The 5 Levels of Male Allyship: A Guide to Building Better Teams Through Real Inclusion
What does it really mean for men to support gender equity—and where do they start?
Male allyship is critical in attaining gender parity in today’s organizations. And data shows that many men want to be better allies, but just don’t know what to do, don’t know where to look, or don’t have the support they need.
In The 5 Levels of Male Allyship, inclusion experts Dr. Shawn Andrews and Michael O’Brien deliver a groundbreaking framework that charts the path from passive awareness to courageous advocacy. From the resistant Traditionalist to the fully engaged Champion, this book addresses the fears, pressures, and cultural forces that hold men back from meaningful support and offers tools to overcome them.
Drawing on hundreds of interviews with men and women across industries, this practical and eye-opening guide helps men understand where they are on the allyship spectrum—and how to move forward with intention and impact.
In an era when diversity efforts face backlash and burnout, The 5 Levels of Male Allyship is more than timely—it’s essential. It makes the case that gender inclusion isn’t a zero-sum game: it’s a win for men, women, and entire organizations. Packed with real-world examples, self-assessments, and more than 60 strategies for personal and professional growth, this book empowers men to become stronger teammates while also guiding women and HR leaders in identifying and developing more male allies.
If you want to build a better workplace, this is your blueprint. The future of allyship begins here.
Curious where YOU might fall on the allyship spectrum?
Introducing the
Personal Allyship Assessment
The first tool of it’s kind that reveals your current allyship attitudes and behaviors and uncovers subtle gaps in your inclusive leadership approach.
This fast, free assessment will help you discover where you are on your allyship journey and what next steps are possible. You’ll get a personalized assessment to help grow your impact…and it's applicable to both men and women!
The Personal Allyship Assessment is more than a diagnostic. It’s a mirror. It helps you reflect on your role in building inclusive teams, understand where unconscious habits might be holding you back, and take tangible steps toward leadership that resonates across differences.
Whether you're just becoming aware or already committed to equity, this tool will meet you where you are—and guide you forward.
Answer 22 questions
Takes about 3 minutes
Completely free
Get videos and strategies for each of the 5 levels from Shawn and Michael
Here’s an example of an allyship footprint, or visual representation, of an allyship profile based on the assessment results.
Are you ready to take your first step towards better allyship?
We invite you to take the 5 Levels of Allyship Assessment.
Scan the QR code to take the assessment, and see where you might fall!
What does it take to be a better ally?
Why are men so critical in attaining gender or racial parity? It’s because of their outsized impact on the lives of workers. Most leadership positions across industries globally are held by men, so men have the unique ability to influence the quality and livelihoods of workers and their families, potentially impacting millions of people.
However, there’s a chronic lack of allies for women and people of color, and many men are not the allies they think they are. Men’s commitment spans across a wide spectrum—ranging from complete resistance to all in.
The good news is there are several things that men can do to be better allies, be more consistent in their support, and help address leadership gender gaps that still exist today. It’s important to support men and bring them into the global inclusion conversation. If we fail in these efforts, we will not get anywhere close to parity in our lifetimes.
In our research, we’ve found that men fall into 5 general categories or levels of allyship.
Level 1: The Traditionalist
Level 2: The Armchair Ally
Level 3: The Toe Dipper
Level 4: The Emerging Ally
Level 5: The Champion
We interviewed men who identified themselves across the ally spectrum. These men are diverse in age, ethnicity, identity, background, experience, and industry. We also interviewed women and HR leaders to get their suggestions, perspectives, and experiences with men at different levels of allyship.
In the appendices, we provide 3 relevant resources to support your efforts in allyship. These include a Personal Allyship Assessment that you can take yourself or give to a potential ally to help broaden their awareness. An Ally Matrix to help women identify their top potential allies. And Classroom or Book Club Discussion Questions that you can use for any group to share ideas and keep the dialogue going.
This is the first book to characterize 5 levels of allyship each with a distinct archetype, so men know where they are, what motivators drive each level, and what they need to do to move to higher levels. It also guides women and HR leaders in identifying and developing more male allies, and creating more inclusive leaders.
