ERGs: Belonging as a business model

Employee resource groups (ERGs) are a great way to celebrate the rich diversity of perspectives and backgrounds people bring to an organization. But they do more than just recognize people — when they’re run right, they can be a major driver for the business.

At Ragan’s Employee Experience Conference last month, Agnieszka Ziemińska-Yank, chief talent officer at APCO Worldwide, told the audience that ERGs are an indispensable part of her team’s strategy for success.

“To really help and be advisors to our clients, we need to look at issues from many different perspectives,” she said. “That’s why uplifting a culture of inclusion — where we also celebrate the different experiences and backgrounds, ideas and perspectives of our people — is really critical to our business success. It is not just a nice-to-have. It is absolutely tied to our ability to innovate and deliver the best work for our clients.”

Ziemińska-Yank added that one of the key components to the success of ERGs at APCO is the structure they have behind them. They’re set up and communicated clearly to give both members and the company’s leaders insight into what they can achieve.