Why we're focusing on Mutual Accountability, Real Change

Organizations today are looking for ways to engage all employees in inclusion efforts—including those who may not have felt tapped in before. That’s why we’re excited to share an updated approach to MARC, now Mutual Accountability, Real Change.

Our MARC initiative has been evolving since our research on the topic first started in 2009. As we progressed from “men as allies” to gender partnership, we have been on a path toward making the implicit explicit, emphasizing that this work is for everyone to engage in and everyone to benefit from.

This name change reflects the principles and philosophy that have always underpinned the MARC program — that real change in workplace inclusion requires shared responsibility and collective action. MARC is about creating a level playing field and fostering the understanding, empathy, and respect that allow all employees to experience inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing in their organizations. The new name reflects this holistic approach, ensuring all employees feel welcomed into the conversation and reinforcing that accountability is shared—not the responsibility of just one group.

MARC will continue to be open to employees across genders and is designed for mixed-gender groups that represent the makeup of organizations. The initiative focuses on practical, real-world discussions about inclusion that help employees at all levels engage in conversation. It incorporates tools and strategies to address common challenges organizations face in advancing inclusion.

The initiative also focuses on the awareness and skills all employees can leverage to identify and address the gaps — and their root causes — that get in the way of inclusion everyone can experience and mutual respect and empathy all can enjoy. This necessarily involves bringing those who may have felt left out or left behind by past efforts into the work with intention. Men remain a critical part of the conversation alongside colleagues across genders, and MARC will continue to provide the tools and frameworks to help them be active, engaged participants in building gender-equitable workplaces.

MARC’s goal is to create cultures where no one feels left out, pushed out, or left behind. And it remains a safe, engaging space for honest discussions, providing actionable steps employees can take to advance the work of building fair and inclusive workplaces for all.

Gender equity is a win for everyone, not a zero-sum game. MARC continues to demonstrate how inclusive workplaces improve performance, retention, and job satisfaction for all employees — including men. We know that building workplaces that work for women and for everyone is the right and the smart thing to do. MARC and its focus on gender partnership helps make that possible.