Ally Up

About the Author

Di Ciruolo has a degree in Anthropology from Georgia State University. She is a white-Hispanic, queer woman living in Boston, Massachusetts, where she graduated from the foster care system as a young adult. After aging out of the foster care system, Di struggled to find stability, spending time homeless in Atlanta, Georgia. She now owns a consulting business teaching inclusion and advocacy in the workplace, with classes available. She is the Head of Inclusion at Jambb in Boston. She volunteers on several inclusion projects, especially expanding access to tech education for children in foster care, and is a space-maker and semi-reluctant public speaker.

Main Idea

In Ally Up, Di Ciruolo explores how to transform diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from mere buzzwords into actionable practices that build more inclusive, innovative, and productive teams. She emphasizes the importance of allyship in understanding and dismantling systems of inequality within the workplace. Ciruolo provides practical advice for creating a culture that genuinely promotes DEI, starting with everyday actions and extending to corporate policies and leadership practices.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Creating a Culture That Promotes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Diversity Values are Devalued
• The Working-Over of Working Moms
• How Employers Can Build More Inclusive Work Cultures
• Building Communities for Social Justice
• Hiring with Inclusivity
• Attracting the Right Candidates
• Onboarding
• Building Teams and Tracking Performance
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Work
• Handling Day-to-Day Operations
• Trusting Team Members
• Leading by Example
• Conclusion

Introduction

Di Ciruolo opens Ally Up by emphasizing the need for genuine commitment to allyship in the workplace. She argues that everyone has a role to play in creating a more inclusive and equitable work environment. This requires a willingness to engage in uncomfortable conversations and take concrete actions towards inclusivity and diversity. Ciruolo highlights that real change goes beyond corporate policies and requires daily practices and behaviors that promote acceptance and equality.

Creating a Culture That Promotes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Ciruolo discusses the pitfalls of companies hiring diversity officers without granting them the power to effect real change. She stresses that without a culture of allyship, diversity policies are ineffective. True allyship involves a willingness to learn, adapt, and take action to create a genuinely inclusive work environment.

“Without allyship, nothing changes. Without a willingness to change and learn and do better, everything stays the same.” - Di Ciruolo

creating a DEI culture include:

• Empowering diversity officers with decision-making authority.
• Fostering an environment where all employees feel safe to speak up.
• Implementing ongoing training and education on DEI topics.
• Encouraging open dialogue about diversity and inclusion challenges.

Diversity Values are Devalued

Ciruolo highlights the discrepancy between corporate diversity initiatives and actual representation in the workplace. She points out that token changes and lip service to diversity are insufficient. Real progress requires substantive actions that address systemic inequalities and promote genuine inclusion.

“To transform these metrics, we’ll need to go well beyond token changes or lip service to take real action in bringing equity and allyship to the workforce.” - Di Ciruolo

addressing diversity include: