Foreign welcome to Inclusion Bites, your sanctuary for bold conversations that spark change. I'm Joanne Lockwood, your guide on this journey of exploration into the heart of inclusion, belonging and societal transformation. Ever wondered what it truly takes to create a world where everyone not only belongs but thrives? You're not alone. Join me as we uncover the unseen, challenge the status quo and share stories that resonate deep within. Ready to dive in? Whether you're sipping your morning coffee or winding down after a long day, let's connect, reflect and inspire action together. Don't forget, you can be part of the conversation too. Reach out to jo.lockwood@seechangehappen.co.uk to share your insights or to join me on the show. So adjust your earbuds and settle in.

It's time to ignite the spark of inclusion with Inclusion Bites. Today is episode 148 with the title Allyship in Action and I have the absolute honour and privilege to welcome Julie Kratz. Julie is an allyship and inclusion speaker, consultant and author who helps leaders foster workplace environments. She is a Forbes contributor and TEDx speaker and draws on her corporate experience to our organisations with actionable strategies for allyship and belonging. When I asked Julie to describe her superpower, she said it is her ability to transform allyship into actionable strategies that inspire inclusive leadership. Hello. Hello Julie. Welcome to the show.

Thanks so much for having me, Joanne.

Absolute pleasure. We just chatted away for probably half an hour in the green room and burnt a lot of time. A fascinating conversation. I can't wait to bring some of that into the conversation for our listeners today. So thank you for joining us. So Julie, you have been on a journey from corporate and you've pivoted to become a leading voice in allyship and inspiring others. So what sparked your passion for creating more inclusive workplaces?

Great question. I So I spent 12 years in corporate before starting my own business nearly 10 years ago. So big year this year, 10th anniversary. I never really dreamed of being an entrepreneur, but it was out of the necessity of my own difficult time surviving in corporate America. So I'm here in the States and it's, you know, I'm sure similar in other parts of the world, but that sense of belonging, the sense of inclusion, having leaders I could trust and feel psychologically safe with, just didn't exist. And I continued to think it was me and I needed to change or it was the industry or if I get my mba, then things will be better. And no matter how hard I worked, I kept finding the same problem and Then it dawned on me when I had my daughter, I just couldn't leave her to go to a workplace and work that didn't. And this happens a lot to folks that are caregivers, men and women and non binary folks like it's you just realise your purpose of life is much deeper than a paycheck.

And she was a year old. I'm the primary breadwinner and took a leap of faith that other people were having a similar challenge. I did and needed tools that I didn't have when I was a leader. And that's when next pivot point was born. And it became quite obvious to me in the first few years as I spent time in the community and talked with folks especially of different lived experience and identities from me that we needed allies. You know, us talking women, talking to each other about women's quote unquote issues which are societal issues isn't helpful. Um, it's therapeutic. It feels good, you know, to rant in the moment but it doesn't really evoke change.

And so how do we engage allies in the conversation? It became quite clear to me that we needed to broaden the conversation. And so that's really my life's work. What I hope to leave the world with more allies in it than I found.