Why One ERG Member Hesitated to Apply for ERG Leadership

If you remember, last week I was talking about using a DM campaign to get people interested in applying for leadership positions. Well, here's what happened next.

Catch interest while it's fresh

Someone reached out and said they were interested but wanted to chat first. I hopped on a call almost immediately — because trust me, catching people while the interest is fresh is KEY. Being available in the moment to answer questions can make all the difference. You want to capture that energy before it fades.

I'm all about Slack huddles for these quick, casual conversations. It's less formal but still effective.

"I wasn't sure I belonged"

We hopped on the call, and she told me she had been eyeing the application but hesitated because she didn't feel like she fit the typical profile. She said, "I'm not African-American; I'm full African, and I wasn't sure if I was the right fit." She wasn't sure if she belonged in the ERG or if she could lead it because she didn't identify with the majority group.

And that, right there, is a common ERG challenge.

The skew that quietly excludes subgroups

In Black ERGs, we might unintentionally skew toward African-American representation. The same pattern shows up across the board:

• API ERGs often skew toward East Asian voices.
• Women's ERGs can skew toward white women, especially in leadership.
• LGBTQ ERGs lean toward white gay men.

It's not always intentional, but it happens — and it's often because that particular group was the first to break into White Corporate America historically. So naturally, they become the predominant voice.

What "intentionally inclusive" actually means

ERGs need to be intentionally inclusive of all parts of their communities. Whether it's different ethnicities, identities, or segments within the broader group, we've got to make space for everyone. When we focus only on the majority, we unintentionally exclude subgroups that are just as vital to the ERG's success and purpose.

If you joined the ERG engagement tour, you'll know we talked about the importance of niching down — designing programming for specific subgroups rather than always taking a blanket approach. Because, let's be honest, that blanket often ends up only serving the majority within our ERG.

Long story short: let's be more intentional about including all the voices in our communities, not just the ones in the majority or the ones that have historically dominated (rather ironic for ERGs).