MedLasso Presents: Ted Lasso, Gender Equity and Leadership

Authors: Eve Bloomgarden, MD; Avital O’Glasser, MD

Leadership: the ability to influence the group towards an achievement of goals

As we celebrate Women's History Month and eagerly anticipate the premiere of the third and final season of "Ted Lasso," it's time to acknowledge how this show has become a beacon of hope for the healthcare community. While it may seem like just another feel-good sports comedy on the surface, the magic of Ted Lasso is that the show is not really about football. The show's writing, direction, and choreography are brilliant and deliberately planned to convey subtle and authentic messages about psychological safety, allyship, and visibility.  

Last summer, we joined Dr. Mark Shapiro and his partner in the locker room, Dr. Sayed Tabatabai, to explore leadership (especially women in leadership) and gender equity themes on MedLasso Presents: Ted Lasso, Gender Equity and Leadership.  In honor of Women’s History Month and the pending premier of the third and final season of the show, we summarize our conversation for our blog readers:

This isn’t a show only about football–far from it!  Has the gender equity theme been explored enough in our #MedLasso discussions?

The titular character, played by Jason Sudeikis, embodies communal characteristics that are typically associated with women, such as empathy, compassion, and vulnerability. Ted models masculinity without being misogynistic or hypersexual, and he treats women as equals without going out of his way to do so. He also role models team building, mentorship/sponsorship, and change management, which are essential tools for creating a level playing field for all genders.

But it's not just about Ted. The women on the show, played by talented actresses like Hannah Waddingham and Juno Temple, demonstrate the strength that can come from forming dyads and friendships. They are given and earn more leadership roles because of who they are and how they interact with others, not because of their gender. The show highlights the importance of diversity on a leadership team and gives credit where credit is due. Could the show actually represent the ideal working environment for women??

Even the “one liners” and GIF-worthy quotes hold deeper meaning.  “Women Up” is an invitation to allyship and sponsorship to get women a seat at the table.  “Be curious, not judgmental” similarly energizes allyship and sponsorship–you have to be open to seeing something through a different perspective.  Being curious is how you will succeed in inviting people who don’t look like you to the table or giving them a voice.  The allyship in the show is non-performative–and the show is not so much a “how to be an ally” lesson but a bigger, broader message of “what comes from successful allyship”.

The women on the show aren’t necessarily doing anything unique or different–what’s different is the community and teams that surround them.  These women are not raked across hot coals or shepherded away from or out of leadership roles–they are given and earn more leadership roles because of who they are and how they interact with others.  They also demonstrate the strength that can come from forming dyads and friendships (“There’s no Rebecca without Keeley!”).

The show demonstrates so many high-quality leadership tools and techniques, especially for the equity space.  This includes inclusive leadership, which is highlighted as a feature of leadership by women.  It also highlights diversity on a leadership team.  There are multiple examples of people NOT being gaslit–but instead credit given where credit is due.  The show also models that healthy mentorship is bidirectional–there are skills needed to both be a mentor AND be a mentee.  

So let’s continue to level the playing field (pun intended)—and stay tuned for Season 3 conversations!

About the authors: Eve Bloomgarden, MD, is an Endocrinologist in Illinois where she is also the Chief Development Officer of Women in Medicine® NFP and a founder and the Chief Operating Officer of IMPACT (Twitter: @evebmd). Avital O’Glasser, MD, is a hospitalist at Oregon Health & Science University and the editor of the WIMS blog (Twitter: @aoglasser).