About us

Championing positive masculinity and increasing male engagement in gender allyship.

Who we are

We believe men need to be fully involved in creating equitable workplaces. Every man will sit on the continuum that runs from combative to changemaker, and there will be reasons for his place there.

By listening to men to understand where they’re at, and educating them about what women face in the workplace, we cultivate a culture of openness and understanding.

Research shows perception gaps are significant between men and women, but our allyship training is incredibly effective at moving men to not only being aware, but being knowledgeable and confident enough to challenge and make change.

Our vision

Gender equality in all industries and organisations across the UK where men are active allies, change systems, and promote inclusivity at all levels.

Our mission

To support, inspire, and recruit men to be allies, empowering them to embrace positive masculinity, cultivate inclusive environments, and foster gender balance in their workplaces.

Our values

Partnership.
Collaboration.
Accountability.
Continuous learning.

The allyship continuum

Our allyship continuum shows the different mindsets men can have when it comes to gender equality, ranging from working against it, to being curious, to be leading agents of change.

We know that raising awareness, engaging men, and increasing their understanding through allyship training enables them to move from wherever they start on the continuum sequentially through it to ideally become committed influencers and role models or systemic changemakers.

Male Allyship Continuum that goes from combative > complacent > curious > caring > committed > changemaker

Our experience

Academic backgrounds, varied careers, and lived experience

As a psychologist and a sociologist, we are evidence-based and research-led. We believe in both learning from and sharing information with others.

We have worked in organisations of different sizes across a variety of industries and seen the extent of the gender imbalance present in all, at every level. Common themes run across all sectors, such as a lack of diversity on leadership teams or little to no awareness of gender-based micro-aggressions.

Our work is based on raising awareness about gender inequality and championing the positive effects of male allyship training. We also understand that there are barriers to men engaging in allyship, which will have come from somewhere and therefore need to be worked through in order for them to step into allyship — moving from combative or complacent to committed or changemakers.

About us

Lee is the chief psychologist and founder of Essentialise and Male Allies UK. After a diverse career, from corporate finance to building a tech company, he is now focused on supporting organisations to engage men in inclusion, accelerate gender equity and promote effective allyship. He has been featured on the Startups 100 Index, has received a Great British Entrepreneur Award, and sits on the boards of CMI Women, Regenerage, and the Manchester Metropolitan University Business School.

He is a Kavli Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences in the USA - the first Black British scientist to be awarded in its 33-year history, received for his work on health inequalities. He was the UN Women Changemaker of the Year in 2023, and is an ambassador for the UK Government's Lilac Review for Disabled Entrepreneurship. He speaks globally on allyship and intersectionality, having taken the stage at One Young World, ChangeNOW and the Bloomberg Global Equality Summit, and is the author of the upcoming book, Momentum: Reboot Your Career, Unlock Your Potential.

Personally, he shares his experiences as a Black autistic man, a stay-at-home dad, and his journey to learn to walk again after acquiring a chronic illness. He lives near Preston with his two children.
Lee Chambers
Co-Founder
Jade is a sociologist and writer with a particular interest in intersectionality and equity. She has worked in the tech and non-profit sectors and also runs her own social impact copywriting and proofreading business.

Combining down to earth writing with her lived experience as a working-class, disabled, neurodivergent woman, Jade believes in the power words hold to educate and inspire change. Storytelling, research, and collective action are cornerstones of her work as well as listening to people to understand their experiences and meeting them where they're at.

Following on from her award-winning dissertation about everyday sexism and street harassment – which highlighted the need for men to be involved in gender equality efforts because it will benefit them as well – she's excited to help organisations and leaders to make tangible, lasting change through Male Allies UK. After all, men stand to gain hugely from a more equal and inclusive society, not just women and non-binary people, and it's time for them to be empowered to shoulder the responsibility.

Jade is based in Manchester with her partner and their cat, and her latest obsession is playing squash as often as possible.
Jade Anderson
Jade Anderson
Co-Founder and Head of Marketing

What our clients say

Lee Chambers is a captivating speaker and story teller who adeptly navigates the complexities of male allyship with authenticity, grace and humility. His insightful reflections and personal journey provide a compelling narrative for driving meaningful change in societal norms and behaviours. His stories resonate deeply, offering powerful insights into the challenges and opportunities that arise when men actively engage in advocacy and support for inclusion across all communities.

By sharing his own journey, he creates a safe space for dialogue and questioning. Lee’s message is timely and reminds us that we all have a role to play in creating a more equitable and inclusive society. Thank you Lee, your insight is incredible.

Kathy Brooke
Technology Chief of Staff Office, Bank of England

I highly recommend Lee as a speaker and collaborator. His thought-provoking speeches are backed by data and delivered with honesty, making him effective at conveying difficult messages. Lee is open-minded, a great listener, and adaptable to current issues, ensuring inclusivity for the entire audience. Together, we successfully delivered a memorable event, and I believe Lee would excel in any support role.

His keynote speech and panel participation showcased his ability to engage strong leaders, and his personable nature adds a human touch to his interactions. I highly endorse Lee for any endeavor.

Sandie Small
Deputy Governorship - Chief Information Officer for the Prudential Regulatory Authority