Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are an important way Danone employees—Danoners—bring our commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion to life. With eight ERGs in place since 2010, these employee-run groups provide opportunities for Danoners to connect, engage and support each other while helping nurture a company culture that appreciates the power of diverse perspectives.
Danone’s ERGs also unlock access to mentorship, networking, and valuable professional development opportunities—all of which can lead to increased job satisfaction, stronger engagement, and higher retention rates.
BOLD—Black Organization for Leadership at Danone—launched in 2020 with the mission to support inclusive diversity through recruiting, connecting and developing Black employees and leaders at all levels, further enabling Danone North America's business goals and initiatives. Early activities included celebrations of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth, education series on Black history, and holiday events.
Since then, BOLD has evolved in scope, deepening engagement among Danoners with programs and speakers focused on professional and personal development, Black culture and history, current events and cultural hot topics. Ongoing BOLD activities include book clubs, holiday celebrations and speakers from within and outside Danone, as well as important conversations available to all Danoners about race related to current events.
BOLD was even instrumental in Danone recognizing Juneteenth as a company holiday beginning in 2022 and hosted a session to teach Danoners about this important event in American history.
BOLD Celebrates Black History Month
Beginning in 2021, BOLD has created and presented a month-long campaign every February to offer its members—and all Danoners—special activities, discussions and other opportunities to celebrate Black History Month (BHM).
BOLD’s past BHM activities have included programs focused on Black health and wellness, Black history, the importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and contributions of Black businesses to society. In 2021, BHM was highlighted by a visit from world-class athlete Carl Lewis, who was a Silk spokesperson at the time. Carl spoke about his experiences as a nine-time Black gold medalist, his journey going plant-based, and ideas for supporting the Black community.
For 2024, BHM focuses on African Americans & the Arts. Weekly events highlight the influence and impact Black Americans had and continue having in the world of art through music, visual art and culinary. One highlight is a virtual cooking class where Danoners will taste and learn about a variety of foods and their connections to Black culture.
Community Service
Beyond BHM, BOLD engages Danoners in various activities to serve their communities. In 2021, BOLD held its first annual YBS Kids Back to School Supply Drive, collecting items and raising needed funds for YBS Kids, which teaches young people cultural history, life skills, and community involvement to empower them for a better future. Each year, BOLD invites Danoners to shop from a wish list to provide needed school supplies, books and even physical education equipment to students and schools in need. Since 2021, the annual effort has raised more than $6,700 in addition to donated backpacks and supplies.
BOLD also hosts an annual winter clothing drive, which has collected hundreds of coats, gloves, scarves, hats, boots and other cold weather gear for organizations in California, Colorado, New York and Texas.
Professional Development & Recruiting
Since 2020, several BOLD members have participated in the National Black MBA Conference. These Danoners attend seminars and networking sessions to support their own development and growth, but also to share with colleagues when they return to the office. BOLD has also used the Conference as a recruiting opportunity and a chance to increase awareness of Danone and our brands.
BOLD also has partnered with targeted Historically Black Colleges and Universities and is working to expand Danone’s partnership with Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) to strengthen Danone’s undergraduate and MBA recruitment efforts.
Learn more about Danone’s DEI efforts here, and watch for more website stories about our ERGs.
