How ERGs Can Impact Your Sense of Belonging – and Enrich Your Everyday Work Life by Collins Aerospace
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Thinking about joining an employee resource group (ERG) but not sure it's worth your while?
When done right, ERGs can transform workspaces and drive social impact. They help people find and amplify their voices while connecting them to colleagues with similar interests and identities....
Thinking about joining an employee resource group (ERG) but not sure it's worth your while?
When done right, ERGs can transform workspaces and drive social impact. They help people find and amplify their voices while connecting them to colleagues with similar interests and identities. Besides creating empowering learning experiences, ERGs offer critical tools to help members flourish inside and outside of work.
At Collins Aerospace, ERGs don’t follow a hierarchical structure. Junior professionals are encouraged to spearhead ERGs, allowing them to build and showcase leadership skills.
Danny Benitez, technical solutions program leader (and HOLA ERG chair), Erin McNamara-Ankney, manager, operations technology administrator (and RTXRAIN ERG chair — Indigenous peoples), and Beverley Momenabadi, internal communications and employee engagement lead (and member of ADAPT ERG), will share their personal stories on how participating in ERGs has improved their sense of belonging and overall work experience.
You’ll learn:
- The benefits of joining ERGs + what you can expect
- How ERGs can help get you to the executive level
- The role mentorship plays in ERGs
- Why ERGs are crucial for your development
Meet The Speakers
Erin McNamara-Ankney is an Operations Technology Administrator and Chair for the RTX RAIN (Raytheon Alliance of Indigenous Nations) at Collins Aerospace. She has been with the company for over 12 years.
Erin’s a wife, a mother, and a passionate Grammy to 7 grand puppies! She is naturally curious, gravitates to allyship, never turns down an opportunity to hear a good “Dad” joke, and loves to share stories from persons she has met through ERG Groups.
Her mantra is “learn from the past, live in the present, and plan for the future”.
Danny Benitez is a Technical Product/Program Manager professional with extensive experience managing systems, software, and hardware implementations for domestic and international technical solutions primarily in the aviation industry.
As a first-generation college graduate, Danny advocates for the Hispanic/Latin community by mentoring young professionals, leading ERG teams, and identifying development opportunities for those looking for a fulfilling career.
Beverly is Collins Aerospace’s Internal Communications and Employee Engagement Lead. She’s the volunteer communications chair for Collin’s global ADAPT ERG which supports abled and disabled colleagues within the business.
She’s passionate about DEIB initiatives and knows how healthy these are for businesses across all industries.
More Topics You Might Like
Q&A
Q&A guidelines-
Can you use your work in an ERG to pivot into a new role/career?
By: Darlene, Board Co-Chair|Village BRGPosted on 2023-03-13 -
How do you keep the momentum going in an ERG over time when people are not as engaged in participating.
By: Heather, Technical Program ManagerPosted on 2023-03-13 -
Have you had any eye opening experiences since joining an ERG?
By: CorriePosted on 2023-03-09 -
Hope the site is real an trust able
By: LawalPosted on 2023-03-09 -
How does the ERG ecosystem work at Collins? Can you only join the ERG you identify with or is this an allyship effort also? What are the missions of the ERGs and what type of activities are...
By: Crystal, Program Project ManagerPosted on 2023-03-07 -
Do you have opportunties for junior user exprience professionals?
By: Sonya, UX|UI Design InstructorPosted on 2023-03-07 -
What if my company doesn't have an ERG yet?
By: Kirsten, Director|MembershipPosted on 2023-03-07 -
How do you measure success as an ERG leader?
By: ChristinaPosted on 2023-03-06 -
What strategies do you have for bringing ERGs to religious organizations?
By: RegentPosted on 2023-03-03 -
Looking forward to learning more about moving an ERG to the next level!
By: EmilyPosted on 2023-03-01 -
How can to encourage diversity within individual ERGs?
By: IanPosted on 2023-02-28 -
How can ERGs convince company executives and HR to support and respect us, and to make time and space for us to find community together and simply exist in a “safe space,” whether in person or...
By: ReneePosted on 2023-02-28 -
Not every company has ERGs, what's your advice on starting one? Is it always necessary to collaborate with HR to do so?
By: Darlene, President Board of DirectorsPosted on 2023-02-28 -
How has ERGs helped create and improve connection post-Covid?
By: Kristen, Marketing & PR LeaderPosted on 2023-02-27 -
What are some practical ways to schedule an ERG meeting time for employees working shift schedules? How do you respond to employees who ask "where is my ERG, I don't see one for [insert...
By: Sarah J, Executive SecretaryPosted on 2023-02-27 -
How do you get started forming an ERG
By: LorynPosted on 2023-02-27 -
Do you have suggestions to drive engagement in a slack type channel for an ERG?
By: Ashley, Product Support SpecialistPosted on 2023-02-27 -
What are some best practices for launching ERGs on a smaller scale and building from there?
By: Laura, Customer Onboarding DEI Committee ChairPosted on 2023-02-27 -
How to create a sense of belonging in a company that is widely distributed geographically
By: SamanthaPosted on 2023-02-27 -
How did you gain support of a working parent ERG from executives?
By: AmyPosted on 2023-02-27 -
I would love to hear more about hybrid employee engagement and how that can be a priority for ERGs.
By: TaraPosted on 2023-02-27 -
What are some strategies to build momentum across an ERG program that has slowed in activity?
By: EvanPosted on 2023-02-27 -
What is the best way for organizations to support ERG's?
By: Yasmine, Instructional DesignerPosted on 2023-02-27 -
How do you convince companies that ERGs need financial funding and the ERG leaders need some form of compensation for the additional work rather than this being an expected free resource?
By: PaulaPosted on 2023-02-27 -
How do you drive engagement and buy in of the members within the erg ?
By: CarolinaPosted on 2023-02-27 -
How to stand out in Salesforce IT industry?
By: JenniPosted on 2023-02-26 -
Can you share a sample framework or business plan for designing and launching an ERG?
By: Elena, Vice presidentPosted on 2023-02-26 -
Tips for how to effectively establish relationships in a remote environment using ERGs opportunities.
By: Vanessa, Financial Services ProfessionalPosted on 2023-02-26 -
How to drive engagement in ergs.
By: Janell, Engineering ManagerPosted on 2023-02-26 -
What's the best way to drive awareness around DE&I if you're the only person of color at the company?
By: ReneePosted on 2023-02-26 -
No questions at the moment.
By: Kris, Certified Personal TrainerPosted on 2023-02-26 -
How do ERGs impact an employees journey so that they remain committed towards company's shared values and enhance the culture of inclusion.
By: JosephPosted on 2023-02-26 -
Ways to encourage more engagement? It feels like no matter what we try, we get minimal turnout.
By: Maddie, Technical Writer & Team LeadPosted on 2023-02-24 -
Tell me more about ERGs.
By: Allison, Sales OperationsPosted on 2023-02-23 -
How do I get more people involved when there hasn't been much involvement in the past- as a new member/leader?
By: ClaudiaPosted on 2023-02-21 -
What's an ERG that Collins does not have, that you think would be a great addition to the lineup?
By: RheaPosted on 2023-02-20
Ask a Question
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