Melinda Briana Epler - How to Be an Ally: Actions You Can Take for a Stronger, Happier Workplace

Melinda is a thought leader in the space of diversity and inclusion.... She cares deeply about underrepresented people, and also has the ability to turn this into real action that changes lives.

DR. IAN MCDONALD, Worldwide Lead, Tech Engagement Team, Microsoft for Startups

Melinda has been an incredible ally of mine and the disability community for years. She opened doors for myself, and many others to not only be seen and heard, but to be embraced for all of who we are. She is the true example of how to be an ally and how all the aspects of who we are matter. This is a powerful read and I continue to learn from her.

KR LIU, Head of Brand Accessibility, Google

I have been waiting for this book! Finally, we have an incredibly practical, in-depth, and soulful guide on how to step into the role of an ally at a time when our workplaces are hungry for this guidance. Filled with definitions, language to use, to-do lists, checklists, and reflection questions, How to Be an Ally gives you the tools and skills you need to become more equitable and inclusive in all of your interactions. Its a must-read for allyship and I cant wait to recommend it to my clients!

RITU BHASIN, Founder & President, Bhasin Consulting, and author, The Authenticity Principle

There are few in the DEI space that are as knowledgeable, authentic, and passionate as Melinda Briana Epler. She attacks the pressing issues of our space: gender equity, racial equity, wage equality, accessibility, and others from an experiential perspective.

LIONEL LEE, Head of Diversity Engagement, Zillow Group

If we have learned anything in the past year, it was the urgent need for allies in all facets of life. Ive had the honor of working and partnering with Melinda over the years and she has modeled what it means to be an active ally. This book brings together what she has learned into powerful action-oriented frameworks. As a disabled woman of color, Im grateful this book exists so that I can be a better ally for communities that look likeand dont look likemine. I highly recommend this book as a must-read for business leaders and anyone committed to building a more inclusive and empathetic world.

TIFFANY YU, CEO & Founder, Diversability

How to Be an Ally invites you to pull up a chair, examine your approach to life, and actively build a better world for everyone.

NATALIA VILLALOBOS, Googles Feminist in Residence

Wanting to be an ally doesnt mean that youre an ally. If you want to understand what allyship can feel like and look like at work, How to Be an Ally is a concise guide that shows you how to move from awareness to action.

DAISY AUGER-DOMNGUEZ, Chief People Officer, VICE Media Group

How to Be an Ally is the book weve all been waiting for. Its simple, practical, and impactful. So many of us struggle with our own privilege. But privilege isnt a bad thing when its used as a tool to help those who have been discriminated against. How to Be an Ally demystifies diversity, equity, and inclusion and provides everyday steps we can all take to change our communities and workplaces for the better.

The exercises and also wealth of information make this book a go-to guide for every aspiring Ally and a one stop shop for advocates who need to explain their work to others. When we talk about educating oneself or changing a company or playing your part, this is the book we all need on our bookshelves.

MANISHA AMIN, CEO, Centre for Inclusive Design

What does it mean to be an ally? Melinda captures her years of research and personal connections to convey an empathetic and vulnerable walk from intent to allyship, which she aptly describes as being a good human. A must-read for everyone.

JULIE ELBERFELD, CEO, Belong Strategies, and experienced Fortune 100 CIO

We can all be better allies to those of our coworkers who lack the benefits of our privilege and have, as a result, all too frequently been marginalized, indeed disrespected. For those white guys amongst us who, like me, want to grow our understanding of the issues and make a commitment to better appreciate and support all of our colleagues, Melindas book is an accessible must-read! She provides thought-provoking historical context and, crucially, offers up many tangible ways to combine understanding and empathy in concrete actions that will make for a better workplaceas well as simply making us better people.

ADAM QUINTON, Board Member and Treasurer, Holy Cross Energy

As a DEI practitioner myself, I always look to Melinda to further my own learning about how the DEI conversation is developing in the tech industry because in many ways, she is steering it! How to Be an Ally is full of tangible action stepsbig and smallthat all leaders can take to advance equity in the workplace in new and innovative forms. Melinda challenges how weve approached DEI in the past, and turns her critical eye toward building a more inclusive future that lasts.

JENNIFER BROWN, President & CEO, Jennifer Brown Consulting, and author, How to Be an Inclusive Leader and Inclusion

Melinda Briana Epler is one of the most inclusive and thoughtful leaders I have ever encountered. In her timely debut book, Epler, director, producer, and tech equity CEO & Founder, writes from the perspective of a white woman who has detailed her own journey from apathy to advocacy for justice and equity for others. Anyone reading this illuminating and instructional book will find themselves on their own journey from apathy to full-on advocacy by its end. Epler shows vulnerability, bravery, empathy, and great courage as she outlines the lessons shes learned along her own personal journey in what I hope will aid readers from stumbling along the allyship path. Im excited to share this book with my entire organization as a part of our foundational learning on equity, inclusion, and diversity.

RACHEL WILLIAMS, Head of Equity, Inclusion & Diversity, X - The Moonshot Factory

The term thought-leader is tossed out casually, however that is exactly what Melinda Briana Epler epitomizes. She is a leader who through her work, gently but forcefully, guides all of us to reexamine long-standing beliefs on meritocracy and then to take incremental, meaningful, and daily actions to build truly inclusive workplaces. Hers is a counsel I seek, and Im always put on a more considered path for applying Melindas guidance.

J. KELLY HOEY, investor and author, Build Your Dream Network

Melindas dedication to creating safer, more inclusive organizations has had a profound impact on the tech industry. Having partnered with her for several years now, Ive had the opportunity to watch her work in action and bear witness to the evolution of several corporate cultures. Im grateful shes taken the time to share her learnings so that individuals and companies across industries can begin their own journeys in action.

KATELIN HOLLOWAY, Founding Partner, Seven Seven Six