Launching 12 Employee Resource Groups in 12 Months: Success Stories and Lessons Learned
In 2017, RTI International launched employee resource groups (ERGs) to leverage shared knowledge and collective experiences to reach RTI diversity and inclusion goals, enhance RTI's inclusive work environment, and promote workplace equality for all staff. Less than 12 months after launch, 12 individual ERGs, boasting membership exceeding 1,500 staff (approximately 30% of RTI's employees), were operational, holding events and advocating with leadership. This session will highlight best practices, lessons learned, tangible outcomes, and business impact.
Learning Objectives:
- Persuasively communicate the business case for creating an ERG program and effectively engage stakeholders at all levels within the company.
- Understand and apply best practices for rolling out an ERG program efficiently including creating a timeline and designing templates to streamline ERG formation.
- Identify opportunities to develop leadership in employees who want to start or lead ERGs.
- Plan outreach and socialization activities that encourage ERG formation and member engagement.
- Identify potential risks and roadblocks to employee involvement, and strategies for mitigating them.
Kristina Brunelle
Kristina Brunelle is a Talent Development Consultant, Executive Coach and Master Facilitator with over 20 years of global experience in diversity & inclusion, executive coaching, and organizational development. She specializes in developing effective leaders, and helping organizations unleash the potential of their employees to achieve ambitious goals.
Kristina’s consulting, coaching, leadership and diversity & inclusion experiences include working with global companies such as RTI, Red Hat, Vistaprint, the Forum Corporation, Ameriprise, Irving Oil, Archstone, Novell, and Cambridge Technology Partners. She is also a fluent Spanish speaker and has delivered programs in Spain, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Venezuela, Brazil, Sweden, the Netherlands, the UK, Germany, Canada, Jamaica, Australia, China, India & Indonesia.
Kristina holds a Master’s from Harvard University and a BA from Tufts University as well as a Master’s Coaching Certification from William James College (formerly The Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology); New England's only accredited graduate school program in executive coaching.
Kristy Lowther
Kristy Lowther (she/her), MSW, serves as the program manager for RTI International’s Strategic Engagement & Belonging (SEB) program. In this role, she leads RTI's Employee Resource Group (ERG) Leadership Council and provides strategic oversight, budgetary input, interpersonal guidance, and mentorship to leaders and employees across the Institute. In addition, she works to ensure that managers are empowered to build inclusive teams and create a culture of belonging. Mx. Lowther is responsible for creating and implementing organizational DEI strategies, and she is an expert in the design, development, and delivery of in-depth LGBTQ+ training. She currently facilitates a 9-hour LGBTQ+ Workplace Equity Workshop to increase awareness and understanding of LGBTQ+ issues among staff, with a specific focus on equity for transgender and non-binary employees. In everything she does, Mx. Lowther works to advance policies and practices to create an equitable culture at RTI.