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EMPLOYEE POWERED: DEFINING, EXPLORING & EMPOWERING ERGS

A summit designed for the leaders of Employee or Business Resource, Inclusion, and Affinity Groups. Whether you lead a group, are an Executive Sponsor, or oversee your company's ERGs, join us to learn about advocacy, structure, development, influence, and advancing the goals and impact of these employee-centric groups.

Date & Time:

Tuesday, September 24th

7 am - 12 pm PST

Online (Zoom) | Registration is Open | Tickets: $50 Per Person 

For more information, contact Kim Steppe: kim@risequity.co

Agenda at a Glance

7:00 - 7:05 am PST

WELCOME

Speaker

Kim Steppe, CEO & Co-founder, RISEQUITY

7:05 – 7:45 am PST

FIRESIDE KEYNOTE | Ask for More: Authority, Advocacy and Advancement of ERG Leaders

Speaker

Alex Carter, Author “Ask for More”, Columbia Law Professor & United Nations Negotiator 

Moderator

Kim Steppe, CEO & Co-founder, RISEQUITY

7:45 - 8:40 am PST

WORKSHOP | ERGs Business Impact: Amplifying the Role of ERGs

ERGs serve as valuable resources for businesses seeking to expand their market reach. Companies can develop more targeted products, services, and marketing strategies by tapping into diverse employee groups' insights and cultural knowledge in their ERGs. This approach helps companies better understand and serve diverse customers, increasing market share and revenue growth. For example, when ERGs collaborate with marketing teams, they can ensure that promotional materials and campaigns are culturally sensitive and inclusive. This partnership helps companies avoid costly missteps and enhances brand reputation among diverse audiences. By harnessing the knowledge and experiences of ERG members, businesses are developing more nuanced and effective strategies for reaching a broader customer base, ultimately contributing to increased sales and market share.

The collaborative nature of ERGs also fosters cross-functional relationships and knowledge sharing within your organization. This interconnectedness leads to more efficient problem-solving, streamlined processes, and innovative solutions that drive business growth.

Speakers

Sian Dim Lun, H&F Intern
Rawan Hassabelrasoul, H&F Intern

Moderator

Marilyn Nagel, Chief Advocacy Officer & Co-founder, RISEQUITY

8:40 a.m. – 8:50 am PST

VIRTUAL BREAK

8:50 a.m. – 9:30 am PST

PANEL | Influencing Without Authority

This discussion explores the intricacies of influencing without formal authority, focusing on empowering Employee Resource Group (ERG) leaders. We analyze the multifaceted strategies required to navigate organizational structures and cultivate collaboration across departments effectively. From honing persuasive communication techniques to leveraging networks and showcasing the value of their initiatives, ERG leaders will gain practical insights to enhance their influence and drive impactful change within their organizations, all while adeptly navigating complex power dynamics.

Speakers

Jarrod Harden, The Belonging Guy

Leo Marin, Co-Founder@ The Leadership Supply Co. & Beneath the Service Nonprofit

Moderator

Erin Tselenchuk, President & Co-founder, RISEQUITY

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 am PST
GROUP DISCUSSIONS | Each breakout offers a deeper dive into topics that impact ERGs. The smaller group format lets you showcase successes and ask for help with challenges from peers who can provide solutions to advance your work.
Breakout Option 1
Promoting Intersectionality
- Does your ERG strategy take into account intersectionality? Do you plan events with other ERGs to encourage employees to affiliate with more than one group and expand allyship? Participants in this breakout will share what their ERGs are doing to erase rigid lines of affiliation and promote cross-ERG alignment.

Breakout Option 2
Building Allies
- How do you leverage allies for your ERG at all organizational levels? During this session, learn more about how employees can use their areas of privilege to support another group, be active and not passive, and go beyond and promote allyship to others. It is a two-fold approach to answer: 1) where I can help with my privilege is X + ) where I need help because of my privilege is X.

