ELE brings leaders together across companies and industries to work through the messy stuff: decisions, risk, handoffs, execution drag, and what it takes to move from idea to action.

UPCOMING CALENDAR

LATEST IDEA EXCHANGE

RECENT INSIGHTS

WHO WE ARE

About ELE

Companies In Our Network

Contact ELE

Figure out if ELE is for you. Straight answers on what ELE is, who it’s built for, and how contributing members actually work together. Still have a question? Contact us.

ELE Group, LLC

👂Listen to an NPR-like Podcast generated by Google's Notebook LM using the ELE Cheat Sheet for this AI Practical Lab:

<audio controls="controls">
<source src="https://wp.ele.llc/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Effective-Executive-Sponsorship-of-ERGs.wav" type="audio/wav" />
Your browser does not support the audio tag.
</audio>


How can we empower ERGs to truly drive business impact? Our recent ELE AI Practical Lab explored this critical question by delivering tangible tools for immediate use.

<blockquote>
"We’re not just ideating here—we’re co-creating something practical that leaders can use tomorrow." - <a href="https://www.ele.llc/members/guillermo-gutierrez" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Guillermo Gutierrez</a>, ELE DEI Lead
</blockquote>
At our recent ELE AI Practical Lab, we tackled a challenge many HR leaders are facing right now: how to support ERGs in ways that actually move the business forward. The spotlight was on Executive Sponsors—often enthusiastic, yet unsure how to lead with impact.

So instead of engaging in unproductive discussions, we rolled up our sleeves. Together, we explored how to equip sponsors with practical playbooks, leverage AI to scale successful initiatives, and reframe DEI efforts around measurable outcomes—not just good intentions.
That spirit of action shaped the session’s flow and outcomes. Here’s what stood out:

<h3 class="" data-start="714" data-end="736">✅ 3 Key Takeaways:</h3>
<ul data-start="737" data-end="1116">
 	<li class="" data-start="737" data-end="864">
Executive Sponsors need tools, not just titles: They’re essential to ERG success—but often underprepared for the role.
</li>
 	<li class="" data-start="866" data-end="981">
DEI must deliver strategic outcomes: The future of funding and support hinges on clear business alignment.
</li>
 	<li class="" data-start="983" data-end="1116">
AI can help us scale support and personalize learning: Tools like Google NotebookLM unlock fast, relevant playbook creation.
</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="" data-start="1118" data-end="1145">🔧 3 Practical Actions:</h3>
<ul data-start="1146" data-end="1520">
 	<li class="" data-start="1146" data-end="1267">
Build sponsor playbooks that drive real value: Include coaching prompts, success metrics, and role expectations.
</li>
 	<li class="" data-start="1269" data-end="1396">
Reposition ERGs as drivers of innovation and talent: Support groups based on where they are in their maturity journey.
</li>
 	<li class="" data-start="1398" data-end="1520">
Leverage AI to co-create at scale: Use tech to deliver timely, tailored resources—without burning out your teams.
</li>
</ul>
If your DEI strategy needs a stronger link to business goals—or your ERG sponsors are asking, “What am I supposed to do?”—this lab offered a collaborative blueprint worth revisiting.
The session's impact was clear, with attendees sharing their enthusiasm.


<blockquote>
"It was very fun, and I was blown away by the tool! And great participation. I am happy to create the PDF toolkit." - <a href="https://www.ele.llc/members/guillermo-gutierrez" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Guillermo Gutierrez</a>, ELE DEI Lead
</blockquote>
💬 What tools or support have made the biggest difference in your ERG work? Let’s keep turning vision into action:

<ul>
 	<li data-start="1708" data-end="1824">Continue to build the the PDF toolkit on 👉 <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1orPd3edLoJpOlAziWyJqfPWHoV_O7Cq9crfuCC5WxXQ/edit?tab=t.0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared Google Doc </a></li>
 	<li>Share with us on <a href="https://community.ele.llc/t/ele-dei-toolkit-co-creating-dei-playbooks-that-drive-business-impact/5473" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ELE Idea Exchange</a>.</li>
</ul>

<hr />
Are you a senior HR leader passionate about talent and innovation? Ready to embrace the power of AI?
Join us for "Let's Talk Talent Strategies," an exclusive, complimentary event where you'll connect with fellow HR leaders, explore cutting-edge talent development capabilities, and learn how to leverage AI to add unexpected value to your organization.
<a title="I Bullseye Tactics For Non-Technical Business Leader" href="https://www.ele.llc/members/bookshelf/ai-engineering"><img class="aligncenter" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41otuf9vUuL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" alt="" width="339" height="445" /></a>
<blockquote>"The demand for AI applications has increased while the barrier to entry for building AI applications has decreased. This has turned AI engineering — the process of building applications on top of readily available models — into one of the fastest growing engineering disciplines." - Chip Huyen, <a href="https://www.ele.llc/members/bookshelf/ai-engineering" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AI Engineering: Building Applications with Foundation Models Book</a></blockquote>
Don't miss this opportunity to:

<ul data-sourcepos="9:1-13:0">
 	<li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:46">Connect with peers and industry experts.</li>
 	<li data-sourcepos="10:1-10:68">Contribute to the evolving conversation on talent development.</li>
 	<li data-sourcepos="11:1-11:42">Collaborate on innovative solutions.</li>
 	<li data-sourcepos="12:1-13:0">Impact the future of HR.</li>
</ul>

✨ AI Practical Lab: From Vision to Action, Co-Creating DEI Playbooks That Drive Business Impact

future of work

Future of Work

Digital &amp; AI

dirk.tussing

upskilling

azizeh.constantinescu

talent development

lorna.malloy

Adding Value

guillermo.gutierrez

business impact

learning and development

ann.brownell

DEIB

inclusive leadership

learning trends

ChatGPT

jennifer.rainey

brian.gold

mary.cronwall

HR leadership

AI tools

HR future

AI in HR

steve.caponigri

GenAI

Strategic HR

Workforce Strategy

talent-talk

lauren.marder

diana.anderson

ERG Leadership

Employee Resource Groups

ai practical lab

Build a book

AI For HR

DEIB toolkit

nicole.defalco

CHRO

Belonging at Work

Digital HR

DePaul University

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

richard.busby

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

shelley.saeger

Organizational Growth

BRG Leadership

Diversity and Inclusion

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

<blockquote>This is the first authoritative book on building employee resource groups (ERGs) to empower underrepresented employees and positively impact diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts within organizations and in society at large.</blockquote>
For decades, ERGs originated from affirmative action policies and have evolved into powerful sources of employee activity and engagement. Organizations can leverage ERGs to support business goals, but ERGs can also play a critical role in creating a more inclusive work environment for marginalized individuals. ERGs represent a balance of serving company interests and empowering employees, offering the opportunity for innovative leadership within organizations.
This book is a practical guide on how to manage ERGs effectively and how they inspire a deeper connection between employees and companies while helping us progress toward the DEI goals that we aim to accomplish. Participating in an ERG can help professionals of color and other historically excluded groups advance their careers, thereby increasing diverse representation in leadership. Farzana Nayani provides foundational tools for starting ERGs and outlines the five Ps—purpose, people, processes, planning, and priorities—needed to operate them successfully.

Unlike other ERG handbooks, this book is people-centric and socially conscious and thoughtfully takes into account the experiences of employees and leaders during current times. It also serves as a deeper call to action around how ERGs can foster authentic organizational change, creating a global transformative impact.

Login