In December 2023, SVLG launched the ERG/BRG Consortium to improve underrepresented employees’ experiences in Silicon Valley by strengthening employee / business resource groups. Members of the Consortium — leaders from Employee Resource Groups and Business Resource Groups across SVLG’s network of 300 member companies — come together to share best practices and provide resources, working across firms and industries to build community and organizational power together.
The ERG/BRG Consortium plays a pivotal role in SVLG’s Inclusion and Belonging Center of Expertise, whose goal is to make Silicon Valley a leading destination for talent.
To catalyze innovative solutions, SVLG partnered with SAP to host a series of Design Thinking sessions tailored for Consortium members. In March, the group met in person for a first session exploring two common challenges expressed by ERG/BRG leaders: employee engagement and executive support.
This May, ERG/BRG leaders convened for a second session online to delve deeper into the challenge of securing executive support. SAP and SVLG co-facilitated the conversation, and provided an additional week for leaders to contribute their solutions asynchronously via a Mural platform.
Key Takeaways: Bridging the Gap to Executive Support
Many companies encounter hurdles in aligning ERG/BRG initiatives with company goals and securing executive buy-in. Consortium members identified the following effective strategies to bridge this gap:
- “Office Hours” for Executive Sponsors: Facilitating direct engagement and support.
- Assigning VP-Level Executive Sponsors to ERGs: Ensuring strategic alignment and resource allocation.
- Visibility both Ways. Creating opportunities for ERG/BRG members to showcase their contributions to senior leaders, and highlighting supportive senior leaders through internal communications.
- Emphasizing the Role of Allies: Cultivating a supportive culture that encourages allyship.
These strategies have led to the identification of dedicated sponsors for ERGs, increased resource and budget support, ongoing education and engagement initiatives, and the creation of opportunities for executive sponsors to advocate for ERGs within their organizations.
The ERG/BRG Consortium will convene twice more in 2024, continuing its mission to foster collaborative innovation. At the end of the year, SVLG plans to compile a comprehensive report documenting member best practices, which will serve as a valuable resource to enhance the impact of ERGs and BRGs across industries.
By leveraging collective wisdom and promoting strategic alignment, the ERG/BRG Consortium is driving meaningful progress toward a more inclusive and equitable workplace in Silicon Valley.
If you are interested in joining the ERG/BRG Consortium, we encourage you to reach out to Lisa Gauthier, SVP of Inclusion and Belonging at SVLG.