Breakout Option 3
Advancing External Relationships 
- Advancing External Relationships  - Go-to-market teams are increasingly leveraging their company's ERGs, as a means to build rapport with customers and influence the market. This approach creates a deeper connection with clients with similar values and recognizes that employees can help represent clients' needs. Some ERGs have taken their influence further by actively contributing to market expansion. ERG members can provide invaluable insights into diverse customer segments, helping companies tailor their products and services to meet the needs of previously untapped markets. ERGs also have the ability to influence the vendors service providers their organizations work with. Providing a sales fact sheet and external-facing documentation on what your company is doing on DEI&B can also be helpful to your potential and current partners and customers.
Speakers
Angeline Pleunis, VP of DEI & Sustainability, PointClickCare 
Matt Katawicz, DEI Consultant, RISEQUITY, and Pride ERG Lead
Shayla Crudupt, Technical Program Manager at Dell | Global ERG Leader| Career Empowerment Coach | Podcast Host
Moderator
Kim Steppe, CEO & Co-founder, RISEQUITY
10:30 a.m. – 10:40 am PST

VIRTUAL BREAK

10:40 a.m. – 11:30 am PST
FIRESIDE CONVERSATION | ERG Member Development: Business Leadership Skills
A common goal of ERGs is the development of its members. Yet we see most programs sponsored by ERGs focus on educating others about their community or celebrating their difference. While celebrations (like International Women’s Day, Pride Month, etc.) are important to promoting an inclusive culture, they do not build the leadership skills that help members advance in their careers.
In this session, our speakers discuss examples of how offering training on innovation and design thinking prepares members of your ERG to address real-world business issues. Engaging in case competitions and other interactive games where teams of participants from multiple ERGs leverage their diversity of thought and showcase these new business leadership skills offers a way to expose their abilities to senior leaders while solving business problems that add value.
Speakers
Lauren Reilly, Executive Director, Gratitude Network
Kim Steppe, President & Co-founder, RISEQUITY
Marilyn Nagel, Chief Advocacy Officer and Co-founder, RISEQUITY
11:30 a.m. – 11:55 am PST
KEYNOTE | Human-centered Design: Innovating for Greater Impact
Speakers
Nadia Roumani, Senior Designer with Stanford d.school, and Co-founder of Stanford's Effective Philanthropy Learning Initiative
11:55 a.m. – 12:00 pm PST
CLOSE | Support & Resources
Explore the comprehensive resources offered by RISEQUITY to empower, nurture, and propel your ERGs forward. Review the tools and support systems designed to enhance the development and advancement of your ERGs, including:
  • ERG Guidebook, including (re)launching your ERGS
  • RISEQUITY Monthly ERG Forum
  • RISEQUITY Private LinkedIn ERG Leader Forum
     
Speakers
Kim Steppe, President & Co-founder, RISEQUITY
Marilyn Nagel, Chief Advocacy Officer and Co-founder, RISEQUITY

Meet The Speakers

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Alex Carter

Author “Ask for More”, Columbia Law Professor & United Nations Negotiator 

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Shayla Crudupt

Global Strategic Initiatives and PMO Business Operations, Dell Technologies

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Jarrod Harden

Founder, Speaker & Advocate, The Belonging Guy

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Rawan Hassabelrasoul

H&F Intern

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Matt Katawicz

DEI Consultant, RISEQUITY

and Pride ERG Lead

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Sian Dim Lun

H&F Intern

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Leo Marin

Co-Founder@ The Leadership Supply Co. & Beneath the Service Nonprofit

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Marilyn Nagel

Chief Advocacy Officer & Co-Founder, RISEQUITY

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Angeline Pleunis

VP of DEI & Sustainability, PointClickCare

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Lauren Reilly

Executive Director, Gratitude Network

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Nadia Roumani

Senior Designer with Stanford d.school, and Co-founder of Stanford's Effective Philanthropy Learning Initiative

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Kim Steppe

 CEO & Co-founder, RISEQUITY

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Erin Tselenchuk

 President & Co-founder, RISEQUITY

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