What does it mean to be an ally? The question was the panel topic for a group of white attorneys in positions of power at the Minority Corporate Counsel Association's 2019 Creating Pathways to Diversity Conference on Tuesday.

"It's about being comfortable with being awkward," Bjarne Tellmann, the general counsel at Pearson Education Inc., said on having conversations surrounding diversity and inclusion. "It may not come out perfectly, but my heart is true. Let's meet in the middle and have a conversation."

When allies can live in that comfortability, he said, executives who are in positions to make changes regarding diversity and inclusion will not be scared away.

Brian Fogarty, vice president of global intellectual property and brand protection at Nike Inc., said conversation will eventually lead to progress. He said there are things about himself that he cannot change, such as being a straight white male. However, he said he does go out of his way to listen.

"I can approach the conversation humbly and listen to what others have to say," Fogarty said.

The question then remains how to get others in a legal department to be allies, even if they have not been scared away from rhetoric or have a fear of having a few awkward conversations.

Lance Wolf, vice president and deputy general counsel of litigation and investigations at Freddie Mac who helps lead diversity and inclusion efforts at the firm, said he asks his attorneys to go to diverse events.

"I do try to make sure that straight white men are on the counsel and integrated into the activities," Wolf said. "We just sent someone who had not been involved in any diversity functions, sent him to the Hispanic National Bar Association event and he came back so enthusiastic and really glad that he attended."

Tellmann said Pearson began diversity and inclusion efforts focusing on gender. He said he wanted to take it one step further in the legal department and add disability.

"We started a mentoring program for disabled legal professionals and that has been such an eye-opener. Mentoring has come on to my scene as something that is a huge deal," Tellmann said. "Spending time one on one with someone who has a different life experience not only gives you an understanding but gives you an unbelievable appreciation of the grit and determination it takes to get through law school."

Tellmann said allies should begin by focusing on one or two issues at a time.

"Don't boil the ocean. Pick one or two things and go deep on that," Tellmann said.