The Power of allyship: Why women in business need more than just hard work to succeed

Business success is often credited to hard work, talent, and innovation. But there's a crucial factor that rarely gets the spotlight - allyship. And for women navigating leadership roles, career progression, or male-dominated industries, having allies isn't just beneficial - it's essential.

Allyship isn't just about being supportive; it's about people advocating for you when you're not in the room, elevating your voice, and using their influence to open doors. It's about ensuring that opportunities aren't just available - but actively shared.

And here's why it matters. Research shows that employees with at least one ally at work are nearly twice as likely to be satisfied with their job and workplace culture. A culture of allyship isn't just nice to have - it directly impacts engagement, retention, and, ultimately, business success.

As we mark International Women's Day, a time to celebrate progress and push for change, it's worth asking: how do we ensure that women don't just break barriers but thrive?

The answer lies in creating a culture where allyship isn't a side note - it's a business imperative.

No one succeeds alone

Early in my career, I believed you earned success through grit and results. However, experience has shown me that no one succeeds in isolation, no matter how talented. The most impactful leaders I've met didn't just work hard; they had people championing them, advocating for their ideas, and ensuring they were seen and heard.

I've been fortunate to have allies who believed in me before I believed in myself. Senior leaders who spoke my name in the right rooms. Peers who backed my ideas when I wasn't present. Colleagues who actively used their influence to make sure I had the opportunities to grow.

And I've made it my mission to do the same for others. Because allyship isn't just about fairness - it's about making workplaces stronger, more inclusive, and better for everyone.

Allyship in action: More than a "nice-to-Have"

Allyship isn't passive support; it's active advocacy. It's about influence, decision-making, and using your position to lift others. And in business, it's not just an ethical choice - it's a strategic one.

For organisations, fostering a culture of allyship means more engaged employees, stronger leadership pipelines, and better business outcomes. Studies consistently show that diverse leadership teams drive better financial performance, innovation, and problem-solving. Yet, too many talented women remain overlooked without allies actively clearing the path.

This is why allyship must go beyond mentorship - translating into sponsorship. Mentors offer advice, but sponsors take action. They put people forward for promotions, advocate for their leadership potential, and challenge biases that limit opportunities.

Allyship doesn't just benefit individuals - it strengthens businesses. Research has found that inclusive teams make better business decisions up to 87% of the time. When people feel supported, heard, and championed, they contribute more effectively, challenge ideas productively, and create better outcomes

This International Women's Day, ask yourself: Are you simply supporting women in business or actively advocating for them?

How to build Your "fan base" of allies

If you want to succeed, you need more than a strong work ethic - you need a network of allies who believe in you, speak up for you, and amplify your voice. And equally, you need to do the same for others.

Here's how:

• Be Visible, be heard – Make sure your work and ambitions are known. Allies can't advocate for what they don't see.
   
• Build trust through action – Strong allies don't appear overnight. Cultivate relationships based on integrity, mutual respect, and shared goals.
   
• Champion others – The best way to build allies is to be one. Speak up for others, share opportunities, and use your voice to advocate for those who aren't always heard.
   
• Engage across the business – Don't limit your support network to your immediate team. The most potent allies are often found in unexpected places - leaders in other departments, industry peers, or even former colleagues.
   
• Turn mentorship into sponsorship – Elevate your allyship beyond advice - push for promotions, make introductions, and ensure women's achievements are recognised at the highest levels.

Stronger together: Moving the needle on inclusion

Allyship isn't just about supporting individuals - it's about creating genuinely representative, fair, and inclusive workplaces for everyone. It's about ensuring talent is recognised based on merit, not biases.

It's about breaking down barriers, challenging outdated norms, and actively working to empower people of all backgrounds to thrive.

When allyship is embedded in workplace culture, businesses don't just retain employees—they create environments where innovation flourishes, perspectives are valued, and people feel safe to contribute their best ideas.

And that's what moves the needle - not just for individuals but entire industries.

So, let's make allyship more than a conversation.

Let's make it an everyday commitment. Let's challenge inequities when we see them, amplify voices that need to be heard, and ensure that success isn't reserved for a select few but accessible to all. Because when we rise together, we don't just win together - we create a better future for everyone.