DePaul University

ELE Group, LLC

Session Focus: Review innovative ERG Leadership Development to create authentic change.
This session offered a compelling exploration into how Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) can significantly enhance organizational performance. Central to this discussion was the role of leadership within ERGs. Caitlin highlighted a primary challenge faced by ERG leaders:
<blockquote>"Balancing ERG duties with core work is the biggest challenge for ERG leaders." -- <a href="https://www.ele.llc/members/caitlin-reig" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Caitlin Myron Reig</a>, DePaul University</blockquote>
This remark underscores the critical need for robust leadership development explicitly tailored to the unique challenges faced by ERG leaders. Core insights from the session:
<ol>
 	<li>Leadership Development: ERGs demand leadership development programs that specifically address ERG leaders' dual roles—balancing their ERG responsibilities alongside their primary job functions. Providing structured support through mentorship and coaching can empower these leaders, enabling them to champion impactful initiatives within their groups effectively.</li>
 	<li>DePaul’s Research-based Certificate: As a community we discussed the findings for 30+ DEI and L&amp;D professionals about their perspectives on the knowledge and skill requirements of successful ERG leaders surveyed by DePaul–precisely the challenges a typical ERG leader faces.</li>
 	<li>Strategic Alignment and Resource Coordination: Iris underscores the importance of coordinating resources across various departments to optimize ERG impact. By aligning Talent Development (L&amp;D) initiatives on foundational topics like bias and psychological safety, we create a supportive backdrop for D&amp;I and ERG activities. This strategic coordination ensures that ERGs not only function as safe spaces but are also supported by learning resources that are complementary, not overlapping. This holistic approach secures executive backing and positions ERGs as central players in achieving the organization’s goals.</li>
</ol>
This session's insights highlight the transformative role ERGs can play when strategically integrated, well-supported, and aligned with their organization's overarching goals. Far from being mere support networks, ERGs are vital platforms for fostering leadership and driving significant organizational change.

Read more: <a href="https://www.ele.llc/members/bookshelf/power-of-employee-resource-groups">The Power of Employee Resource Groups: How People Create Authentic Change</a> and for a limited time, complimentary getAbstract is available on ELE's bookshelf. <a href="https://www.ele.llc/events/reskilling-99">
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-41573" src="https://wp.ele.llc/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Power-of-ERG-Book-Cover.jpg" alt="The Power of Employee Resource Groups: How People Create Authentic Change" width="342" height="342" /></a>

Formal Training for ERG Leaders Drives Organizational Performance

Engagement &amp; Culture

dirk.tussing

richard.busby

azizeh.constantinescu

leadership development

learning &amp; development

richard.rykhus

ana.bedard

reskilling

lisa.fitterer

darcy.pierson

sandra.lindner

iris.farley

tresha.lovell

workplace culture

DEI Initiatives

NextGen Leaders

HR leadership

shelley.saeger

Organizational Growth

ERG Leadership

BRG Leadership

Diversity and Inclusion

Employee Resource Groups

caitlin.reig

Session Focus: Review innovative ERG Leadership Development to create authentic change.
This session gathers diverse perspectives on ERG leadership needs and evaluates an innovative 12-hour essential leadership skills curriculum for Employee Resource Group (ERG) leaders in light of those needs.

We invite senior HR, Talent Development, and DEI leaders to join this collaborative platform to examine the program’s content, structure, and potential impact on organizational culture. This is an opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue, share insights, and contribute to refining the program to meet the needs of diverse organizations.

This certificate program, which is a collaborative effort between DePaul Executive Education and Ana Bedard, a contributing member of ELE, provides an opportunity for participants to obtain a Certification in ERG Leadership from DePaul University. The certification acknowledges the enhanced skills of leaders who finish the course successfully.

Read more: <a href="https://www.ele.llc/members/bookshelf/power-of-employee-resource-groups">The Power of Employee Resource Groups: How People Create Authentic Change</a> and for a limited time, complimentary getAbstract is available on ELE's bookshelf.

