THE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
DEI and culture initiatives are a strategic priority for most organisations. Yet a significant share of the workforce – particularly male employees – remains disengaged, sceptical, or quietly resistant. This isn’t a values failure. It’s a communication and framing problem with measurable business consequences.
83%
of HR leaders report male resistance to DEI training
2.4x
higher turnover when employees feel excluded
€47K
average cost to replace a mid-level employee in Europe
What you’re likely seeing:
- Male employees disengage or become defensive during inclusion workshops
- Managers avoid difficult conversations about behaviour and norms
- Culture programmes show participation but no measurable behaviour change
- Burnout and stress interventions don’t account for gendered coping patterns
PathForge training portfolio is designed to get the employees who are hardest to reach actively engaged in building the culture you need. Four evidence-based programmes target specific needs in workforce engagement and culture strategy.
| Programme | What It Solves | Primary Audience |
|---|---|---|
| Calling Men In | Get male employees actively bought into your DEI strategy, not just compliant | Senior leadership, People managers DEI leads, HR departments |
| Men in Modern Workplaces | Equip male employees with practical tools to thrive in inclusive, high-performance cultures | All male employees, mixed-gender teams |
| Engaging Men in Inclusive Workplaces | Give managers confidence to lead gendered conversations and drive culture change | People managers, team leads, department heads |
| Managing Stress & Burnout | Address male-specific stress and burnout patterns before they become attrition | Male employees (esp. tech), HR wellbeing leads |
All programmes are modular (90-minute impulse, half-day, or full-day), available in English, Polish, and German, and delivered on-site or virtually.
FORMAT
- 90-minute impulse, half-day or full-day workshop
- 5–15 participants
- On-site or virtual
- EN / DE / PL
Calling Men In
A positive narratives approach to DEI and leadership
THE CHALLENGE. Your DEI initiatives aren’t landing with a significant part of your workforce. Male employees attend mandatory training but leave unconvinced, disengaged, or resentful. Managers sense the disconnect but lack the tools to address it. The result: culture programmes that look good on paper but produce no real change and may even increase polarisation.
OUR APPROACH This programme flips the script. Instead of telling men what they’re doing wrong, it shows leaders how to frame inclusion as something men actively benefit from and can champion. Participants learn evidence-based techniques to bring sceptical team members on board without shaming, lecturing, or creating defensiveness. The focus is on building genuine buy-in, not forced compliance.
MEASURABLE OUTCOMES
- Increased voluntary engagement with DEI initiatives among male employees
- Leaders gain a practical playbook for inclusive conversations that don’t backfire
- Reduced backlash and “silent resistance” following diversity initiatives
- Measurable improvement in team psychological safety scores
Men in Modern Workplaces
A practical, evidence-based guide to the values and virtues which help men thrive and achieve in fair, inclusive and diverse professional spaces.
THE CHALLENGE. Many male employees feel that modern workplace culture has shifted around them without giving them clear guidance on how to adapt. They may avoid speaking up, withdraw from collaborative projects, or default to defensive postures – not out of malice, but uncertainty. This costs you engagement, productivity, and retention.
OUR APPROACH. This programme gives male employees a direct, non-judgmental framework for understanding how social norms shape their behaviour at work. Through evidence-based exercises, participants learn to recognise their own patterns, communicate constructively, and contribute to team culture with confidence. The tone is pragmatic and respectful, never preachy.
MEASURABLE OUTCOMES
- Employees gain self-awareness about how norms influence workplace behaviour
- Improved constructive communication in cross-functional and diverse teams
- Clear peer-accountability strategies that participants design themselves
- Reduction in interpersonal conflicts flagged to HR
FORMAT
- 90-minute impulse, half-day or full-day workshop
- 10–25 participants
- On-site or virtual
- EN / DE / PL
FORMAT
- 90-minute impulse, half-day or full-day workshop
- 5–15 participants
- On-site or virtual
- EN / DE / PL
Engaging Men in Inclusive Workplaces
Giving managers confidence to lead gendered conversations and drive real culture change.
