Top 12 Employee Resource Groups of the Year
By Gloria Romano-Barrera
Since 2010 LATINA Style, Inc. has recognized and honored the best Hispanic Employee Resource Groups
(ERGs) in the country. The Top 12 ERG finalists listed here (in no specific order) are selected based
on business impact, excellence in corporate leadership, mentorship, and dedication to working with the
Hispanic community. This recognition also showcases ERGs that are making an impact on career outcomes
and overall diversity accomplishments for their respective companies.
Accenture PLC
Comprised of approximately 2,700 members (500
more members since 2018), Accenture’s Hispanic
American ERG (HAERG) began as the Hispanic
American Interest Group in the late 1990s. With
membership in 25 states, the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico and Canada, HAERG has grown by two
new chapters.
HAERG includes individuals of all ages,
socioeconomic backgrounds, education levels,
gender, and all areas in business. Their
commitment to inclusion and diversity is
unwavering and is a key part of what makes
Accenture a great place to work. Accenture
provides the HAERG with governance, sponsorship
and funding as part of the overall inclusion &
diversity strategic plan. Further, Accenture senior
leadership supports the ERG at a national, regional
and local level through their own participation at
events (internal and external) as well as by taking
active roles as executive sponsors, coaches,
recruiters and mentors. Members of the ERG are
empowered to bring new opportunities and clients
to Accenture. ERG members have ample
opportunity through their professional
memberships and community involvement
to create new connections and opportunities
for the firm.
Some executive memberships are Hispanic
IT Executive Council members, board members for
key organizations (Society of Hispanic Professional
Engineers, Prospanica), business advisory council
members in their jurisdictions, and participants in
local government. The ERG also serves as advisors
to our national leadership team and provides
counsel during events that impact the community.
At every level of business and government,
members are engaged and committed to LatinX
advancement.
American Airlines
Established in 1997 with 1,722 members,
American Airlines’ Latin Diversity Network (LDN)
Employee Business Resource Group (EBRG)
promotes diversity and inclusion for all
employees through a grassroots approach.
LDN believes diversity and inclusion should
be explored, appreciated, and thoroughly
celebrated. Employees’ unique perspectives are
valued, and members have ample opportunity for
engagement in diversity of thought.
Service to the community is in alignment
with the values and priorities of LDN, as well as
the company. By forging meaningful bonds with
community stakeholders, LDN prioritizes the
unique needs of others to create positive social
change. To that end, LDN leverages partnerships
to broaden reach and scope of support, often
collaborating with other EBRGs, departments,
companies, and nonprofit organizations. In doing
so, the aim is to equip community members with
the tools needed to sustain change, well after LDN
volunteer groups have left.
LDN has 17 chapters worldwide that
support the global Hispanic/Latinx community.
The EBRG’s initiatives and projects assist the
business in fostering trust, brand loyalty, and
inclusive practices.
Additionally, LDN has been particularly
beneficial in fostering a relationship with the
United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
(USHCC), both on the local and national level, and
has supported American’s supplier diversity
efforts.
AT&T HACEMOS
Established in 1988 and currently with over
10,000 members throughout the country,
AT&T’s Employee Resource Group, HACEMOS,
provides professional development via
webinars and mentoring circles; volunteer
opportunities supporting the many community
projects/non-profit organizations members
support; supports AT&T initiatives that provide
opportunities to promote the AT&T brand.
HACEMOS began as the employee resource
group dedicated to Latino/Hispanic employees;
however, membership is now open to all
employees.
HACEMOS is required to abide by AT&T values,
no exceptions. All projects, regardless of national
or local, must meet not only the values of AT&T,
but also AT&T’s corporate Code of Business
Conduct policy.
AT&T leaders support HACEMOS in various
means from golf tournament sponsors, mentoring
circles, event speakers.
This year Hispanic leaders from across the
country were brought to Dallas for a meeting to
discuss ways to increase AT&T brand in heavily
Latinx cities. Meeting resulted in the A Ti y A Ti
(AT&T) marketing strategy; cultural product and
job fairs, and improved focus on commercial
strategy. HACEMOS is the number one ERG within
AT&T in awarding scholarships to local students
in various communities. This year, HACEMOS
awarded 147 scholarships totaling $357,000 to
students across the country.
18 www.latinastyle.com LATINAStyle Vol. 25, No. 6, 2019
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