Pro with Paraag | July 2022
SASE Pro Expands Range of Services to Support Asian ERGs
A little more than two years ago when I accepted this newly created position as Director of Professional Programs, I inherited a loose group of Asian professionals from a broad spectrum of companies that we called the SASE Pro Company Leads Network. Some of these individuals were heavily involved in their Asian ERGs at work and others were highly engaged recent graduates with a positive SASE collegiate experience. All of them were passionate about the Asian professional community and believed that we had an opportunity as SASE Pro to tackle challenges they identified as consistent across companies.
As I became part of the organization and connected with our stakeholders, I was able to speak with a wide array of individuals – Talent Acquisition professionals, Asian ERG leaders, senior Asian executives, and young professionals entering the workforce – who made it clear that the Asian ERG experience across companies is incredibly varied. At the same time, a common theme emerged of Asian ERG leaders inquiring how other Asian ERGs were approaching what they perceived to be shared challenges.
With this insight, we have been evolving the SASE Pro Company Leads Network into an Asian ERG leadership network that provides design input into SASE Pro programming and creates a meaningful peer group for Asian ERG leaders to share their ideas and experiences. Today, our SASE Pro ERG Leads Network consists of over 175 members from more than 70 companies and continues to grow rapidly as both new and existing members gain real value from their involvement. As part of the evolution, the SASE Pro mission has expanded to focus on supporting both Asian professionals and Asian ERGs.
One reflection of our commitment to serving as a convener of and resource for Asian ERGs is SASE Pro’s selection of a new Board Member Representative, Tracy Allen, for a two-year term to SASE’s Board of Directors to represent the interests of Asian ERGs to our organization. Tracy is currently a Human Resources Business Partner at Northrop Grumman with extensive Asian ERG experience, including a leadership position at Northrop’s Asian Pacific Professional Network (APPN). She shared, “Over the past two years, it’s been invaluable for me to connect with my fellow ERG leaders at other companies. I’m excited and humbled to join SASE’s Board as the Pro Member Representative and take a larger role in expanding our Asian ERG-specific programming.”
Since Fall 2021, SASE Pro has hosted free semi-annual Asian ERG Summits for our community of Asian ERG leaders. Each Summit includes a workshop element that is specific to Asian ERG leaders, multiple share-and-reapply sessions for ERGs to present best practices, and networking breakout sessions to foster relationships and build community. The ERG Summits have elicited enthusiastic feedback from participants like Jing Yang of Bristol Myers Squibb who sent us a note, “Frankly, this was one of the most valuable ERG discussions I ever had. Please keep up the great work in leading the way for pulling Asian ERGs together.”
Our programming is tailored to the culturally specific needs of Asian professionals, and our trainers have backgrounds that equip them to empower and support attendees to be effective leaders for not only their ERGs but for any roles that they hold within their companies and in their communities. For example, in the Spring 2022 ERG Summit, Jim Lee of B-SPOKE offered a presentation entitled “The Importance of Putting on Your Oxygen Mask First.” He shared with attendees that “it's incredibly important that the ERG leadership experience serves both your career and community. I’ve found that our Asian culture can misrepresent healthy servant leadership. Learning to put on your oxygen mask first will not only provide you the ability to survive in times of stress, but it will also ensure viability for the ERG by avoiding unnecessary leadership turnover and burnout.”
Looking ahead, we envision building our network to include more than 150 engaged Asian ERGs across the country. This scale will increase the breadth of programming that SASE Pro is able to offer and will create an even more extensive peer group of Asian ERGs across geographies. We intend to foster cross-coaching relationships across ERGs and enable companies to collaborate on local/regional events. Perhaps most importantly, we will be positioned to offer assistance to any individuals or companies who are trying to launch or re-launch an Asian ERG in their workplace.
I’m thrilled that our network is evolving in this direction, and I’m constantly encouraged by our Asian ERG leaders who want to make a difference for their Asian professional communities, for their companies, and for themselves. If you or your company are interested in joining our SASE Pro ERG Leads Network, please reach out to us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..