Affinity Groups

Staff affinity groups, also known as employee resource groups (ERGs), are voluntary, employee-led groups that center and celebrate shared identities, interests, and experiences. Participation in staff affinity groups is open to all and supports our Institutional commitments focused on fostering a more diverse and inclusive culture for all members of the Harvard Business School (HBS) community.

Objectives & Benefits

Community Building

Affinity groups offer a sense of belonging and community for employees who share similar backgrounds or experiences.

Affinity groups often provide staff with opportunities to connect, meet, and network with staff members they might not otherwise engage with in their day-to-day roles. These connections can mitigate feelings of isolation and can increase feelings of engagement and belonging at work.

Professional Development

Staff affinity groups often provide programming and opportunities focused on skill-based development, networking, leadership, and career advancement. These events often include workshops, formal or informal mentoring programs, and guest speakers focused on professional growth and development.

Inclusion

Staff affinity groups play an important role in promoting diversity and inclusion efforts within the staff community. These groups partner closely with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to ensure all members of the staff community feel included and well positioned to thrive.

Employee Engagement

Research shows that participation in staff affinity groups often leads to higher rates of employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention. This is especially true amongst demographic groups that may be underrepresented. Employees who feel valued and included are more likely to be engaged and committed to the Institution.

Harvard Business School Groups

Asian Coalition for Employees Group

hbsace@hbs.edu

Black Staff Affinity Group

blackstaffaffinitygroup@hbs.edu

Family (LGBTQ+)

family@hbs.edu

Latinx Staff Affinity Group

LatinXAffinityGroup@groups.hbs.edu

Employee Resource Groups, Harvard University

The Harvard University Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) strive to promote equal opportunity, awareness, and understanding of Harvard’s rich and diverse community, centering on the experiences of staff and faculty from historically-marginalized groups. Our efforts foster an environment of excellence, inclusion, and equity.

African-American

The Association of Black Faculty, Administrators and Fellows (ABFAF) strives to support and advocate for the University's Black community. We provide a means of communication, interaction and counseling for members through seminars, discussion groups, and social gatherings.

Asian & Asian American

As one of the Employee Resource Groups, the Association of Harvard Asian and Asian American Faculty and Staff (AHAAAFS) was established to provide opportunities for networking, career development, awareness, and support for Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander faculty and staff. It also serves as a resource for the larger Asian and Asian American community at Harvard.

LatinX

The Association of Harvard Latinx Faculty and Staff (AHLFS) was founded in 2009, through grassroots efforts by a number of employees here at Harvard University. AHLFS was established to promote, support and advance the needs and goals of Latinx faculty and staff at Harvard University.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBTQ+)

All Harvard faculty and staff are welcome to join the Harvard Gender and Sexuality Caucus, which is open to students as well. Benefits of membership include access to the online membership database and participation in Harvard’s large LGBT community. There are also several networking and support groups that focus on organizing LGBT faculty and staff and helping them feel comfortable in the workplace. There are many additional LGBT networking groups at Harvard, generally directed at students but often welcoming to staff as well.

Native American

The Harvard University Native American Program’s mission is to bring together Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students and interested individuals from the Harvard community for the purpose of advancing the well-being of indigenous peoples through self-determination, academic achievement, and community service.

Women

The Committee on the Concerns of Women at Harvard (CCW) is a University-wide group, open to all faculty and staff. We strive to improve the professional and academic experiences of women at Harvard and provide opportunities to learn and network on campus through an annual calendar of events. We also provide leadership opportunities through service on our Executive Committee.

Other Resources

Advancing Racial Equity, Harvard Business School

We are resolved to take action to promote racial equity and diversity. We take seriously our responsibility to make business a force for good in our society. We know that structural racism has been ignored for too long. We hear the calls for the School to move swiftly to address the impacts of racism on our campus and in higher education.

Harvard Neighbors

The volunteer group Harvard Neighbors helps both newcomers and more established members become acquainted with one another, through a wide variety of activities including knitting and book groups, non-English language discussion groups, and outings to museums and recreational sites. They support a number of special interest groups that employees can take part in.

Office for Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging, Harvard Business School

Harvard Business School announced that Terrill L. Drake has been named as the School’s first chief diversity and inclusion officer (CDIO), effective September 1, 2021. We will share more details, including their landing page, as it develops.

Office for Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging, Harvard University

Under the leadership of Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Sherri Charleston, the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging acts as a convener, catalyst, capacity builder and community building resource. A wide array of workshops, events, and platforms for discussion is available to all staff – whether you belong to an underrepresented group, or are an ally.

Parents & Families

Harvard’s Office for Work/Life Balance helps Harvard’s diverse population find solutions to the daily challenges of personal, work, and family life. The office provides information and referrals to assist with all kinds of life events and to help employees manage unexpected disruptions of work or study. Thinking about day care options? Harvard has a wide variety of child care centers, including one right on the HBS campus.

Religion/Spirituality

The Harvard Chaplains nurture the spiritual and ethical lives of students, faculty and staff, and help them learn to listen to those who believe differently. This listing shows the many faith communities that meet at or near Harvard.

Spouses & Partners

Harvard Students’ Spouses and Partners Association (HSSPA) is open to the spouses and partners of all Harvard students, post-docs, faculty, and staff. Since 1896, HSSPA has provided a way to make friends and enjoy a sense of belonging within the Harvard community. HSSPA sponsors outings, social events, and playgroups.