If you lead or sponsor an ERG or BRG right now, this is a must-listen episode.
In this ERG PowerTalk conversation, I sit down with Janice Brathwaite, a leader who was there at the very beginning, working alongside the original Black Caucus Group at Xerox, before ERGs were sanctioned, branded, or softened into what many have become today. What she shares is both sobering and energizing.
Three highlights you do not want to miss:
- Why early caucus groups had real power.
They were not focused on celebration. They were focused on fixing broken systems like hiring, promotion, pay, and policy, and they were specific about what they wanted to change. - What ERGs lost as they became more “palatable.”
As caucus groups became affinity groups and then ERGs, much of the bold, change-driving spirit was replaced by safer, celebratory activities that rarely touch business outcomes. - How ERGs can reclaim relevance today.
Janice makes a compelling case that ERGs do not need new names; they need new intent. Used correctly, they can be engines for retention, recruiting, innovation, and operational improvement, not just culture signaling.
This episode is not nostalgia. It is a blueprint. Especially in today’s climate, where ERGs are under pressure to justify their existence, this conversation challenges leaders to move from being tolerated to being indispensable.
I would love to hear your perspective.
What resonated most for you?
Where do you agree, or disagree, with Janice’s assessment?
Also, please share this episode preview link with your ERG leaders and executive sponsors. This is precisely the conversation many organizations need to be having right now.
You can listen to this episode now on any device by clicking here to access it on your favorite podcast app.