The Center for Effective Organizations (CEO) at the USC Marshall School of Business, in partnership with Presenting Sponsor Ecolab Inc., invites you to participate in the in-person edition of the 2025 Strategic Employee Resource Group (ERG) Leadership Summit, taking place on July 22-23, 2025, and virtually, September 25-26, 2025. View the in-person agenda, here.

Now in its 13th year, this data-driven learning event continues to be a premier gathering for ERG leaders and executive sponsors. Whether you’re attending in person or joining us virtually for the first time, the summit offers a dynamic platform for collaborative learning and innovation. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with peers, gain valuable strategic insights—and earn Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP recertification (16 PDCs in person | 13 PDCs virtual).

Need help getting approval to attend?
Download our Convince Your Manager letter to make the case.

Innovation & Success Sharing Competition

Develop Your ERG Strategy to Drive Business Growth, Innovation and High Performance

The Innovation and Success Sharing Competition serves as a dynamic platform for ERG leaders to develop strategies and collaborate on ideas that align their initiatives with broader organizational goals and business strategy. Companies or individuals wanting to be part of the Innovation and Success Sharing Competition start by visiting the StartupWind platform to begin their application. To support participants in shaping their submissions, we recorded one of the pre-event workshops we hosted. These sessions provided guidance on developing a strategy, refining ideas, and crafting compelling success or innovation stories. You can watch the recording, here. These submissions will then be presented and judged during the virtual component of the summit, allowing participants to showcase their achievements and compete.

Benefits of the Strategic ERG Leadership Summit

• Data-driven learning offered by top business school and research center
• Collaboration across organizations to advance the impact of ERGs
• Networking across industries and organizations
• Resources to help ERG leaders drive innovation and growth
• Career development and recognition

“The ERG Leadership Summit Sponsorship enabled us to be able to bring the learning to multiple members of our ERGs through the in-person and virtual events. Multiplied the learning as all of our ERG members could work together on the competition and work with other organizations to learn from them too. A priority annual event for our team offered from USC Marshall Center for Effective Organizations.”

2022 ERG Summit Attendee

Become an ERG Leadership Summit Sponsor

When you sponsor the Strategic ERG Leadership Summit, you bring actionable insights and innovative strategies back to your organization, backed by the expertise and partnership of the University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business, and its Center for Effective Organizations, a top 20 business school and leader in ERG research since 2009.

By supporting ERG development and fostering collaboration, you strengthen your organization’s ability to attract and retain top talent, develop future leaders, enhance organizational agility, and drive business outcomes. Sponsorship demonstrates your commitment to empowering ERGs as strategic resources that contribute to measurable success and long-term growth.