334: Men at Work with Jennifer McCollum

In this episode, Julie Kratz welcomes Jennifer McCollum, President and CEO of Catalyst, a global nonprofit focused on workplace equity. They discuss the critical role of men in gender partnership and the release of Jennifer's book, Men at Work. The conversation delves into the systemic challenges women face, the data supporting inclusive leadership, and how men can transition from passive support to active, mutually accountable leadership.

Key Takeaways

Mutual Accountability Over Passive Support: The concept of "men as allies" has evolved into gender partnership, emphasizing that progress requires men and women working together with mutual accountability.

The "Man Box" Barriers: Many men want to support equity but are hindered by ignorance (unawareness of the issues), apathy (viewing it as an HR problem), or fear (of disrupting the status quo or personal job loss).

The Business Case for Inclusion: Inclusion isn't just a social goal; it's a performance driver. Data shows that inclusive cultures lead to a 49% increase in team problem-solving, 18% better innovation, and a 58% higher likelihood of improving company reputation.

As Jennifer says, "We need healthy men driving healthy organizations, and we need women partnering with men and men partnering with women to do that."

Follow Jennifer's work and research at https://www.catalyst.org/.