Different, together: Employee Resource Groups at Autodesk

Autodesk is building a culture of belonging where all employees have an equal opportunity to succeed. We strive to create an environment where everyone, everywhere, is excited to come to work, feels a sense of belonging, and can be their authentic selves while bringing their unique talents into the workplace. A cornerstone of this goal is our Employee Resource Group (ERG) program.

ERGs are voluntary groups made up of and led by Autodeskers who come together based on common backgrounds or dimensions of human diversity. I like to describe our collection of ERG networks as a community of humans who are different, together. They are essential to enabling and fostering a diverse, inclusive workplace where everyone can feel like they belong.

Each ERG is sponsored by a member of our executive leadership team and plays a key role in driving professional development, building partnerships with local communities, advancing recruitment efforts, and supporting a culture of mentorship, coaching, and belonging.

Currently, Autodesk has nine ERGs: Asian Network, Black Network, Indigenous Network, Latinx Network, MIND Network, Pride Network, Veterans Network, Women’s Network, and Young Professionals Network.

Getting involved in Autodesk’s ERGs has benefited me both personally and professionally. In fact, the people I’ve met, and the opportunities made available to me have helped change the course of my career.

When I first saw the open role for a senior manager on Autodesk’s Diversity & Belonging Programs team, I knew this was exactly what I was waiting for. I had been very intentional about my aspirations to join this team and did everything I could to be prepared with studies, projects, mentorship, sponsorship, and the support of my wonderful leadership team. This is something that had been on my individual development plan for a while, so I was thrilled when I was offered the position.

Now, in the role connected to my purpose, I have the pleasure of leading our ERG program and helping members grow their own unique career paths at Autodesk. Autodesk’s ERGs are evolving to make an even greater impact on our employee experience and our business globally:

• In 2021, Autodesk held its first ERG Week, a series of global events to bring ERG programming to life in a virtual world through inspirational talks, networking events, and more.
  
• Beginning in 2022, Autodesk will grant a $10,000 appreciation bonus each April to our global ERG leads, after each year of service, for the many ways they help our employees feel supported and included.
  
• To scale and operationalize impact, we’ve formed expert MERG (cross-ERG) groups to align program strategy and intersectional development across all ERGs.

I’m excited to continue working to build a strong team across our ERGs, leveraging the resources, passion, and energy to impact lasting change for all employees at Autodesk, especially those in historically marginalized groups.