“Allyship: An Essential Component of Leadership”
Presenter: Lisa Mebane, JD
Allyship in the workplace is an essential management skill. When leaders act as allies, they create a supportive environment that transcends daily tasks and an inclusive organizational culture where employees feel empowered to overcome challenges and thrive. Research has shown that organizations with an inclusive workplace culture see marked improvements in innovation, productivity, profitability, and customer satisfaction. In this breakout session, participants will explore what allyship is, how effective leaders function as allies, and how allyship supports strategy as well as professional growth.
In this workshop, attendees will:
- Define key terms, including ally, accomplice, and co-conspirator.
- Identify and discuss the importance and challenges of being an ally leader.
- Explore specific ways to be an ally and foster an inclusive workplace culture.
Bio
Lisa Mebane joined the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law in 2023 after 14 years in private practice and in-house. In her role as managing director of Maryland Carey Law’s Center for Dispute Resolution (C-DRUM), she directs the Dispute Resolution Program, advising students on the dispute resolution track as well as dispute resolution externships, competitions, and careers. She manages the center’s program development and various projects in the areas of public policy, professional development, and conflict resolution in education.
As managing director of the Women, Leadership & Equality Program (WLE), she directs the externship/practicum, which offers students the opportunity to work with state, local, and national organizations dedicated to serving women in need and shaping policy. She advises students, co-teaches the applied workshop in personal negotiation, communication, strategic career planning, and leadership development, and manages the day-to-day operations of the WLE Program.
Prior to arriving at Maryland Carey Law, she was resolutions counsel for United Educators in Bethesda, Md. As resolutions counsel, she managed complex litigation and effectively resolved catastrophic cases on behalf of colleges and universities. She also led an advisory committee on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) that resulted in development of a companywide DEI initiative and the Defense Counsel Advancement Program designed to identify and remove barriers to hiring diverse counsel.
During her career as a litigator with Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, PC, she represented businesses and educational institutions in a variety of civil suits, including commercial litigation, products liability, and general liability matters.
She graduated from Duquesne University School of Law in 2009, where she earned numerous trial advocacy honors and was the recipient of the Kandy Reidbord Ehrenwerth Award for exemplifying ethics, devotion to the law, and commitment to serving the underprivileged and social issues. Prior to attending law school, she worked in nonprofit management and higher education. She earned her undergraduate degree at Pennsylvania State University.
