SOMOS EA is EA’s global beacon of Hispanic and Latinx knowledge, passion and skill.

SOMOS EA: a retrospective on EA's Hispanic and Latinx Employee Resource Group

Influencing culture, impacting games, changing lives

October 10, 2024

SOMOS EA is our company's global beacon of Hispanic and Latinx knowledge, passion and skill. This entirely volunteer-led Employee Resource Group (ERG) champions our commitment to diversity and inclusion, promoting a culture where Hispanic/Latinx employees and allies can thrive, contributing their unique talents to craft the most authentic and inspiring games for players around the globe.

Whether that's creating multi-dimensional, layered Legends during the development of gripping characters in a category leader such as Apex Legends, or supporting the world-building efforts for players and fans to truly feel the heart of Mexico City pumping through the Lovestruck expansion pack in the genre-defining masterpiece that is The Sims 4.

And while EA has always valued diversity and is home to several ERGs, up until eight years ago there wasn't a singular, focused platform where Hispanic and Latinx employees could come together to celebrate their cultures, share their experiences, and contribute their perspectives to the company's initiatives.

So In 2016, an idea formed, and from there we saw the formation of what is now called SOMOS EA. Since then, their contributions, influence and outright impact have been felt in nearly every single product, game, or idea relating to Hispanic and Latinx cultures at EA.

And it is all thanks to the hearts and minds of its growing global membership.

"Life at EA is very busy, and given that SOMOS EA is 100% a volunteer effort, we are very lucky to have such an invested and dedicated community."

Luza Jaramillo and Cristina Rufeisen of SOMOS EA.

Turning ideas into reality

Cristina Rufeisen is a Senior Director of AI & Transformation Programs at EA. She drives innovative technologies and strategies that empower EA's global workforce to work more efficiently, enabling game creators to bring world-class games and interactive experiences to players.

Cristina is also a co-chair of SOMOS EA. She, alongside other key members around the globe, volunteer their passion and skill to any across the company who may have need of their rich, unique, and authentic lens.

"I remember feeling very energized during our kick-off event, where I was first introduced to the concept of an ERG," says Cristina. "Meeting our fellow long-time Latinx/Hispanic employees who shared their personal stories and journeys was truly inspiring. Their passion for forming the SOMOS leadership team was contagious, and I knew immediately that I wanted to be a part of it."

With the first building blocks of passion and inspiration in place, Cristina and her fellow ERG members got to work.

"Since participation is entirely voluntary, we needed to inspire colleagues to invest their time and energy amidst their busy schedules," says Cristina.

They tackled this by organizing engaging events and clearly communicating how involvement could enrich both their personal and professional lives. Cristina and her team at SOMOS EA were always amazed by the level of energy and commitment seen across their community. During the difficult moments when volunteer levels dipped, this energy kept them moving forward.

"Life at EA is very busy, and given that SOMOS EA is 100% a volunteer effort, we are very lucky to have such an invested and dedicated community," says Cristina.

Invested and dedicated. These two key words truly describe the spirit of SOMOS EA. As a purely volunteer effort, this group has since gone on to host more than 200 events and counting. And their impact and influence is felt throughout the company.

"One of our proudest achievements is the annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration which has grown in participation each year and has significantly increased cultural awareness within EA."

Impact and Influence

"One of our proudest achievements is the annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration which has grown in participation each year and has significantly increased cultural awareness within EA," says Cristina. "We have events which are global/remote as well as those that are local and in person at each of our chapters, ranging from cultural showcases, guest speakers, development workshops and networking opportunities. In so many of these events, time and again, I feel a deep sense of connection and gain valuable insights."

A recent highlight was the team's release of the SOMOS Cookbook - a beautiful collection of family recipes sourced directly from our SOMOS EA members, which we published internally throughout the company.

And to Global Communications Lead for SOMOS EA Luza Jaramillo, Director of Security GRC in EA, seeing the community grow has been a point of pride.

"Through active engagement with the community, professional organizations, strategic partners, and People Experience, we've supported the organization to reach 9.3% of Hispanic/Latinx representation as reported in the recent Impact Report," says Luza.

In addition, SOMOS EA has also consistently supported organizations such as the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), Mission Scholars, Latinas in Tech, and Latinitas. These partnerships drive community impact, professional development, and help attract the next generation of Hispanic and Latinx talent.

In terms of games, SOMOS EA has partnered with Maxis on The Sims, with Respawn to help bring authenticity to certain Apex Legends, and with Madden and EA SPORTS FC to create in-game elements as well as to shape game related events for the Hispanic/Latinx player base.

"This beautiful community is more than just ERG work: it's a supporting network who has had my back during tough times, and has made my life at EA very enjoyable to this day."

Finding your people

At its core, SOMOS EA is a group of passionate and skilled volunteers comprising 23 global and local leaders who are bound by a desire to celebrate and authentically represent Hispanic and Latinx culture. And the formation of this group has had a lasting impact on its global membership.

"Being part of SOMOS EA has been incredibly meaningful to me," says Cristina. "Through the ERG, I've had opportunities to develop leadership skills, network with colleagues across different departments whom I might not have met otherwise, and contribute to initiatives that align with my values. It has provided a sense of community and belonging, making EA feel not just like a workplace but a place where my culture and identity are celebrated."

Luza agrees.

"SOMOS EA is one of the reasons why I'm still around after 10 years," says Luza. "I see the SOMOS EA community as a big familia: a group of friends and colleagues that I can tap for anything from work related to just a light chat after a long day. I've found mentors through the years who have shared their experiences with me and have helped me grow in my career.

"Colleagues who have shared different perspectives on work challenges or who have celebrated my successes. SOMOS EA friends even hosted a warm baby shower for me when I was expecting my daughter (sending a sweet onesie with the SOMOS EA logo for her)," adds Luza. "This beautiful community is more than just ERG work: it's a supporting network who has had my back during tough times, and has helped make my life at EA very enjoyable to this day. I'm proud of being part of SOMOS EA as I know we're making a big impact on others and on our Hispanic/Latinx community."

"We're excited about the future and remain committed to fostering inclusion, influencing our products in meaningful ways, and supporting the professional growth of our community."

The future of SOMOS EA

As we look to the future, we are inspired by their unwavering commitment to inclusivity and empowerment, knowing that together, we can create games that resonate with the rich diversity of our world.

By amplifying the voices of the Hispanic and Latinx community, SOMOS EA not only enriches our company culture but also forges deeper connections with our global audience of players and fans.

"The success of SOMOS EA is a collective achievement made possible by the passion and dedication of our members and allies," says Cristina. "We're excited about the future and remain committed to fostering inclusion, influencing our products in meaningful ways, and supporting the professional growth of our community."

'I'm truly grateful for having the opportunity to spend time out of my work to help shape SOMOS EA, for the continued support from my managers to allow me be part of DEI initiatives and also for the support from the Executive team to ensure that DEI is part of our EA fabric," says Luza.

Ready to make your play? Join EA to help us change the game. Click here if you want to get more involved or learn about our people and culture.

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