ERGs at MCB: By people, for people

Beyond policies, a truly inclusive workplace grows from shared values, everyday gestures, and the willingness to listen to the people who make up a company. At MCB Group, that intention has taken shape through a meaningful initiative led by the Culture and DEI Team: the launch of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).

These voluntary, employee-led groups create opportunities for connection, empathy, and shared purpose. In doing so, they are helping to nurture a workplace culture that honours individuality while strengthening collective belonging.

Why ERGs, and why now?

At their essence, ERGs are communities where colleagues with shared characteristics, interests, or lived experiences come together. Whether focused on gender equity, wellbeing, or disability, these groups offer an environment where members feel heard, supported, and valued. 

As Shakila Badouraly, DEI & Culture Lead at MCB Group, puts it“The groups exist to provide support and help in personal or career development, and to create a safe space where employees can bring their whole selves to the table.” 

This initiative also represents the first step in MCB Group’s broader DEI strategy. One built from within, by the people who shape its culture every day.

“This approach brings a different rhythm to how we move forward,” adds Aurélie Mallac, MCB Group Culture and DEI Manager. “It’s employee-led, grounded in the reality of teams, and designed to grow with the organisation.”

Three groups with one shared vision

The journey began with the creation of three ERGs: Wellbeing & Belonging, Gender Equity, and Disability Friendly. These themes already held meaning within the Culture and DEI Team, and inviting employees to co-create around them felt like a natural evolution.

Each group is developing its roadmap, supported by the DEI committee and dedicated executive sponsors. Their shared goal is clear: to foster an inclusive work environment where everyone feels they belong and where their voices carry weight. 

A call that sparked connection

The invitation to join ERGs was followed by an outpouring of enthusiasm: nearly 100 employees responded, each sharing personal reflections on what inclusion meant to them. Shakila Badouraly recalls: “The statements about their individual motivation were genuinely inspiring… and very difficult to select!”

Around 20 members were then selected for each group. The result? A dynamic mix of roles, backgrounds and perspectives. This diversity allows each ERG to reflect the richness of experiences across MCB Group and ensures that every conversation remains grounded in the realities of its people.

Shakila Badouraly, Stephanie Ng Tseung, Allan Freed & Diane Grenade during the launch of the ERGs.

Guided by leadership

True inclusion also depends on support from the top. Here, each ERG is supported by a sponsor at leadership level: Allan Freed, Head of HR,  for Wellbeing & Belonging, Stephanie Ng Tseung, Head of payment,  for Gender Equity, and Vanessa Doger de Speville, Head of SRE (Sustainability, Reputation & Engagement), for Disability Friendly. These leaders meet regularly with their groups to listen, offer guidance, and explore ideas together.

“What makes these groups special is the balance: leadership provides space and visibility, while the teams lead the way with creativity and commitment. It’s a two-way conversation, and that’s where the value lies,” shares Allan Freed, MCB Group Head of Human Resources.

This collaborative spirit gives ERGs both momentum and meaning. It also offers members a unique opportunity to work closely with senior voices in a space of mutual trust and shared ambition.

Planting the seeds for lasting change

Since the first DEI committee session in June, the ERGs have been shaping their internal structure and preparing to support the launch of MCB Group’s DEI Charter in the coming financial year. They are already contributing to greater awareness, deeper conversations, and a stronger sense of shared responsibility across teams.

As Shakila Badouraly explains: “Having voluntary employee groups allows us to reflect a diversity of thoughts and needs, to bring objectivity in how we prioritise initiatives, and ultimately, to EMPOWER our people.”

By encouraging employees to lead and prioritise inclusion efforts, MCB Group is grounding its DEI culture in authenticity. As early signs show, that empowerment is already taking root. And over time, the ERGs are set to influence everything from daily team dynamics to long-term policy shifts.

A place where everyone belongs 

The introduction of ERGs marks a shift in how people work together, and how they care for one another. It’s an invitation to participate, to grow, and to feel part of something meaningful.

Because when people feel that they belong, they thrive. They bring their energy, their perspective, and their full selves, all while staying connected to something greater than their role alone.

And that, at its heart, is what makes an organisation feel human.

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