What People Are Saying About The 5 Levels of Male Allyship
From coffee breaks to book signings, readers are diving into The 5 Levels of Male Allyship
“In an era when diversity efforts face backlash and burnout, The 5 Levels of Male Allyship is more than timely—it’s essential. This book is a straight-up game plan for creating real change. Clear, honest, and long overdue. If you care about building workplaces where everyone thrives, you need to read this.”
Mel Robbins, #1 New York Times–bestselling author and host of The Mel Robbins Podcast
“Shawn Andrews and Michael O’Brien have written the kind of book we need now more than ever — moving the conversation of allyship beyond performative gestures and into the kind of inclusive leadership that actually makes a difference. This book doesn’t point fingers or shame; it invites reflection, growth, and responsibility. Every team, every leader, and every organization serious about equality should read this book.”
Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, Thinkers50 #1 Executive Coach and New York Times bestselling author of The Earned Life, Triggers, and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There
“The 5 Levels of Male Allyship is for men who care about being great colleagues and leaders—and are ready to move beyond good intentions into meaningful action. It’s a powerful guide for men, women, and anyone who wants to create better organizations.”
Dorie Clark, executive education faculty at Columbia Business School and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Long Game
“Andrews and O’Brien not only provide an empowering and optimistic vision of the future for both men and women—they present dozens of practical strategies that men can use to be better allies to make that vision a reality. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in building better teams through real inclusion.”
Josh Linkner, New York Times bestselling author, five-time tech entrepreneur, venture capital investor, and professional jazz guitarist
“As a global workforce expert and leadership coach, I know that meaningful workplace change doesn’t happen without intentional allyship, and that’s why The 5 Levels of Male Allyship is such a powerful and timely resource. This book doesn’t just talk about allyship; it maps out a practical journey for men who want to do more than just say the right things. What I appreciate most is the authors’ honest, compassionate approach. They combine research, personal stories, and voices of both men and women to paint a full picture of what real allyship looks like. While this guide speaks directly to men, it also empowers women and HR leaders to recognize and cultivate stronger allies in the workplace. I encourage everyone to not just read it, but to live it.”
Dr. Shirley Davis, global workforce expert, inclusive leadership thought leader, and author of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for Dummies
“The 5 Levels of Male Allyship is a timely, compassionate, and practical roadmap for engaging men in the inclusion conversation. It meets them where they are, with empathy and honesty, and helps them grow into advocates for equity. In a moment when we need more courage, not less, this book provides the guidance and humanity to move us forward together.”
Jennifer Brown, Founder and CEO, Jennifer Brown Speaks, and author of How to Be an Inclusive Leader
“In the dynamic and volatile world that we live in, it has never been more important to create space for solidarity, curiosity, and togetherness. This book offers a valuable framework for the allyship journey and provides a potent and timely reminder that when we engage in allyship, everybody wins.”
Lee Chambers, psychologist and CEO of Male Allies UK
“By embracing allyship, we spark innovation, better serve our customers, and gain competitive advantage. In a world in which we face a tightening labor supply, The 5 Levels of Male Allyship is a business imperative. This book is the beacon of our transformation.”
Julie Kratz, Next Pivot Point chief engagement officer and author of Allyship in Action and We Want You
“I’ve been leading allyship efforts in corporate America for over fifteen years, and I love this book. It’s practical, well-researched, and filled with the critical tools needed to create more—and better—allies in today’s workplace. Andrews and O’Brien offer a clear roadmap for action. This is a must-read for anyone serious about building more inclusive and equitable workplaces.”
Jeffery Tobias Halter, president, YWomen, and author of Why Women
“The 5 Levels of Male Allyship is a welcome addition to my bookshelf. With zero tolerance for performative gestures and plenty of practical tools, Andrews and O’Brien show how men can stop sitting on the sidelines and start driving real inclusion at work.”
Karen Catlin, author of the Better Allies® book series
“Leadership has changed. The old rules no longer work. Men in leadership are searching for more than theory. The 5 Levels of Male Allyship delivers that and then some. Dr. Shawn Andrews and Michael O’Brien challenge men to step up, get real about inclusion, and lead in a way that truly matters.”
Corey Jones, founder and CEO of PrismWork and author of Intentional Power