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2025 Strategic ERG Leadership Summit

July 22 at 7:30 am - July 23 at 5:00 pm PDT

Current & Past Sponsors

ERG Summit Info, Agena & Speakers

Sponsorships

Innovation & Success Sharing Competition

Certificate Program

Research

The 2025 Strategic ERG Leadership Summit

The Center for Effective Organizations (CEO) at the USC Marshall School of Business, in partnership with Presenting Sponsor Ecolab Inc., invites you to participate in the in-person edition of the 2025 Strategic Employee Resource Group (ERG) Leadership Summit, taking place on July 22-23, 2025, and virtually, September 25-26, 2025. View the in-person agenda, here.

Now in its 13th year, this data-driven learning event continues to be a premier gathering for ERG leaders and executive sponsors. Whether you’re attending in person or joining us virtually for the first time, the summit offers a dynamic platform for collaborative learning and innovation. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with peers, gain valuable strategic insights—and earn Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP recertification (16 PDCs in person | 13 PDCs virtual).

Need help getting approval to attend?
Download our Convince Your Manager letter to make the case.

Why you should attend

Innovation & Success Sharing Competition

Develop Your ERG Strategy to Drive Business Growth, Innovation and High Performance

The Innovation and Success Sharing Competition serves as a dynamic platform for ERG leaders to develop strategies and collaborate on ideas that align their initiatives with broader organizational goals and business strategy. Companies or individuals wanting to be part of the Innovation and Success Sharing Competition start by visiting the StartupWind platform to begin their application. To facilitate the process, we will be hosting pre-event workshops, already included in the Summit, where they receive guidance on developing a strategy and their ideas and putting together their success or innovation stories. These submissions will then be presented and judged during the virtual component of the summit, allowing participants to showcase their achievements and compete.

Who Attends?

The Strategic ERG Leadership Summit includes leaders from organizations who have established Employee Resource Group (ERGs) or are just getting their programs started. Attendees include:

  • ERG Leaders & Executive Sponsors
  • HR executives or other leaders who run ERG programs or are considering adding ERGs

Meet the Researcher

Affiliated Senior Research Scientist

Dr. Theresa Welbourne’s work focuses on human capital and leadership strategies that drive growth, innovation and high performance. She is known for her work on employee energy and how energy, direction and confidence come together to stimulate and sustain high sense of urgency cultures and organizational growth.

Benefits of the Strategic ERG Leadership Summit

Data-driven learning offered by top business school and research center

Collaboration across organizations to advance the impact of ERGs

Networking across industries and organizations

Resources to help ERG leaders drive innovation and growth

Career development and recognition

“The ERG Leadership Summit Sponsorship enabled us to be able to bring the learning to multiple members of our ERGs through the in-person and virtual events. Multiplied the learning as all of our ERG members could work together on the competition and work with other organizations to learn from them too. A priority annual event for our team offered from USC Marshall Center for Effective Organizations.”

2022 ERG Summit Attendee

Become an ERG Leadership Summit Sponsor

When you sponsor the Strategic ERG Leadership Summit, you bring actionable insights and innovative strategies back to your organization, backed by the expertise and partnership of the University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business, and its Center for Effective Organizations, a top 20 business school and leader in ERG research since 2009.

 By supporting ERG development and fostering collaboration, you strengthen your organization’s ability to attract and retain top talent, develop future leaders, enhance organizational agility, and drive business outcomes. Sponsorship demonstrates your commitment to empowering ERGs as strategic resources that contribute to measurable success and long-term growth.

2025 Summit Speakers (More To be Announced)

Lynn Casey

Lynn Casey

CEO/Founder

Shine Scout, Inc.

Dexter Davis

Dexter Davis

Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I)

Ecolab

Martin Nance

Martin Nance

Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer

Minnesota Vikings, NFL

Ruth Rathblott

Ruth Rathblott

Bestselling Author, Consultant, and Leadership & Workplace Culture Expert

 Joseph Santana

Joseph Santana

Chairman

The CDO PowerCircle

Jennifer Sparks Taylor

Jennifer Sparks Taylor

Director of Corporate Relations & Executive Education

Center for Effective Organizations

 Yetta Toliver

Yetta Toliver

Global Head of Connection and Belonging

Xerox

Melissa Walker

Melissa Walker

Global ERG Program Manager

Ecolab

Dr. Theresa Welbourne

Dr. Theresa Welbourne

Affiliated Senior Research Scientist

Center for Effective Organizations

Natalie Tos-Brightup

Natalie Tos-Brightup

Director, Program Management IR&D

Textron Aviation Defense

Event Info

Event Dates
In-Person: July 22-23, 2025
Virtual: September 25-26, 2025

Individual Pricing
In-person Price: $1,195
Virtual Price: $695

15% Discount for teams of 5 or more. Contact us for discount. Virtual registration ends July 7, 2025.

Location
Omni Viking Lakes Resort
St. Paul – Minneapolis
2611 Nordic Way, Eagan, MN 55121

Attire: Business Casual

Need approval to attend? Click here to download a sample email to ask your manager.

Hosting Sponsors

The Center for Effective Organizations (CEO) is world-renowned for its breakthrough research and insights on organizational performance, effectiveness, and talent management. CEO has been at the forefront of research on ERGs, since 2009, including the business impact they have on complex and newer or smaller organizations.

A trusted partner for millions of customers, Ecolab is a global sustainability leader offering  water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services that protect people and the resources vital to life.

University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination

This program is open to all eligible individuals. The Center for Effective Organizations operates all of its programs and activities consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor.

Individuals with disabilities who need accommodations to attend this event may contact Vivian Jimenez. We request that individuals requiring accommodations or auxiliary aids such as sign language interpreters and alternative format materials notify us at least 7 days prior to the event. Every reasonable effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations in an effective and timely manner.

Details

Start:
July 22 at 7:30 am PDT
End:
July 23 at 5:00 pm PDT
Event Category:

Organizer

Vivian Jimenez
Phone
2137409814
Email
vivianji@marshall.usc.edu

Venue

Omni Viking Lakes Resort
2611 Nordic Way
Eagan, MN 55121 United States
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