By Weruché Uzoka

Is it a little "mansplain-y" for a man to write about how men should support women at work? Maybe. But that is precisely the point: the conversation isn't written for women—it is written for men, from someone who has spent a decade practicing it in real time.

Timed with Women’s Equality Day, President of Publicity For Good Austin Holmes sat down with Editor-in-Chief Weruché Uzoka on The WERUCHE Show to share what daily, actionable allyship looks like. Operating within an industry predominantly led by women and working alongside his wife, Heather Holmes—who serves as CEO of the agency—Austin offers a grounded, pragmatic look at how male executives can move past buzzwords and actively champion women in leadership.

Navigating Leadership Alongside a Female CEO

In many corporate environments, executive dynamics are dictated by traditional hierarchies. For Austin, leadership requires a clear understanding of role distribution and mutual respect. Serving as President while Heather leads as CEO, his focus remains on alignment, operational strength, and elevating her vision for the company.

"True allyship starts by checking your ego at the door," Austin shared during the interview. "Working alongside a female CEO—especially one who is also your partner—requires absolute clarity in roles, deep respect for her authority, and ensuring that her leadership is backed up by operational action every single day."

This dynamic has given Austin a unique vantage point on how female leaders navigate industry pressures, systemic bias, and the subtle ways their authority is sometimes tested in external business environments.

Moving Beyond Performative Allyship

For many organizations, support for gender equality begins and ends with corporate statements, social media posts, or annual panel discussions. Austin argues that real allyship is defined by what happens inside internal meetings, compensation reviews, and daily decision-making.

"It’s easy to put out a statement on Women’s Equality Day," Austin noted. "The real work is asking: Who is getting credit in the room when an idea is shared? Who is being mentored for executive roles? Are women being given equal equity and decision-making power, or just advisory titles?"

To turn performative support into active advocacy, Austin emphasizes key practices for male leaders:

• Amplify Voices in Real Time: Actively redirecting credit to female colleagues during high-stakes meetings when their ideas are co-opted or overlooked.

• Sponsor, Don't Just Mentor: Moving beyond advice-giving to actively opening doors, recommending women for board seats, and backing them for key promotions.

• Normalize Balanced Domestic Responsibility: Recognizing that workplace equality is deeply tied to how domestic and parental responsibilities are shared at home.

Leading in a Female-Dominated Industry

Public relations is uniquely positioned as an industry with heavy female representation, yet high-level executive equity across the broader corporate landscape still lags. Austin’s experience at Publicity For Good has reinforced his conviction that diversity in leadership directly drives better business outcomes, higher team retention, and stronger creative strategies.

By fostering a culture where female leadership is the standard rather than the exception, Austin hopes to model how male executives in other sectors can dismantle legacy "boys' club" dynamics.

"If men want to be true allies, they have to be willing to use their privilege to clear roadblocks, step back when necessary, and advocate for women even when women aren't in the room," Austin said.

Connecting with Publicity For Good

Austin Holmes’s perspective serves as a timely reminder that workplace equality is not a women's issue—it is a leadership responsibility that requires active, daily commitment from men at every level of management.

• Learn more about their agency’s mission and leadership team at publicityforgood.com.

• Watch the full conversation with Austin Holmes on The WERUCHE Show on YouTube.