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How to become a better ally across the tech landscape and beyond
Allyship, defined as showing up and advocating for your peers, particularly those from marginalised groups, is fundamental across the world of work and the technology space is no exception.
Allies are valuable across tech teams to support professionals encompassing a range of characteristics including gender, race, sexuality and socio-economic background. Strong and loyal allies are an incredibly important aspect of every individual’s support network to enable them to feel supported to be their authentic selves and to flourish, whether that’s in a professional or personal sense. However, whilst many people can be considered allies in terms of their beliefs and morals, the most significant support is paired with proactive behaviours.
The term ‘ally’ is often thrown around as a buzzword, but being a good ally doesn’t happen overnight; it is an ongoing journey that requires regular reflection and commitment. For example, you might join the LGBTQ+ employee network at your organisation, read the email comms sent around and attend an event here and there, but is this proactive enough to be classed as significant allyship?
One barrier to allyship in action is a widespread uncertainty as to how to be an effective ally and how to get involved in a way that will be most respected, appreciated and impactful. Effective allyship is about bridging this disconnect by being curious, asking questions about the support that is really needed, actively listening and taking the responses to these questions on board. An enthusiasm to learn and grow is essential for addressing any knowledge gaps and consciously improving your awareness of those around you. Having empathy, and trying to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, will also put you on the path to being a better ally. It’s also important to mention that what one person wants from an ally may greatly vary from what someone else needs, so it’s key to avoid over generalisations and to adapt your allyship as and when necessary.
It's crucial to pinpoint who you’re being an ally to and what allyship looks like to them. For example, as a woman in tech, if I'm not in a room, I would want an ally to speak up on my behalf to ensure I have a voice in that space – in other words, allyship in action behind the scenes is just as valuable as in front of and when interacting with those you’re an ally to. An ally could raise the question as to why there is no female representation in the room and how they can contribute to this being rectified going forward. Allies should model inclusive behaviour and language and challenge language and behaviours that are unwelcome in the workplace to wrong any rights that still exist. The support of allies in stamping out unacceptable language and behaviours is paramount to making progress when it comes to nurturing a psychologically safe space within an organisation.
Another positive act of allyship is to amplify and celebrate the voices of underrepresented groups across the sector, to ensure their input and achievements are recognised. This not only helps to empower the individuals being acknowledged and explicitly illustrates the value they bring to the table, but also encourages more people from marginalised groups into the workforce. For instance, we need more allies to continually shout about the attributes and successes women contribute to the tech industry, in order to rewrite backwards narratives and move towards closing the vast gender gap across the sector.
At the end of the day, we can all aspire to be better allies and being an effective ally is a constant work in progress – the main thing is that you’re committed to moving in the right direction and doing the right thing to shape a better future for all across the world of technology and beyond.
techUK’s TechTogether campaign, taking place throughout March, is a collection of activities highlighting the UK’s technology sector pursuit to shape a more equitable future. In 2025 we are exploring: Inclusive AI, investing in diverse founders and entrepreneurs, the power of allyship and mentorship, and empowering young people.
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Amanda Whicher
Amanda Whicher is Hays’ UK&I Director of Technology.