Are ERGs a Platform for Activism? My experience as a Google ERG Lead.

The Intoxicating power of ERG leadership

While in California, I was the lead for “Indian Googler Network” (IGN), an (ERG) Employee Resource Group, which corporations set up as part of a goal of diversity and Inclusion, and endow a small $ budget.

The power that came with being an ERG lead came with, was trippin’. I hosted celebrities — Madhuri Dixit, PM Modi’s, & Interviewed celebrities in front of a packed house of HNI bay area desis. As a lead, I attracted many fake friends who were curious to know behind the scenes ‘kya kya hota hai’ or knew I had control over how tickets get distributed at Indian events.

When you say, ‘I am leading the ERG at X company’, it’s intoxicating to see the number of doors that open. People would fall over themselves to do partnerships. You think 10% is a reasonable opening rate for emails? Try emailing from a FAANG LDAP. It’s 100% open rate. In fact, 110%. They might open it twice, to re-read it.

Platform for Good

While in California, ~2015, I was particularly impressed with the BGN (“Black Googler Network”). IIRC, they had a $100k+ annual budget (ours was $25k) and hosted various events, mixers, career guidance, etc. The HOLA (Hispanic Googler network), too, did various activities with our Mexican and Brazilian colleagues– I still have a HOLA t-shirt from them! The ERG influence grew over the years– the Muslim googlers set…