#BetterAllies
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betterallies.bsky.social
Let’s not make assumptions about anyone’s disability, or lack thereof.

#Inclusion #A11y #BetterAllies
December 20, 2025 at 6:40 PM
betterallies.bsky.social
When there are only two members of a racial group, people often mix up their names, sending the message that they're not seen as individuals.

In her new book "Was That Racist?" Evelyn Carter PhD encourages us to avoid shortcuts that collapse people into categories like "The Black women on the team"
Graphic with the message I don’t collapse people into categories. Our brains rely on shortcuts, like “the Black women on the team,” causing us to not see them as individuals. Credit is given to the book “Was That Racist?” by Evelyn Carter PhD. There’s also a drawing of a person in front of a display with a photo of a woman with dark skin and some text next to it. The person is holding a photo of another woman with dark skin, signaling they are thinking about adding her to the same category with the other woman. Along the bottom is the @BetterAllies handle and credit to @ninalimpi for the drawing.
December 15, 2025 at 9:19 PM
betterallies.bsky.social
Let's create a regular ritual for fairness in our workplaces

#BetterAllies #BetterWorkplaces #Inclusion #Fairness
December 15, 2025 at 3:28 PM
betterallies.bsky.social
Feeling disconnected at work is surprisingly common, and sometimes all it takes is a nudge to help people feel they belong (H/T research from Stanford).

Subscribe to my upcoming "5 Ally Actions" newsletter to read more about creating belonging interventions.

betterallies.com/subscribe
Graphic with the message I create belonging interventions. Research found that prompting people to connect with or support their peers increased their sense of community. Credit to research by Dr. Rui Pei and colleagues. There’s also a drawing of a person casually seated on top of a large computer monitor holding onto a trailing vine. The monitor is displaying a poster that reads Say Hello! 98% of our employees enjoy meeting a new colleague. Along the bottom is the @BetterAllies handle and credit to @ninalimpi for the drawing.
December 9, 2025 at 4:57 PM
betterallies.bsky.social
Y'all know I have a newsletter to help you build a better culture *and* be the kind of colleague people trust, respect, and want to follow?

This week's "5 Ally Actions" is now available:
mailchi.mp/27ef7b86cf5e...
Illustration of a red envelope with a newsletter coming out of it. The newsletter reads 5 Ally Actions Newsletter, each week Karen Catlin shares 5 simple actions to create a workplace where everyone can thrive. The envelope has the text Subscribe at betterallies dot com. Red arrows draw your attention from the envelope to the newsletter. In the lower corners are the better allies logo and a red bubble with betterallies dot com.
December 5, 2025 at 7:04 PM
betterallies.bsky.social
Do you practice bragitude?

#BetterAllies #BetterWorkplaces #InclusionMatters
December 4, 2025 at 6:07 PM
betterallies.bsky.social
I love a good portmanteau.

Like "bragitude," a blend of celebration and gratitude, where we name our wins *and* the people who helped us get there.

I saw it in "Uncompete," a book by Ruchika Malhotra.

It's a great practice to create a more inclusive workplace, where people feel they matter.
Graphic with the message I practice bragitude. It’s a blend of gratitude & celebration, naming our wins *and* the people who helped us get there. There’s also a drawing of a person holding a branch of leaves, representing the people who helped them grow. Along the bottom is the @BetterAllies handle and credit to @ninalimpi for the drawing.
December 2, 2025 at 4:47 PM
betterallies.bsky.social
What do hair styles, podcast guest lists, and the phrase “grammar Nazi” have in common?

They’re all everyday places where allyship matters.

In the latest "5 Ally Actions" newsletter, I share actionable shifts that make workplaces better, more human, and more fair.

mailchi.mp/949ccd028df6...

🙏
A bold red-and-gray graphic promoting the ‘5 Ally Actions Newsletter’ from Karen Catlin. On the right, there’s a stylized illustration of a Black woman sitting at a desk with a computer. Above her, red text reads: ‘If someone says a Black woman has unprofessional hair,’ and below, gray text: ‘I’ll speak up and ask, “Is this about job performance? How does their hairstyle affect their work?”’ The illustration is signed ‘Drawing by @ninalimpi and @betterallies’.
November 24, 2025 at 5:04 PM
betterallies.bsky.social
A study by Dove & LinkedIn found Black women’s hair is 2.5x more likely to be perceived as unprofessional. 20% of Black women have been sent home from work because of their hair.

