Empowering Belonging

Joanne Lockwood is joined by Alyssa Dver, founder of the ERG Leadership Alliance and the American Confidence Institute, for a wide-ranging conversation about what belonging really looks like and how organisations can sustain it.

They explore how fear and defensive behaviours can shape culture, why psychological safety matters for performance, and how managers can listen to understand rather than simply respond. Along the way, Joanne reflects on approaching 60 and the shift from accumulating relationships and obligations to focusing on what is sufficient and meaningful.

A central focus is the practical reality of employee resource groups: the need for clear fundamentals like purpose, who the group serves, decision-making structures, and guardrails. Alyssa explains why executive sponsorship is pivotal and often under-trained, and why ERGs need to translate belonging into outcomes and measures that organisational leaders will take seriously. The episode closes with an emphasis on community, resilience, and taking action together through challenging social and political times.