The latest from Cloudflare's seventeen Employee Resource Groups

In 2021, a new employee resource group (ERG) was launched at my company, focusing on supporting our global community of Iranian employees. The initiative, called Persianflare, aimed to create an inclusive environment where Iranian employees could connect with each other and share their unique experiences and challenges. The idea for the ERG came from a conversation between myself and another employee who was also of Iranian descent. We were discussing how we both felt isolated at work due to our cultural backgrounds and how it would be great if there was a way for us to connect with other Iranian employees at the company. After sharing our thoughts with the HR team, they expressed their support for creating an ERG specifically for Iranian employees. They encouraged us to reach out to other Iranian employees in the company and start building a community. Over the next few months, we began reaching out to other Iranian employees and inviting them to join the new ERG. To our surprise, we received an overwhelmingly positive response from many of our colleagues who were also interested in connecting with others from their cultural background. As more people joined the group, we started organizing regular virtual events and meetings where Iranian employees could come together to share their experiences, learn from each other, and provide support for one another. We also began collaborating with other ERGs within the company to organize joint events and initiatives aimed at promoting diversity, inclusion, and cultural awareness among all employees. One of the most impactful initiatives we launched was a mobile app called "Persianflare" that provided resources and support for Iranian immigrants in the United States. The app featured information on topics such as housing, employment, healthcare, and legal rights, as well as a community forum where users could connect with other members and share their experiences. The launch of the Persianflare app was a huge success and received widespread media coverage, both within the Iranian-American community and beyond. It also generated significant interest from other companies and organizations that were looking for ways to support their own employees who had immigrated to the United States from Iran. Overall, our experience with launching an ERG for Iranian employees has been incredibly positive and rewarding. We have seen firsthand how important it is for individuals to feel connected with others from their cultural backgrounds, especially in a diverse and global company like ours. Going forward, we are committed to continuing to support and grow the Persianflare community within our organization, as well as exploring new ways to promote cultural awareness and understanding among all employees. We believe that by fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected, regardless of their background or identity, we can help create a stronger and more successful company for everyone.