This episode is a recording of a live broadcast of the Living While Leading Podcast. In this episode Sharon discusses the challenges and opportunities for men in supporting women's leadership and development with her guest, Ross McLean, Vice President of Aiven, a Finnish software start-up company.
They talk about personal experiences and strategies for men to actively support women in the workplace and how sponsorship is more effective than mentoring in propelling women’s careers. They also explore the impact of unchecked affinity bias in the performance appraisal process.
Keep listening to gain a deeper understanding of the male perspective on best practices for effective allyship.

Click here for the full transcript and other resources for women leaders.

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Sharon Ehrlich is a leadership strategist who turns stalled teams and overwhelmed leaders into high-impact performers, one conversation, one workshop, one coaching session at a time.

Through bespoke, problem-solving workshops, she helps organizations tackle real-world challenges—misaligned priorities, fractured communication, low morale—and leaves them with a clear roadmap to stronger trust, sharper decision-making, and sustained innovation.

Working 1:1 with executives, Sharon’s coaching blends deep listening with targeted feedback, so leaders refine their communication style, build resilience in uncertainty, and craft a strategic vision that sticks. Her clients report immediate shifts like teams collaborating more openly, projects hitting targets faster, and cultures becoming more inclusive and energized.

Whether you’re navigating a hybrid work maze, seeking fresh ideas to spark creativity, or aiming to align leadership around a shared purpose, Sharon’s insight-packed podcast episodes offer quick, actionable strategies you can put to work today.

Curious to see how she can help you solve your toughest leadership or team challenge? Explore current and past episodes at LivingWhileLeading.com or connect with Sharon on LinkedIn to start the conversation.