Do We Really Need Allies — or Just Better Leaders? A Reflection on Everyday Allyship

“A great man helped me once – a true ally. We need more allies.”

That’s what my fellow panellist said last week. And it’s something I hear all the time.

I’ve always been a little dismissive of the term ally. My view has been that this “great ally” met a great person – someone skilled, ambitious, capable – and simply did what good leaders should do: helped them succeed. In other words, he was doing his day job.

I made that point to the conference delegates.

Then, just after, someone came up to me and made me think again.

They asked one simple question:

👉 “Mark, how many men have helped you in your career?”

I paused… and could name at least ten without hesitation.

It was a humbling moment – a reminder of how often I’ve benefited from support I didn’t label as allyship, and how powerful it can be when we intentionally offer that same support to others who don’t share our advantages.