Employee Resource Groups
The key to an engaged, mindful and forward-thinking workforce
CEO’s leading-edge research on Employee Resource Groups offers insight into the benefits and advantages of the diverse perspectives, inclusive strategies, and employee engagement that ERGs bring.
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Current & Past ERG Sponsors
Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) as Strategic Drivers of Business Success
Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), also referred to as Business Resource Groups (BRGs) or Strategic Resource Groups (SRGs), play a crucial role in organizations, not only addressing social needs and boosting employee satisfaction but also driving business outcomes. These groups, formed around shared traits, foster deeper workforce involvement, positively impacting culture, strategy, and performance. When aligned with business objectives, ERGs contribute to innovation, talent development, and market expansion. Studies indicate that companies with engaged employees outperform those without by 202%, and ERGs are a powerful mechanism to enhance employee engagement while also advancing business priorities.
Despite their prevalence in organizations, ERGs remain an under-researched area, leaving many companies without a clear roadmap for maximizing their impact. That’s why the Center for Effective Organizations (CEO) has dedicated over a decade to studying how ERGs impact organizations —going beyond traditional networking groups to play a critical role in business performance and leadership development. CEO’s research provides cutting-edge insights and actionable frameworks, helping organizations harness ERGs as a catalyst for both organizational culture and strategic success.
The Strategic ERG Project empowers organizations through a comprehensive suite of initiatives that foster inclusive workplaces by equipping leaders with the tools and insights needed to drive impactful Employee Resource Group (ERG) initiatives.
CEO and lead Senior Affiliate Research Scientist, Dr. Theresa Welbourne, have brought together leadership development opportunities and the next wave of research to help navigate the future of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).
Click here to learn more about how to get involved in funding these initiatives.
NEW RESEARCH INSIGHTS: The State of ERGS (2024) & Annual Leader & Member Survey
Discover the power of ERGs in driving global business strategies. Dr. Theresa Welbourne and CEO have spearhead the “State of ERGs” research study, the first study of its kind, and the Annual ERG Leader & Member Survey. Click here to access the latest insights.
USC CEO ERG Community
Join CEO’s proprietary ERG community to access past Strategic ERG Leadership Summit presentations, network globally with other ERG leaders, and to attend exclusive webinars.
Click here to request access.
Participate in our Benchmarking Study: The Annual Employee Resource Group (ERG) Research Survey
Benchmark your ERG process & learn from validated metrics by participating in CEO research! Click here to learn more.
Learn & Connect Webinars
Explore our “Learn & Connect” series recordings that address key topics faced by ERG leaders:
1. Discover How Generations and Life Stages Shape ERG Success
2. Inspiring Executive Sponsors: A Critical Launch Strategy for ERG Leadership
3. The case (or not) for a Faith-Based ERG
4. Connecting your ERG to Business Goals
5. When the DEI / ERG Job is New
Featured Article
Employee Resource Groups: An Introduction, Review and Research Agenda
Skylar Rolf, Steven Schlachter, Theresa M. Welbourne
Employee resource groups (ERGs) are within-organization groups, staffed by employee volunteers, which have evolved since their inception in the 1960s. In this paper, Theresa M. Welbourne (CEO), Skylar Rolf (University of Nebraska-Lincoln), and Steven Schlachter (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) provide an introduction to ERGs, review the literature that exists to date, and provide ideas for a research agenda.
Top Articles on ERGs
How Employee Resource Groups Can Help Manage COVID-19 or Coronavirus Fears
Employee resource groups (ERGs) have a history of helping bring calm during rough times. Consider their inception point. During the United States’ first race riot in Rochester, N.Y., the CEO of Xerox started the precursor to today’s ERGs, the black caucus.
Is Equality the Next New Thing? Why It May Matter More Today
In the Fall Leadership Pulse® report, we examined leader energy and attitudes toward diversity. However, rather than just asking about diversity in general, we did a deep dive examining the new language of diversity. Specifically, we looked at three items: diversity, belonging, and equality.
Certificate in Employee Resource Group (ERG) Leadership
The ERG Leadership Certificate can help you not only during your time as an ERG leader, but also strengthen your skills for future, non-ERG leadership roles. While you learn, you accumulate points toward earning the Certificate. You will:
– Customize your curriculum and learning
– Get an immediate return on investment (ROI) from the certificate program
– Solve some of your organization’s issues
– Create and share learning materials that are usable with your ERG members and multiple ERG leaders NOW and in the future
Now accepting applications for the 2024/2025 ERG Certificate Cohort
Meet Our Researchers
Our award-winning research scientists, affiliates and practitioners help companies drive performance by providing leading-edge research, practical tools, and a wealth of experience.
Theresa M. Welbourne
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.
Sharoni Little
Affiliated Research Scientist
Sharoni Denise Little is Associate Dean, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer & Professor of Clinical Business Communication at USC Marshall School of Business and an award-winning teacher, researcher, and mentor. A renowned author, global facilitator, and media commentator, Sharoni’s research and expertise centers on organizational leadership, strategic communication, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Beth Chung
Affiliated Research Scientist
Beth Chung is a Professor of Management. She is currently the Director for the Institute on Inclusiveness and Diversity in Organizations (IIDO) and Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Outreach Committee for San Diego State University. She is also past research director for the Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming. She has taught a variety of courses including Diversity Issues, Organizational Behavior, Leadership and Group Process, Human Resource Management, and Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
Cathleen Clerkin
Affiliated Research Scientist
Cathleen Clerkin is a Senior Research Faculty member at the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL), and is based out of Charlottesville, VA. She is a scientific researcher with experience in industrial-organizational psychology, social and personality psychology, positive psychology and applied social cognitive neuroscience.