If there is one thing that the team at Braze knows well, it’s the power of building lasting relationships.
Braze’s customer engagement platform is known for powering lasting connections between consumers and brands they love. The organization enables companies to build and maintain relationships with their customers that foster growth and loyalty. Internally on the Braze team, this focus on connection is translated to a welcoming culture of inclusion, embracing nearly all the places and personal experiences that inform the lives of employees. With 10 ERGs and 15 global offices, Braze employees have built an interconnected community that celebrates the diverse perspectives that make their teams unique while bringing teamwide awareness to areas where their colleagues may need extra support.
One group hoping to build community while offering practical support to many Braze employees is the parenthood-centered ERG, Parents@Braze. The president of the ERG, Dan Exter, explains that parents, expecting parents and even coworkers of parents are welcome to join this group with a mission to better understand “the intricate balance of being a professional and a parent.”
Home life for parents can come with a massive variety of highs, lows, triumphs, challenges, learning moments and lifelong lessons — all of which can be difficult to set completely aside when walking in or logging on to work for the day. Tech professionals working on remote teams are well aware of the unavoidable overlap that exists between family and work life. In the spirit of Braze’s mission, Parents@Braze offers a special connection, a bridge that allows employees to bring more of their home life to work, and vice versa.
“While every ERG serves an important role in supporting and empowering employees, our group is uniquely centered around the journey of raising children while navigating careers,” said Exter.
Parents@Braze helps employees share more of themselves with their colleagues, and events like “Take Your Kids to Work Day” makes the bridge a two-way path, allowing parents to share a slice of their work life with their children. This event, as well as the various connections, support and advice that the ERG affords Braze employees, gives team members the opportunity to bring another side of themselves to the workplace, supported by Braze company values like “Be a Human,” “Embrace Curiosity” and “Take Your Seat at the Table.”
Built In spoke with Exter about Parents@Braze and how the ERG proudly reflects Braze’s mission and values.
Tell us about Parents@Braze’s mission.
Employees at Braze have a range of experiences related to parenting. They may already be a parent themselves or are preparing to grow their family, or perhaps they are a manager, peer or direct report to a parent and want to better understand their situation. Regardless of their experience or situation, our Parents@Braze ERG is meant to provide support to anyone with a relation to parenting in the workplace, liaise with the people team on parenting matters and organize programs and events that enrich parents’ lives at Braze.
Is there a recent Parents@Braze event or initiative that comes to mind, and what did it mean to you?
One event that comes to mind is the relaunch of Take Your Kids to Work Day. The heart of Take Your Kids to Work Day lies in fostering a bridge between the worlds of work and family. It’s an opportunity to share the environments where we spend much of our time, showing our children what we do and the values and passion behind our work. At its core, this day celebrates the importance of connecting our professional lives with those we love most, which is something we truly value at Braze.
What makes Parents@Braze and its work different from other company groups?
Our parenting-focused ERG is more than a network; it’s an active community that understands the intricate balance of being a professional and a parent. What sets us apart is our shared mission to provide practical support, emotional encouragement and meaningful resources tailored specifically for parents and caregivers. Whether it’s exchanging tips on managing work-life balance, advocating for family-friendly workplace policies or celebrating milestones big and small, we’re here to uplift one another through the highs and challenges of parenting.
Our ERG stands out because it’s rooted in empathy, collaboration and action. We’re not just here to talk about parenting challenges — we work to create solutions, foster connections and make our workplace a supportive environment for all families.
“Our parenting-focused ERG is more than a network; it’s an active community that understands the intricate balance of being a professional and a parent.”
How do you bring the work of Parents@Braze to your personal life?
I am a parent, so I live the day-to-day of what our ERG stands for and supports. The network that our ERG brings to other parents, both new and old, is invaluable. To have a space where we can share memorable moments, seek out tips or advice and then integrate this into our day-to-day lives as parents is an incredible resource.
What are some of the most impactful initiatives the team has put on that bring its mission to life?
Our Take Your Kids to Work Day has quickly evolved into a global event across Braze offices. Re-launched in New York City headquarters, it was adopted in our London, Sydney and Singapore offices. As part of this initiative, we hosted engaging, fun and educational activities for children of all ages, showcasing Braze’s support to parents and caregivers integrating our home lives with our professions.
How does Parents@Braze’s work fit into the larger mission of the company?
Braze is all about creating meaningful connections. The future we want to shape as a global organization is one where people from diverse backgrounds and experiences can thrive and have rewarding careers, and that includes parents and anyone with parenting or caregiving responsibilities. “Be a Human” and “Embrace Curiosity” are two company values that stand out within our ERG.
Whether you are directly or indirectly involved with our ERG, we welcome all parents to enter our community to share their home lives with us. From first-time parents to seasoned caregivers and single parents to multi-generational households, we embrace everyone’s journey and have created a community that makes everyone feel welcome and comfortable to share their lives outside of the workplace.
What does an ERG team meeting look like?
Within the ERG leadership team, we all understand that we are parents, Braze employees and then members of an ERG. With that said, prioritization and organization are key to ensuring that our meetings are efficient and effective when we have the time available to sync, have a productive discussion and leave with actionable next steps.
