Maxar Intelligence Woman’s Network ERG Spotlight

Maxar Intelligence Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are employee-led groups that foster diversity and inclusion by creating supportive communities for employees. The Maxar Women's Network (MWN) is an ERG dedicated to empowering women, promoting equity, and building strong professional connections.

Want to know more about the MWN? We've got you covered. In this Q&A, we sat down with MWN co-leaders Wendy Carande and Carly Sakumura to learn about the ERG's mission, impact, and the experiences of its members.

So, whether you're a Maxar employee looking to get more involved or simply curious about our commitment to diversity and inclusion, keep reading to discover the power of the MWN.

Understanding the MWN ERG

Q: What inspired the creation of your ERG at Maxar?

• Carly: MWN has roots throughout the history of Maxar in many different women's network groups. All of these aimed to build a network to foster community, bring awareness, and promote equity within the company.

Q: How does your ERG collaborate with other ERGs or departments at Maxar?

• Wendy: MWN understands that intersectionality is important, so we hold crossover events with other ERGs whenever possible. During Pride Month we held a crossover happy hour with MaxPride, and we plan to hold a crossover event with Somos for Hispanic Heritage Month.

Being a Part of the MWN ERG

Q: What skills or leadership opportunities have you developed through your involvement in the ERG?

• Wendy: Networking and forming relationships across departments is essential to success at any level within Maxar. MWN has allowed me to form connections with people who I don't interact with in my day-to-day job. I have built a more extensive and diverse network, which enables me to be a more effective leader.

Q: How does the ERG support employee development and career growth?

• Carly: We hold events that foster open discussions of career advancement, highlight different employees career paths (like our upcoming path to the C-suite event!), and aim to create a space where people can meet mentors and learn from other members.

The Impact of the MWN ERG on Maxar

Q: How does your ERG contribute to Maxar's overall culture of inclusion and diversity?

• Wendy: In my experience, women want to work at a company that supports diversity and inclusion efforts like ERGs. We want a place where we can feel safe and authentic. MWN events provide an atmosphere where women can show up and discuss difficult topics that are taboo in most workplace environments. But we also provide space for lighthearted discussion and bonding with other women at Maxar.

Q: Can you share an example of a successful initiative or project your ERG has undertaken?

• Carly: One example is our monthly Networking Lunch. The second Tuesday of each month, MWN members meet for an informal lunch in the Westminster office. We have members give a brief presentation on their role at Maxar, discussion topics, or make it a cross-ERG event. The format is simple but the consistency and easiness to attend has made it a great event.

MWN ERG and Culture

Q: How does your ERG help to foster a sense of belonging among employees?

• Carly: We aim to create an inclusive space where employees feel comfortable, meet more people across the company they may not in their day-to-day role, and can learn and grow together.

Q: What role does allyship play in your ERG's success?

• Wendy: Allyship is absolutely crucial to ERG success. We often get questions from men about whether they are "allowed" to attend our events and the answer is a firm yes! The topics we discuss are more useful if they don't stay within a silo. We want allies to engage with us so that our message and values spread to a wider audience.

Communicating the MWN ERG's Value

Q: What advice would you give to other companies looking toestablish ERGs?

• Wendy: Keep it simple. When you are getting started, establishing an easy, regular event builds interest and membership. For MWN, we hold monthly lunches. Sometimes we feature a speaker or discuss a special topic, and sometimes we just sit and eat together and talk about whatever is on our minds. Members look forward to these lunches and appreciate that it's a simple way to connect with each other. It's also a chance to gather feedback from members about the content they want to see. Often a topic will come up at a lunch that leads the steering committee to plan a larger event.