Building the Infrastructure for Sustainable ERG Leadership at a Global Communications Agency
Background
A global leader in marketing communications that provides brand and advertising services to more than 5,000 clients in over 100 countries.
“Reimagine Talent Co. is more than a partner. They are transformers, believers, and leaders who have been integral members of the agency’s team.”
The Challenge
Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) play a vital role in organizations today. They champion inclusion and diversity and support organizational growth across the workforce, workplace & marketplace. Yet, despite these challenges, ERG leaders often face challenges:
3 out of 5 ERG leaders serve as individual contributors without formal authority or recognition for their DEI work. (Great Places to Work)
Only 40% of ERG leaders believe their involvement supports career advancement, compared to 78% of executive sponsors who think otherwise. (Great Places to Work)
In order to address these challenges, the agency sought a leadership development partner to upskill leaders and help them better support their communities amid change, transformation, and social, economic, and political uncertainty.
The Solution
Reimagine Talent partnered with the agency’s DEI team and ERG leader stakeholders to co-design and implement a four-part leadership-development program. The initiative combined facilitated learning, coaching, strategic planning, and practical resources aligned with the responsibilities of ERG leaders.
The four-part program included:
Next-Practice ERGs
The Power of ERG Cross-Collaboration
Facilitation Skills for ERG Leaders
ERG Strategic Planning Through Change
Reimagine Talent also developed an ERG Leadership Toolkit to support more consistent planning and leadership continuity.
The toolkit included:
Organizational Charter
Defined Role Matrix and Leadership Expectations
Annual Audit and Planning Resources
Leadership Succession Resources
Together, the learning experience and toolkit gave ERG leaders structured opportunities to examine their roles, develop practical leadership skills, coordinate across communities, and plan for future leadership transitions.
The Transformation
The initiative provided the agency with a structured ERG leadership-development experience and practical resources designed for continued use beyond the facilitated sessions.
ERG leaders participated in coaching and learning focused on strategic planning, facilitation, cross-ERG coordination, and leading through change. The ERG Leadership Toolkit created a shared resource that current and future leaders could use to clarify responsibilities, support annual planning, and prepare for leadership succession.
Although participant evaluation and follow-up data are not available, client feedback indicates that leaders felt supported in engaging vulnerably with the coaching process and recognizing the importance of their leadership development.
“Reimagine Talent Co. is more than a partner. They are transformers, believers, and leaders who have been integral members of the agency’s team. Developing leaders in diversity, equity, and inclusion is complex and requires thoughtfulness. Through their empathy and expertise, our leaders were vulnerable enough to be coached and empowered – understanding the value and impact they hold. Because of Reimagine, our team knows that the power of inclusion and their growth as leaders are critical to our success. We are grateful to the Reimagine Talent Co. team and look forward to a trusted partnership for years to come.”
— CHIEF EQUITY & IMPACT OFFICER
