Reintroducing Expel’s employee resource groups (ERGs)

Expel culture · 4 MIN READ · SCOUT SCHOLES · JAN 31, 2025 · TAGS: Expletives / leadership & management

TL;DR

• Expel has four active employee resource groups (ERGs), and 13 volunteer Expletives make up the leadership teams for these groups 
• Each group has its own Slack channel, members, and programming to promote their goals within the Expel community
• ERG membership is open to both community members and allies, and you can learn more about each group on our equity, inclusion, and diversity (EID) page

Expel has been committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming place to work since day one. This includes knowing we’re “better when different,” which is a phrase that we use frequently in conversations and summarizes our commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity (EID). We use it all of the time in conversations; it’s the core of our employee resource groups (ERGs), and it’s something we keep in mind no matter what we’re doing. 

Unless you work here, the order of that acronym might have just made you do a double take. You’re likely used to seeing it as DEI, but the change here is intentional. Because we have learned that you can’t achieve inclusion and diversity if you don’t start by making the playing field equitable. With equity, the other two usually follow naturally. 

Part of fostering a culture of inclusion is encouraging our employees to participate in our ERGs, both as members and as allies. To date, our team has created four different ERGs. While you can explore the basics of each here, we sat down with our current ERG leaders to get their take on their experience at Expel.

BOLD

BOLD (Black Opportunities for Learning and Development) is an ERG dedicated to creating a more inclusive, equitable, safe, supportive, and contributory workplace for Black Expletives. 

We foster open dialogue on a wide range of topics, from radical self-care as a form of Black liberation and the impact of Black intersectionality to navigating friendships as adults and autism diagnosis disparities in the Black community. Our events run the gamut from live in-person concerts (including a memorable performance by April + VISTA), and panel discussions on Black socioeconomic equity, to virtual cyphers with community organizations like Soul Food Cypher. BOLD provides a safe space to connect, learn, and grow, while contributing to a more inclusive workplace for all.

The Connection 

The Connection is Expel’s mental health ERG, focused on educating and spreading awareness around mental health, and breaking down the stigmas associated with it. 

This year, the Connection is focused on creating a stronger community without adding yet another item to our members’ never-ending to-do lists. You can count on us to regularly share memes, breathing and meditation videos, and resources related to what’s going on in the world around us. Whether you’re ready to laugh or cry, the Connection likely has what you need—and if not, our community has your back! 

The Treehouse

The Treehouse is Expel’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer plus (LBGTQ+) ERG. It’s a dedicated safe space for members and allies to provide education and raise awareness of the accomplishments and challenges facing this community, both inside and out of Expel. 

The Treehouse is Expel’s LGBTQIA+ ERG, and we’re here to make our company a safe, open, and comfortable space for LGBTQIA+ Expletives (affectionately known as the Alphabet Mafia Group). Just like a real treehouse, we’re a place where our members can connect with each other, be their authentic selves, and find support and understanding.

The leadership of the Treehouse wants Expel to be a place where everyone—regardless of how they identify—feels supported, valued, and able to thrive. They focus on raising awareness of the issues and accomplishments of the LGBTQIA+ community and advocating for policies and practices that make our workplace truly equitable for LGBTQIA+ individuals. They do this through educational programs, community engagement, and initiatives that support both our employees and the wider LGBTQIA+ community. Ultimately, they want everyone who identifies as LGBTQIA+ to feel like they belong and can thrive at Expel.

WE

Women at Expel (WE) is Expel’s first ERG, founded in 2018. WE works to create a space for women at Expel to develop their careers, and remind them that they belong here and in this industry, while paving the way for future women in tech. 

Our group is named WE (Women of Expel). WE supports the diversity and inclusion for Expel’s women and their allies. We aim to create a safe space to learn, share our thoughts with one another, and make change happen when possible. Our goal for the year is to amplify and connect our community. We have so many incredible humans that are a part of WE, and we want them to have the opportunity to network with peers they otherwise wouldn’t have gotten to know outside of our community.