For all-staff and people managers
Strength in Numbers
How to be an active ally, not an armchair one.
Churchill said there is only one thing worse than fighting with allies, and that is fighting without them. The word ally comes from the Latin alligare, to bind oneself to. Active allyship is the difference between a profile bio and a practice.
Trailer
A 90-second look at the talk
A short trailer to give you a feel for the tone, the audience, and what you can expect on the day.
Trailer
A short trailer for this talk lands here. Speaking feedback and a longer sample appear below.
Overview
From armchair to active, with the tools to do it well
Most people who say they are an ally mean it. But the gap between intention and impact is wide, and it is exactly where active allyship lives.
This keynote distinguishes the armchair ally from the active one, then walks through the tips, the language, and the everyday practices that make allyship show up where it counts.
Audiences leave with a clear-eyed view of the most common pitfalls, and a short list of moves that work without making it about the ally.
Verified attendee feedback
What the rooms said
Combined, response-weighted scores from every delivery of this keynote, collected independently through Talkadot.
- 98%Engaging
- 98%Memorable
- 98%Entertaining
- 98%Inspiring
- It was a very informative session with a great visual presentation from an engaging speaker who interspersed serious, helpful information with entertaining humour. Attendee
- Valuable. I felt like I had a solid foundation of information. This program added to that foundation, and took my knowledge and understanding further. Attendee
- Engaging, enlightening, entertaining- making it easy to listen and take actions - thank you (love the humour in your style!) Attendee
Ten-minute speaking sample
Watch a longer sample
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Frequently asked
Quick answers before you reach out
How long is this keynote?
This keynote runs 60 minutes, adaptable shorter or longer.
Can it be delivered virtually?
Yes. This keynote is delivered in person or virtually, with the same structure and audience interaction in both formats. Virtual delivery uses Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex, or your platform of choice.
Who is this talk for?
Best for All-staff sessions, ERGs, learning weeks, people-manager cohorts. The content also lands well with broader leadership audiences, ERG members, and anyone tasked with making DEIA real inside their organization.
Can the content be customized for our audience?
Yes. Every booking includes a prep call to tailor examples, language, and case studies to your sector, audience seniority, and the moment your organization is in. Customization is included in the speaking fee, not billed separately.
How do we book Michael for this talk?
Send an inquiry through the contact page with your event date, audience, format, and budget range. You will hear back within two business days with availability, a fee quote, and a short proposal for the talk.
Bringing Michael to your stage
Tell us about the event, the audience, and what you want them to leave thinking about. We will come back with a short note on fit, format, and what a strong version of this looks like for your group.