ATHENA ACADEMY PRESENTS
Mastering Leadership Through Allyship
The Athena Academy’s Allyship Certification Course equips leaders with the skills to drive meaningful change, fostering inclusive workplaces where women and minoritized professionals thrive. This dynamic, three-month training blends insight, empathy, and action—transforming good intentions into impactful leadership.
Led by Dr. Alessandra Wall, clinical psychologist, and founding faculty member, participants will explore systemic gender disparities, challenge biases, and develop actionable allyship strategies. The program shifts the focus from “fixing people” to addressing organizational barriers, ensuring leaders actively support equity rather than seeing it as a women’s issue.
Through guided discussions, strategic exercises, and real-world applications, leaders will refine their ability to advocate, sponsor, and create opportunities for women across teams and corporate cultures. Corporate rates are available for cohorts of 50 individuals or fewer.
"Developing a deeper understanding of the experiences of the women around you and sharpening your situational awareness will inevitably and irrevocably transform your perspective. Asking, listening, and learning in this way will benefit everything you do as an ally, as a leader, and as a man."
W. Brad Johnson & David G. Smith in the Harvard Business Review
Getting Buy-In to Activate Allyship
Leaders gain firsthand insight into workplace challenges by interviewing diverse individuals. They define personal allyship goals and commit to immediate action, bridging the gap between awareness and meaningful support.
Turning Intentions into Actionable Allyship
Leaders explore key allyship actions, create a personalized plan, and commit to supporting specific individuals. They focus on advocacy, strategic impact, and overcoming fears of imperfection in allyship efforts.
Responding to Reactivity – Handling Pushback
Leaders navigate resistance to allyship by addressing skepticism, managing difficult conversations, and reinforcing inclusive leadership strategies. They develop confidence in fostering equity without polarization or disengagement.
Working Through Roadblocks to Allyship
Leaders identify internal and external barriers to allyship, explore psychological roadblocks, and develop strategies to overcome them. They commit to taking action despite challenges, ensuring sustained progress in fostering inclusion.
Elevating Others – Leveraging Influence to Sponsor
Sponsorship accelerates women’s careers. Leaders learn to actively advocate for others, challenge biases, and use their influence to create real opportunities, ensuring visibility and advancement beyond mentorship.
Showing Up Consistently as a Better Leader & Ally
Sustained allyship requires consistency. Leaders engage in structured follow-ups at 3, 6, and 12 months, sharing progress, refining strategies, and reinforcing inclusive leadership behaviors.
Athena's Resident Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Alessandra Wall is a licensed clinical psychologist and leadership coach specializing in helping women secure the careers and success they’ve earned. Dr. Wall has been in private practice in San Diego since 2007. Alessandra founded Noteworthy in 2013 to support the women she was serving. She received her Bachelor of Arts in psychology (Cum Laude) from Duke University and her Doctorate of Philosophy in clinical psychology from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. She is licensed by and in good standing with the California Board of Psychology. She is a co-founder and former board chair of Empower Charter School.
