Finding a community in the workplace that feels welcoming and provides a space where I can be myself is why I love being part of our Employee Resources Groups (ERGs), or as we call them at Nuance, our “Nuance Networks.” I co-lead Women in Nuance (WIN) and lead the Multicultural Association for Diversity Empowerment (MADE) group. These two networks allow me to contribute to Nuance’s commitment in fostering and celebrating inclusion and diversity.
MADE (the Multicultural Association for Diversity Empowerment) helps our employees build on their unique individual talents and backgrounds through education and exploration. Our mission is to foster and encourage an environment where diversity and cultures are embraced, and this brings employees of all backgrounds together to learn, grow, and genuinely feel heard. MADE is focused on creating a psychologically safe environment where employees can bring their authentic selves to our meetings, workshops, and discussions.
The group is focused on empowering members and allies alike and provides a platform to help amplify their voices. We share information on different cultures, and what Nuance is doing to foster an inclusive environment. Our discussions and outside speakers are relevant to our current environment and are aligned to topics members are interested in. This year, we partnered with external speakers to facilitate DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) focused workshops. The themes included emotional intelligence, courageous conversations, and intentional allyship, which align with our intent to create spaces for meaningful conversations, always ending with a call to action and additional learning resources.
Our members, along with the MADE Leadership team, sit in different roles, teams, and locations. Since Nuance is a global company, this is a great opportunity to meet new people and network. Our leadership team helps elevate MADE’s content, by bringing their diverse ideas and experiences to the group. They provide members with frequent opportunities for personal and professional development by facilitating meetings and sharing their knowledge.
This is my first time being a part of and leading ERGs in my career. I now realize why they are so important to employees and the organization. These voluntary, employee-led groups have provided me and members with valuable growth and development opportunities and a community to be a part of. I am so thankful for the experience, and I encourage everyone to get involved in an ERG if your company has them.
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This post was written by Andiana Aponte, Chair of Multicultural Association for Diversity Empowerment and Co-Chair for Women in Nuance ERGs.