<a href="https://www.ele.llc/events/reskilling-99"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-41573" src="https://wp.ele.llc/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Power-of-ERG-Book-Cover.jpg" alt="The Power of Employee Resource Groups: How People Create Authentic Change" width="342" height="342" /></a>

Join this inclusive Zoom discussion to help shape an impactful ERG leadership development program and explore how Talent Development and ERGs can partner to advance DEI objectives and foster long-term organizational growth.

&nbsp;

ELE produces this Learning Circle: Reskilling Talent Development.

ELE's <a title="ELE's Idea Exchange" href="/idea-exchange/">Idea Exchange</a>: Collaborate online with your peers.

single-event

Your Teams

Learning Circles

Complimentary

online event

complimentary event

Session Focus: A “Fireside Chat” with Lynnette Collins exploring her efforts at Amway, plus a roundtable discussion for sharing your practices around starting and growing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts – and addressing challenges to it.

In this enlightening "Fireside Chat," Lynnette Collins, former head of DEI at Amway, shared her experiences and insights on starting and growing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts from scratch. The session, which included a roundtable discussion, offered valuable perspectives on addressing challenges and implementing effective DEI strategies.
Key Takeaways:

<ol class="-mt-1 list-decimal space-y-2 pl-8">
 	<li class="whitespace-normal break-words">Leadership Engagement is Crucial: The success of DEI initiatives heavily depends on active involvement and vulnerability from top executives. When leaders model openness to learning and acknowledge their mistakes, it creates a safe environment for others to engage in DEI work.</li>
 	<li class="whitespace-normal break-words">Balanced Approach of Data and Empathy: Effective DEI strategies require both a strong business case (data-driven approach) and emotional engagement. Connecting DEI to personal experiences and stories helps create buy-in and sustain commitment throughout the organization.</li>
 	<li class="whitespace-normal break-words">Creating Safe Spaces for Dialogue: Implementing structured opportunities for open, honest conversations (like Amway's "Real Talk" sessions) is vital. These spaces allow for learning, sharing experiences, and addressing uncomfortable topics in a supportive environment, which is essential for building an inclusive culture.</li>
</ol>
A powerful quote from Lynnette underscored the importance of creating an inclusive workplace:

<blockquote>
"20% of somebody's time is an entire workday lost in a week where they can't be productive because they're trying to fit in. That's a shame because then that person's performance suffers."
</blockquote>
This statement highlights the significant impact that lack of inclusion can have on both individual performance and overall organizational success.
The session explored various strategies employed by Amway, including focusing on talent pipeline diversity, implementing business resource groups, and engaging executives as active sponsors of DEI initiatives. Participants also shared their own experiences and practices, fostering a rich discussion on overcoming challenges and driving meaningful change in their organizations.
By emphasizing the combination of data-driven approaches and emotional engagement, this session provided attendees with practical insights for building and growing DEI efforts from the ground up, regardless of their organization's current stage in the DEI journey.

Building DEI from the Ground Up

engagement &amp; culture

organizational change

rahul.sharma

ann.brownell

DEIB

inclusive leadership

megan.bickle

Reskilling and Upskilling

lynnette.collins

DEI leadership

DEI challenges

Session Focus: A “Fireside Chat” with Lynnette Collins exploring her efforts at Amway, plus a roundtable discussion for sharing your practices around starting and growing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts – and addressing challenges to it.


Are you being asked to support or even lead DEI efforts in your organization? Ana Bedard will lead a “fireside chat” with Lynnette Collins in this session. While now at Steelcase, in her previous role at Amway, she built diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts from the ground up, with excellent results for the organization. She actively role-modeled inclusive behaviors at every step – and turned doubters into advocates. Come ready to share your strategies and practices for addressing challenges to equity and inclusion.

&nbsp;

ELE produces this Learning Circle: Reskilling Talent Development.

ELE's <a title="ELE's Idea Exchange" href="/idea-exchange/">Idea Exchange</a>: Collaborate online with your peers.

Formal Training for ERG Leaders Drives Organizational Performance

Building DEI from the Ground Up

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