As #BetterAllies, we can interrupt this bias.
Graphic with the message If someone says a black woman has unprofessional hair, I’ll speak up and ask, “Is this about job performance? How does their hairstyle affect their work?” There’s also a drawing of a person with dark skin sitting at a desk with a large computer monitor, raising their hand as if to ask a question. Along the bottom is the @BetterAllies handle and credit to @ninalimpi for the drawing.
November 18, 2025 at 6:49 PM
betterallies.bsky.social
I’ve been building my “baby” YouTube channel with practical tips to create better workplaces. I’m at 69 subscribers (nice) & hoping to reach 1,000 so the channel can start earning ad revenue.

I’d be grateful if you subscribed.

Thank you for cheering on this project! youtube.com/@BetterAllies
Better Allies
Influencing how workplaces become better, one ally at a time Posts by Karen Catlin, author of Better Allies® books and the 5 Ally Actions weekly newsletter
youtube.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:26 PM
betterallies.bsky.social
Would you be surprised, or not-so-surprised, to learn that a key driver of gender inequity is who gets stuck with non-promotable work?

#BetterAllies #BetterWorkplaces #InclusionMatters
November 12, 2025 at 6:14 PM
betterallies.bsky.social
I ensure fair access to promotable work because women, esp women of color, spend significantly more time on tasks that don’t lead to advancement. (Eg onboarding new hires, scheduling social events, resolving conflicts, or jumping in to help when others are overloaded)
Graphic with the message I ensure fair access to promotable work because women, especially women of color, spend significantly more time on tasks that don’t lead to advancement. There’s also a drawing of a person giving a virtual presentation, with another person who appears to be a woman contributing work to the presentation. She comes across as busily supporting the other person, and not getting the highly-visible, career-advancing opportunity to present a work project. Along the bottom is the @BetterAllies handle and credit to @ninalimpi for the drawing.
November 11, 2025 at 5:18 PM
betterallies.bsky.social
Research from Stanford is troubling yet not surprising: AI can reinforce age & gender bias, esp against older women:

Portrayed women as younger & less experienced
Rated older men’s resumes more favorably

If you use AI to screen resumes or evaluate candidates, don’t let it make decisions unchecked.
Graphic with the message AI might speed up hiring; It shouldn’t also speed up discrimination. Before finalizing candidates, Let’s review AI-generated material for biased assumptions about age or gender. There’s also a drawing of three cards, representing job candidates of different racial identities and genders. Along the bottom is the @BetterAllies handle and credit to @ninalimpi for the drawing.
November 4, 2025 at 6:58 PM
betterallies.bsky.social
I love research like this.

To overcome biases and hire the best candidates, use a simple nudge:

“If you hire everyone with similar characteristics, your group thinking and decision-making will be weaker as you’ll miss out on important perspectives”

Source: HBR hbr.org/2025/10/a-re...
Graphic with the message use this nudge to find the best candidates (and overcome bias). “If you hire everyone with similar characteristics, your group thinking and decision-making will be weaker as you’ll miss out on important perspectives”. There’s also a drawing of two people who look like they’re discussing a resume. Along the bottom is the @BetterAllies handle and credit to @ninalimpi for the drawing.
October 28, 2025 at 5:34 PM
betterallies.bsky.social
I do my best to learn how to pronounce someone's name.
How about you?
Graphic with the message I learn how to say someone’s name. By consistently mispronouncing someone’s name, you’re saying “You’re not important enough for me to put in the effort.” There’s also a drawing of a person holding two cards, with a large magnifying glass above them, signaling they are searching for the right pronunciation of a name. Along the bottom is the @BetterAllies handle and credit to @ninalimpi for the drawing.
October 23, 2025 at 6:17 PM
betterallies.bsky.social
While candidates can be polished in interviews, true character shows in everyday interactions. So, as Chief Talent Officer at Netflix. Jessica Neal asked receptionists how candidates treated them.

Dismissive, rude, or demanding? They didn't move forward.