THE CHALLENGE. Your managers are the front line of culture. But most have never been trained to navigate conversations about gender, masculinity, and inclusion – especially with male employees who may be resistant or confused. The result: managers feel stressed and either avoid these conversations entirely or unintentionally escalate problems.
OUR APPROACH. This programme equips people managers with a structured, evidence-based method for engaging male team members in conversations about norms, behaviour, and expectations. Participants practise real scenarios, learn to de-escalate defensiveness, and leave with a personal change plan they can implement immediately with their teams.
MEASURABLE OUTCOMES
- Managers gain confidence to address gendered dynamics without alienating team members
- Practical frameworks for turning difficult conversations into productive ones
- A team-specific change plan each manager can execute post-training
- Measurable improvement in manager effectiveness ratings around inclusion
Managing Stress and Burnout
Helping male employees recharge, reconnect, and build healthy work cultures
THE CHALLENGE. Burnout hurts employees and employers alike. But most stress-management programmes are designed generically and fail to account for how men are socialised to handle pressure. Male employees are significantly less likely to use EAP services or flag burnout early. By the time it surfaces, you’ve already lost productivity – or the employee.
OUR APPROACH. This programme addresses male-specific stress and burnout patterns head-on. Participants explore how masculine norms around stoicism, self-reliance, and performance pressure create blind spots, and learn practical, research-backed techniques for building resilience, setting boundaries, and communicating under stress. Designed for men, by researchers who understand the gap.
MEASURABLE OUTCOMES
- Earlier identification of burnout signals in male employees
- Increased willingness to use available wellbeing resources
- Practical stress-management techniques tailored to male coping patterns
- Reduced sick days and presenteeism linked to chronic stress
FORMAT
- 90-minute impulse, half-day or full-day workshop
- 10–25 participants
- On-site or virtual
- EN / DE / PL
- Especially suited for tech teams
WHY PATHFORGE?
Most DEI training tells people what not to do. PathForge shows them what to do — and why it’s in their interest.
TYPICAL DEI TRAINING
- Framing: Focuses on what men do wrong
- Tone: Compliance-driven, mandatory feel
- Method: Lecture-based awareness sessions
- Result: Attendance metrics, no behaviour change
- Sustainability: One-off workshop, quickly forgotten
PATHFORGE APPROACH
- Framing: Focuses on what men can contribute
- Tone: Aspirational, led with positivity
- Method: Evidence-based behavioural tools and practice
- Result: Measurable shifts in engagement and team dynamics
- Sustainability: Peer-accountability systems that sustain change
Academic rigour.
Business pragmatism.
All training programmes were designed by Dr Simon Fokt, a philosopher and applied ethics lecturer at HTW Berlin. He sits on the Board of MenEngage Europe and has spent over a decade researching how gender norms shape workplace behaviour. His programmes translate peer-reviewed research into practical, results-oriented training that HR teams can measure and report on.
HOW WE WORK WITH YOU
A structured engagement process designed to minimise your team’s admin burden and maximise measurable impact.
Discovery Call
We assess your current challenges, culture goals, and workforce composition. 30 minutes, no obligation.
Needs Assessment & Proposal
We recommend the right programme mix, format, and KPIs. You receive a tailored proposal within 5 business days.
Customisation
We adapt scenarios, case studies, and language to your industry and organisational context.
Delivery
On-site or virtual delivery by Dr Fokt or a certified PathForge facilitator. Groups of 12–25 participants.
Impact Measurement
Post-programme assessment with quantified results: engagement scores, behavioural indicators, and manager feedback.
Sustainability Plan
Optional follow-up sessions and peer-accountability structures to maintain momentum.
READY TO CLOSE THE ENGAGEMENT GAP?
Book a free 30-minute discovery call to discuss your organisation’s needs.