In this episode of the Inclusive Excellence Podcast, cohosts Erin Sember-Chase and Toral Patel unpack the term “allyship” with Sam Benson, Assistant Director for Graduate Affairs for MS and PhD Students in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Perdita Das, Assistant Dean of Hans Bethe House. 

Das and Benson first began their careers at Cornell as residence hall directors, and over time, their relationship evolved from colleagues to close friends. For them, allyship has played a central role in sustaining their bond – not just as a concept, but as an active practice rooted in trust, advocacy and mutual support. 

“Allyship is very similar to integrity,” Benson explains. “It’s doing the right thing when nobody is watching. It’s about making sure that people and groups who are often made to feel invisible feel seen, and that I make sure that I can create a ripple effect where they are seen by others as well.” 

Throughout the episode, the pair delve into the realities of allyship, breaking down what it truly means, what it isn’t and how it manifests in everyday life. According to Das and Benson, allyship is not about perfection – it’s about persistence. 

“You will make mistakes,” Benson acknowledges. ‘But if everybody stopped after their first mistake, nothing would happen. Allyship requires learning, unlearning and continuing to show up – even when it’s hard.”

Das reinforces the idea that allyship is not about checking a box but about creating environments where inclusion is woven into every interaction. “You don’t have to do inclusive; you have to be inclusive,” she says. “It’s about making sure that spaces are already welcoming so that people don’t have to advocate just to be heard.”

Serving as both a candid and inspiring exploration of allyship in action, Episode 95: Allyship In Action – More Than Just Being Nice, highlights the small but powerful ways individuals can support one another, hold themselves accountable and create lasting change. 

Listen to the full episode to learn more about allyship, accountability and how to navigate the journey of creating truly inclusive spaces.