Because those behaviors poison culture.
Graphic with the message I tap into overlooked voices by seeking their experience and making their feedback count in decisions. E.g., Asking a receptionist how a candidate treated them when they arrived for an interview. There’s also a drawing of a person sitting behind what looks to be a receptionist desk. Along the bottom is the @BetterAllies handle and credit to @ninalimpi for the drawing.
October 13, 2025 at 8:04 PM
betterallies.bsky.social
Newsletter drop!

5 actions you can take to create the kind of workplace that you want (and others need)

mailchi.mp/85cb0a0c6053...

#BetterAllies #BetterWorkplaces
5 Ally Actions - Oct 10, 2025
mailchi.mp
October 10, 2025 at 2:52 PM
betterallies.bsky.social
"Without hope, we fall into apathy and do nothing." — Dr. Jane Goodall

That quote has been on my mind this week. It’s a powerful reminder that staying hopeful isn’t naive — it’s necessary for change.

Let’s keep building workplaces where everyone can thrive.

#BetterAllies #BetterWorkplaces
October 9, 2025 at 4:07 PM
betterallies.bsky.social
Last week, Dr. Jane Goodall died. In an interview released after her death, she said:

“Without hope, we fall into apathy and do nothing.”

While she may have been talking about the decline in humanity overall, her wisdom applies to workplaces. By doing nothing, we silently accept biased cultures.
Graphic with the message I stay hopeful, taking action wherever I can. When we stop believing change is possible, we stop trying. And by doing nothing, we silently accept cultures that may be biased or unfair. There’s also a drawing of a person holding a card that looks like it could be an internal memo and a jubilant arm held in the air. Along the bottom is the @BetterAllies handle and credit to @ninalimpi for the drawing.
October 7, 2025 at 5:40 PM
betterallies.bsky.social
By spotlighting great leadership, we help others model themselves on the best—not the worst.

Build the workplace culture you want (and others need).

#BetterAllies #BetterWorkplaces 🙏
October 2, 2025 at 7:30 PM
betterallies.bsky.social
I admire how our CEO apologizes when they get something wrong.

Let’s call out positive leadership when we see it. By naming and celebrating these examples, we help others model themselves on the best—not the worst.

#BetterAllies #BetterWorkplaces
September 30, 2025 at 6:09 PM
betterallies.bsky.social
Let's spotlight examples of great leadership.

Instead of dwelling on poor examples (which are ubiquitous in these times), we can highlight the good ones, giving people targets to emulate.

(Keep reading for examples 👇 🧵)
Graphic with the message I spotlight examples of great leadership. Instead of dwelling on poor examples (which are ubiquitous in these times), we can highlight the good ones, giving people targets to emulate. There’s also a drawing of a person wearing a red cape with one arm in the air, looking strong and powerful. Along the bottom is the @BetterAllies handle and credit to @ninalimpi for the drawing.
September 30, 2025 at 6:09 PM
betterallies.bsky.social
Is it "free speech," or "me speech" used as a shield for harmful behavior?

(This is an excerpt from my upcoming “5 Ally Actions” newsletter. Subscribe and read the full edition at betterallies.com/subscribe)

#BetterAllies #BetterWorkplaces 🙏
September 25, 2025 at 4:59 PM
betterallies.bsky.social
I believe people when they share their lived experiences, even if I haven't experienced something similar myself.

It's key to being a better ally and building better workplaces, where everyone can do their best work and thrive.

#Belonging #BetterAllies #BetterWorkplaces
September 24, 2025 at 3:11 PM
betterallies.bsky.social
Picture this: An employee calls out a manager’s “joke” about accents as offensive. The manager shrugs it off. “It was just a joke. I have the right to free speech.”

Let’s notice when someone misuses free speech as a shield for harmful behavior. And speak up.

#Inclusion #BetterWorkplaces
Graphic with the message I don’t let “free speech” excuse harm in workplaces. Because some people invoke “free speech” to defend harmful behavior. It was just a joke. I have the right to free speech. There’s also a drawing of a person holding a bubble indicating they’re saying something. The bubble has a triangular warning sign in it. Along the bottom is the @BetterAllies handle and credit to @ninalimpi for the drawing.
September 23, 2025 at 5:25 PM