Allyship is more than offering support. It's an active leadership practice built through curiosity, courage, advocacy, trust, and the intentional use of influence. Understanding how to build these relationships—and how to be that kind of colleague and leader for others—can strengthen your own professional growth while helping those around you succeed.

Join leaders from B. Braun for a candid conversation about what allyship is and isn't, how to recognize and cultivate allies throughout your career, and how everyday actions can strengthen confidence, relationships, influence, and psychological safety.

No matter where you are in your career journey—or what growth looks like for you—you'll leave with practical ideas to strengthen your confidence and leadership skills, build relationships that support continued learning and growth, use your influence more intentionally, and create opportunities for yourself and others to grow and succeed.

What You'll Take Away

Participants will leave with practical ways to:

1. Recognize allyship in action by understanding how allies challenge, advocate, connect, encourage, and create opportunities for others.
2. Build relationships that support growth by cultivating allies who expand perspectives, provide candid feedback, advocate, and open doors to new opportunities.
3. Strengthen essential leadership skills by practicing curiosity, courage, influence, and psychological safety in everyday professional interactions.
4. Leverage advocacy and sponsorship by using relationships, credibility, and influence to create opportunities for personal growth and support the development of others.
5. Turn insights into action by identifying one leadership skill to strengthen and one practical step to put allyship into practice.

Panelists:

Scott Blair
Vice President, Workplace Inclusion & Belonging and HR Operations
B. Braun Medical, Inc.

Scott Blair is Vice President, Workplace Inclusion & Belonging and HR Operations at B. Braun Medical Inc., where he leads initiatives focused on workplace inclusion, employee engagement, and organizational culture, including the company's Employee Resource Group community. Prior to joining B. Braun in 2022, Scott spent nearly 20 years in higher education, holding leadership roles in inclusion, teaching, and academic support. An experienced educator, mentor, and coach, he is passionate about developing people, strengthening workplace relationships, and creating environments where individuals can contribute, learn, and grow.

Erik Graaf
Vice President of OPM Field Sales
B. Braun Medical, Inc.

Erik Graaf is Vice President of OPM Field Sales at B. Braun Medical Inc. and serves as Executive Sponsor of the company's Allyship Employee Resource Group. Throughout his career, he has held leadership roles across sales, marketing, training, communications, and business development, with a passion for developing people and creating opportunities for professional growth. A first-generation college graduate, Erik is also an active mentor through the Professional Women in Healthcare mentoring program and is committed to advancing mentorship, allyship, and inclusive leadership.

Jennifer O'Reilly
Vice Presiden - OPM Corporate Accounts
B. Braun Medical, Inc.

Jennifer O'Reilly is Vice President – OPM Corporate Accounts at B. Braun Medical, Inc., where she leads teams supporting strategic national customers and business partnerships. Since joining B. Braun in 2000, she has held leadership roles across sales, corporate training, sales management, and national accounts, bringing extensive experience in team development, change management, and strategic collaboration. Jennifer also serves on the Board of Directors for Professional Women in Healthcare (PWH) as Chair of the Corporate Partners Committee, where she supports collaboration, professional development, and leadership opportunities across the healthcare industry.