March marks Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the remarkable contributions of women to history, culture, and society. Here at Ellevation, we understand the significance of recognizing the invaluable role women play within our organization.

We're thrilled to showcase the co-leads of Ellevation’s Women’s ERG, Alyssa Beck-White and Ashley Flygare, alongside their executive sponsor, Shrina Sood. The Women’s ERG focuses on empowerment and advocacy, and is committed to cultivating an inclusive workplace environment where women can thrive and achieve success every day.

We had the opportunity to chat with them about the ERG’s objectives, ongoing initiatives, and their plans for commemorating Women’s History Month.

Can you share with us the mission and goals of the Women's ERG within Ellevation? 

Shrina Sood: Our Women's ERG is dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace culture that empowers women to thrive and succeed. We strive to create a supportive community where women feel valued, heard, and respected, regardless of their role or background within the organization.

Our goal is to promote gender diversity, equity, and inclusion within the company by providing resources, networking opportunities, and professional development initiatives tailored to the needs and interests of women employees. We aim to facilitate mentorship, skill-building workshops, and educational events that empower women to reach their full potential, break barriers, and advance their careers. 

In what ways has the Women's ERG contributed to fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment for women in the workplace? 

Alyssa Beck-White: The Women’s ERG has made contributions to fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment in the workplace through a variety of activities and events:

• Build Social Capital: Through events such as social gatherings, coffee chats or slow chats, the Women’s ERG creates opportunities for women to connect with each other to foster relationships and a sense of belonging in the workplace. This provides women within the org to not only get to know each other but to also share experiences and offer support in a virtual environment.

• Celebration of Women: By celebrating women in history with HERstory moments and shouting out women’s achievements on THERsdays, the ERG highlights the contributions of women in the workplace, promoting visibility and recognition.

How does the Women's ERG celebrate Women's History Month, and what special initiatives or events do you have planned for this month? 

Alyssa Beck-White: We have two big events planned for the Women’s ERG to celebrate Women’s History Month, on top of that we have other initiatives such as coffee chat pairings, slow chats, and celebrations of women in our Slack channel. 

The first event we have scheduled is hosting a guest speaker on “Empowerment Through Negotiation: Mastering Effective Self-Advocacy.” We are incredibly excited for this opportunity and have even asked our ERG members to personally invite other women within the company who are not yet part of the women’s ERG so that all women have the opportunity to participate in this meaningful conversation.

Our second event is a panel discussion called “All I Do is Win, Win, Win and…Fail” where we invite three Women’s ERG members to share their experiences with failure, growth and navigating the world as working women. This discussion aims to shed light on the journey to success, including the inevitable setbacks and challenges along the way. We believe that sharing these stories can inspire and empower others in our community.

What are some of the biggest challenges women still face in the workplace today, and how is the Women's ERG working to address them? 

Shrina Sood: The Women's ERG recognizes and addresses several persistent challenges that women encounter in the workplace today. These challenges include gender bias, pay inequity, underrepresentation in leadership roles, difficulty balancing work and personal life, and experiences of harassment and discrimination. To combat these issues, the ERG engages in advocacy efforts to raise awareness and promote policies that foster equity and inclusion. Additionally, it facilitates networking events, and skill-building workshops to empower women employees, enhance their professional development, and provide them with supportive networks and resources.

Through collaborative efforts with company leadership, the Women's ERG works to advocate for policies and programs that promote gender diversity, pay equity, and work-life balance. By creating a supportive community where women can share experiences and support one another, the ERG fosters a workplace culture that values and empowers women to thrive and succeed. Through these initiatives, the ERG aims to contribute to a more inclusive and equitable workplace environment where every woman feels empowered to reach her full potential.

How does the Women's ERG collaborate with other diversity and inclusion initiatives within the organization?

Ashley Flygare: In regards to the broader company DEIB initiatives, we are dedicated to increasing the representation of female leaders, supporting a pay equity analysis, and ensuring that all our women-identifying employees feel valued and supported.

What are the key priorities or initiatives that the Women's ERG will be focusing on in the coming year to further advance gender equality in the workplace? 

Ashley Flygare: In the upcoming year, the Women's ERG is committed to empowering women, advocating for equality, and fostering intersectionality. Through a range of events, resources, and programs designed to boost confidence and self-esteem, we aim to encourage women to take up space and celebrate themselves. Additionally, we prioritize creating an inclusive community where women at Ellevation can build strong relationships across the company. As we strive for a culture of women supporting women, we will actively advocate for gender equality within our organization and beyond.