovery Presenter: Tiffany Dawn Johnson; Georgia Institute of Technology Presenter: Juanita Kimiyo Forrester; Mercer U. Presenter: Natasha Denise Reed; Georgia Institute of Technology Bursting the Bubble of Performative Allyship: How Moral Performance Compromises Inter-Group Learning Presenter: Karren Kimberly Knowlton; Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth Presenter: Rachel Arnett; The Wharton School, U. of Pennsylvania Who’s Expected to be an Ally? An Examination of Allyship and Leadership Evaluations Presenter: McKenzie Preston; The Wharton School, U. of Pennsylvania Presenter: Angelica Leigh; Fuqua School of Business, Duke U. Presenter: Terrance L. Boyd; Louisiana State U. Presenter: Richard Burgess; U. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Presenter: Vic Marsh; U. of Toronto, Rotman School of Management Practice What You Preach: Performative Allyship in Organizations’ Support for Racial Equity Presenter: Roxanne Ross; James Madison U. Presenter: Horatio Traylor; U. of Houston Presenter: Enrica Nicole Ruggs; U. of Houston