Month: April 2023

When Toby used to apply for jobs, he would first investigate what it was like to be black in that specific company, searching his online network to see if other black people worked there. Likewise, Dumebi knows that working in corporate America often means being one of the only black people in the room. “I’m a woman, I’m a Nigerian, I’m black, I am an immigrant. There are so many identities that pertain to who I am, and they all affect how I show up in a space.”

Their identities and experiences prompted the Egbuna siblings to co-found Chezie, a diversity, equity, and inclusion company that helps people find belonging in the workplace. “We started Chezie because, as first-gen Nigerian immigrants, we know how important it is to feel like you belong where you work.” Chezie soon spotted the strategic potential of employee resource groups (ERGs), and focused on helping companies become more inclusive by providing an ERG management platform. Toby and Dumbei also host an online community of 700 ERG leaders who collaborate on events and ideas, share best practices, and access valuable resources. To create inclusive spaces for the community’s monthly small group connections, Chezie began developing a partnership with Circles early this year.

Creating ERG Community in Circles

Creating a community for ERG leaders is important to Dumebi, “because ERG work is hard.” When they turned to Circles to host a Black History Month round table in February, 25 black ERG leaders joined the Heritage Month Circle. Dumebi designed the session agenda with a specific vision: “We see companies putting a lot of emphasis on black voices in February, but not year round, so I wanted it to be a space where people could share not only what they’re doing for black history month, but also how they’re holding their organizations accountable the rest of the year. I think that’s where progress is made: not in one moment, but 365 days a year.”

Participants came away praising the Circles experience, scoring it 9.7 out of 10. Dumebi likes how Circles delivers an authentic conversation in a smaller setting. “People were able to share things I’m not sure they would feel comfortable sharing in an open slack of 700 people. Ultimately, it’s a safer extension of that community.” Participants remarked on the intimacy of the session, provided by breakout rooms and other unique platform features. Dumebi feels that Circles promotes belonging, because people are able to show up as their full self and be celebrated for that. “Circles’ unique design provides a space for people to share their voice and be celebrated for their inputs to a conversation.”

The Chezie team plans to host monthly ERG round tables in Circles, allowing leaders across organizations to collaborate and lean on each other. “I can’t even tell you how many people come to us, asking to be connected to other ERG leaders so they can learn from others. So many ERG leaders are passionate about their work but new to their roles, and I think that sense of community and connection to others doing the same work will be beneficial. “I think Circles is going to help bring our community of 6000-7000 ERG leaders together in a smaller space.”

Looking to the Future

As they continue building their product, Toby and Dumebi meet with DEI managers and ERG leaders, staying abreast of what they’re struggling with. Dumebi wants them to know that they’re not doing this work alone. “I’m here to schedule time to talk, and brainstorm about ERGs and resources.” Chezie plans to roll out new features later this year, including a content database providing access to speakers, webinar replays, and event and communication templates.

Toby knows Chezie’s work providing belonging in the workplace is just beginning. “As the world shifts, and more people who don’t fit the white male standard enter the workforce, it’s going to be increasingly important to make sure people belong in the workplace.” 

“That’s why we created Chezie, to help people find belonging in the workplace. We’re going to be the duo that solves the problem.”

Their vision for global safety is also reflected internally at Lloyd’s Register (LR), through initiatives from the diversity and inclusion team. While the homogenous white male maritime industry of the late 18th century has evolved, Lloyd’s Register continues to pursue gender equality for their globally dispersed workforce consisting of 70% men and 30% women.

Through a partnership with Circles, LR recently created and implemented Safe Harbor Circles to help bridge the gender gap. By providing psychologically safe spaces for colleagues to connect, share stories, and grow, the sessions have encouraged gender equality innovation and strengthened their global Gender Equality Network. 

The Rising Tide of Gender Equality

The Gender Equality Network (GEN) is one of four LR Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). GEN consists of women and their male allies, and efforts include everything from ensuring women have properly fitting PPE equipment designed for them, to access to basic facilities, such as restrooms and changing rooms onboard ships and in shipyards. The choice to mix genders in the ERG was intentional, stemming from the belief that gender equality isn’t merely a women’s issue. LR’s Diversity and Inclusion manager and supporter of GEN Camila Ramos Vilches explains: “Gender stereotypes affect men as well as women, and everyone’s wellbeing matters to us. We can’t do it alone.”

Ginger Garte stepped in to co-lead the GEN ERG in 2021. After working for years onboard ships, ensuring maritime health & safety as a NOAA officer and then transferring this experience to cruise ships, she’s spent the last twelve years as Lloyd’s Environmental & Sustainability Director for the Americas. The safety she brought to the environment during the first decades of her career lends itself to creating safe spaces for gender equality advocacy through GEN. “Women make up only 1.25% of seafaring roles, which is why co-leading GEN is some of the most important work of my career.”

When LR created a Diversity and Inclusion Team in October 2021, the team was tasked with rejuvenating LR’s Colleagues’ Networks. Initially, that meant supporting three ERGs: GEN (formerly women and allies), ethnically diverse colleagues, and LGBTIQ+ Community and allies. It was while partnering with GEN that Camila realized the challenge of virtually connecting LR’s global community. When Circles Community Growth Manager Jami York reached out to invite Cami to a Women in Leadership circle, Cami attended and was fascinated by the experience. Intrigued by the platform’s inclusive design, she invited Ginger to experience a Circle too.

What resulted was a partnership between GEN and Circles, to co-create the tailored Safe Harbor Circles experience.

Safer Seas and Psychologically Safe Circles

In an effort to develop their own in-house facilitative leaders, Cami asked LR’s employees to volunteer to lead the Safe Harbor Circles. Many facilitators remarked on how deep the conversations were after even two sessions. Cami watched them grow from unsure in their facilitation skills to empowered guides, reflecting: “We now have a group of people that feel comfortable facilitating conversations and creating safe spaces.”

Cami also noticed how the Circles platform supported her team of developing facilitators along the way. The room features are intuitive and intentionally designed to empower even the novice facilitator, and Circles provides an orientation & resources to equip the LR volunteers. Cami came away convinced that the platform design made all the difference. “I don’t know if I would feel comfortable with this team facilitating on another platform. Clearly other platforms are way more daunting than this one–Circles makes it easy.”

Safe Harbor Stories

Safe Harbor reached people who don’t always feel comfortable sharing in other spaces, and they often reported feeling less lonely. For example: two female naval architects who had both been with LR for over ten years never crossed paths until they met in a Safe Harbor Circle. One reflected, “It would have been so helpful to know each other when we were starting our careers at LR.”

One story that stood out to Ginger involved a session where only one woman was able to attend. The facilitator proceeded with the agenda anyway; as a result of that session, that participant brainstormed an idea to give every LR woman the opportunity to visit onboard a ship. As Cami summarized it: “Circles gave her the space to voice what she thought would help her colleagues that have never stepped into a shipyard. Sometimes the measure of success isn’t the number of people in a circle, but the impact of the session on the attendees, no matter how small.”

Another participant appreciated Safe Harbor Circles as a space to reflect on her own leadership style and recognize commonalities with global colleagues. “I have never thought about some of these topics before, and never knew I could reflect like this with someone across the world. It’s so impressive that I am in Japan, and I can discuss shared struggles with someone in the UK.” The sessions raised her awareness of global gender gap realities while providing a community with a shared sense of purpose.