GM Financial’s YounGen ERG: Mentorship, Fellowship, Growth

GM Financial's YounGen ERG: Mentorship, Fellowship, Growth

With nearly 500 members across the North America and International platforms, GM Financial's YounGen ERG (Employee Resource Group) is supporting young professionals as they grow and evolve in their careers with the company. Created in 2023, YounGen is designed to positively influence the organization, ensure professional development for members, impact the community, and help foster an inclusive environment across the company. Professional development opportunities are a career-long investment, and there is no time like the present to prioritize them.

Not only does YounGen equip current employees and support their careers, but for some, the career development begins before they even start. A unique aspect of YounGen is its mentorship program, where employees can volunteer to be paired with a summer intern who they will meet with throughout the 12-week internship. This is a unique symbiotic relationship: the interns glean wisdom and advice from those who were recently in their shoes, and the mentors cultivate skills in communication, empathy, advising, and servant leadership. Both parties gain valuable insight and experience.

The YounGen ERG hosts panels and seminars on a wide variety of topics, and members can discover more about how to align themselves with their career goals. In these sessions, thought leaders from within the company cover everything from performance reviews to promotions, leadership to networking.

Personal career growth is not the only mission; community investment is also a cornerstone of YounGen's mission. In December, the ERG's first volunteer service event took place as members volunteered with the Tarrant Area Food Bank. Team members sorted and packaged over 11,000 pounds of food, serving families in need in North Texas.

Members of YounGen North America and YounGen International Operations were given the opportunity to share what this ERG means to them. Kaitlin Sanders (YounGen NA Chair) and Montserrat Alvarez discuss the topic in-depth:

Why did you join YounGen?

Kaitlin: "I knew I'd get a lot of exposure to different areas of business, get to know a lot of people, and flex some different professional development and leadership skills. I also really fit the target demographic of the program, so I feel like I was experienced enough to be the voice of those in YounGen and advocate for them."

Montserrat: "I was mostly interested in the networking and early career professional development, but as I became more involved, I sought out leadership opportunities within our IO chapter in Mexico."

What's the biggest takeaway with your experience in YounGen?

Kaitlin: "I've really had to think about our employees in the sense of, if I were sitting in a cubicle somewhere, working my job, what kind of events could YounGen host that would be appealing to me personally and professionally in the business context? I've focused on learning how to create events that are a valuable use of our team members' time."

Montserrat: "Our greatest efforts go toward creating exciting and engaging events that cover valuable topics such as leadership development, building networking skills, and prioritizing mental health as a working professional. YounGen is exciting because you get so many innovative ideas from its members to help create these valuable experiences. I've found that there are opportunities for growth as a mentor and mentee."

What is unique about working with and supporting this age demographic?

Kaitlin: "YounGen is for those who are young in their career and young at heart, so there's a wide variety of different educational experiences and professional experiences that they bring to the company."

Montserrat: "This ERG is unique in that it is full of fresh perspectives. The world is constantly evolving, and as a company, we must evolve with it. Young adults challenge professional norms so that we can learn and adapt accordingly."

What do you hope that YounGen members will take away from the experience of mentoring interns and young professionals?

Kaitlin: "The intern mentorship program is a chance to invest and lead in a very approachable way, and I find that it's truly a growth opportunity for both the mentees and the mentors."

Montserrat: "We hope that our members leave YounGen knowing the power of networking and with the confidence to lead in any situation. In the Mexico branch of the IO chapter, we focus on recruitment and creating connections with our members in Chile and Columbia. These worldwide connections are important."

Do you have a call to action for anyone interested in joining an ERG?

Kaitlin: "YounGen is about networking, mentorship, rising leadership, building a brand, and getting connected, and it makes GM Financial feel a lot smaller and closer. If individuals are really wanting to grow in their career and connect with other people-beyond just their team-this is the place to do it."

Montserrat: "YounGen is a place for anyone seeking mentorship and professional guidance. It's a collaborative space for mentors and mentees to learn from each other through fun sessions and experiences."

YounGen is a vital pillar in GM Financial's array of Employee Resource Groups. When the next generation of employees are supported and poured into with such focused intentionality, there are no limits on what they can achieve.

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