“Give yourself grace.”
That’s the first piece of advice Alexandria Chong and Nancy Straub share with new Employee Resource Group (ERG) leaders. Simple on the surface, the phrase speaks to their own work at Deutsche Bank, where they’ve helped create space for women to connect, be heard, and grow.
Both women play key roles in Women on Wall Street (WOWS), Deutsche Bank’s ERG dedicated to advancing women across the firm. “You’re driving change and being recognized for it,” they emphasize. “The work matters.”
Building Bridges
In practice, that work has often meant wearing what Forté describes as the Connector hat. For Chong and Straub, being a Connector is about acting as a social architect: breaking down silos, encouraging mentorship, and fostering friendships that sustain people throughout their careers.
The hat they wish they had more time for is the Community Builder. This role is less about introductions and more about cultivating belonging and designing experiences that make people feel valued and part of something bigger. “It’s not just showing up to events,” they note, “it’s being involved in the creative process that brings them to life.”
It’s not just showing up to events—it’s being involved in the creative process that brings them to life.
A Mentoring Program That Works
One initiative that embodies both hats is the WOWS One2One Mentoring Program. The program pairs mentees and mentors thoughtfully, based on career goals and interests, and supports those relationships with check-ins, communication tips, and celebratory events.
Mentees look to their mentors for career guidance, support in avoiding roles with limited advancement, and help navigating opportunities across the bank. Mentors, in turn, offer perspective, connections, and encouragement to keep those careers moving forward.
Tackling the “Messy Middle”
WOWS also takes aim at one of the most persistent challenges in finance: the “Messy Middle.” Women join the industry in equal numbers to men, but many step away at the mid-level stage, leaving fewer women role models in senior positions. That absence can be discouraging for those still climbing.
Through coffee chats, workshops, and speaker events that spotlight senior women, WOWS is working to change that narrative. By making role models visible and accessible, they are helping women imagine and achieve their next chapter.
Coming Back to Grace
At the end of the day, Chong and Straub return to where they started: the reminder to give yourself grace. Leading an ERG is not about doing everything perfectly, or even doing everything at all. It is about showing up, creating opportunities, and planting seeds of change that will grow in ways you may never fully see.
“Take it day by day,” they advise. “Because even the smallest actions—a conversation, an introduction, an idea—can ripple outward and transform lives.”
Take it day by day, Because even the smallest actions—a conversation, an introduction, an idea—can ripple outward and transform lives.
Alex and Nancy didn’t just talk about their work. They shared personal stories, busted myths, and gave a candid look at what ERG leadership is really like. Here’s what they had to say.
