I was part of a podcast on allyship that will drop later today. It was an informative and fun episode to record. I'll tweet it out when it's published.
I want to echo something I said in the episode and share something I call the "Althea Test".
I want to echo something I said in the episode and share something I call the "Althea Test".
I've talked with a lot of companies who want me to assess how they're doing with embracing the power of diversity and creating an inclusive culture.
There's usually only one thing I need to know to get an initial sense of the inclusion maturity level of the company.
There's usually only one thing I need to know to get an initial sense of the inclusion maturity level of the company.
How are Black women valued at the company? This is the question answered by the Althea Test.
It's a question I pose to the engineering leaders with 2 layers of reports (i.e., their direct reports have people who report to them): Directors of Engineering, VPE's, etc.
It's a question I pose to the engineering leaders with 2 layers of reports (i.e., their direct reports have people who report to them): Directors of Engineering, VPE's, etc.
If these engineering leaders have Black women two levels below them, I apply the Althea Test. Regarding these Black women, I ask:
* Do they know their names?
* Can they list at least two contributions they made in the last quarter?
* Do you see them doing your job?
* Do they know their names?
* Can they list at least two contributions they made in the last quarter?
* Do you see them doing your job?
If they can answer "yes" to these three questions and provide details, then these companies are almost always operating at a very mature level of inclusion.
They pass the Althea Test because they have have created an environment that welcomes and values the demographic most often harmed by a lack of inclusion.
That almost always means that environment also supports other underrepresented groups (LGBTQ, Latinx, etc.)
That almost always means that environment also supports other underrepresented groups (LGBTQ, Latinx, etc.)
If they don't have any Black women two levels below them or can't answer "yes" to all three questions, then they fail the Althea Test. That almost always means that they have a long way to go towards creating a diverse and inclusive environment.
There are exceptions, but I've found the Althea Test to be very accurate. It's not meant to end any discussion about inclusion. However, it's a very useful way to start those discussions.
I call it the Althea Test after the first Black woman for whom I served as an engineering manager on a software development team. We worked together over 13 years ago, and she was an exceptional developer.
So, how does your organization fare under the Althea Test?
So, how does your organization fare under the Althea Test?
