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In a dynamic installment of Hispanic Executive’s ERG learning and development series—presented in partnership with DRR Advisors and Latinos in Sports—Latino leaders from across the sports industry gathered to share best practices, lessons learned, and ideas for the future of ERGs.
Moderated by DRR Advisors President Dr. Robert Rodriguez, the conversation featured insights from three professionals leading employee resource group efforts within their organizations:
- Natalia Rodriguez, HR Professional, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Under Armour
- Nick Clarke, Manager of Partner Activation at the San Francisco 49ers
- Jonathan Martinez, Vice President of Revenue Planning & Analytics at the Las Vegas Raiders
Hispanic Executive’s Head of Audience and Engagement, Vianni Lubus, kicked off the event.
Here are a few of the top takeaways:
Reimagining the Events Strategy
Too often, ERGs are reduced to “food, flag, and fun.” The panelists explored ways to shift that narrative through strategic, high-impact programming.
Nick Clarke noted that National Hispanic Heritage Month lands during football season—creating a unique opportunity to highlight Latino culture in powerful, visible ways.
“We’re the only group that really gets to have a heritage month within our football season,” Clarke explained. “That brings exciting opportunities—from collaborating with game entertainment teams to curating authentic showcases at halftime and pregame. Even down to music selection—we want more than just your normal jock jams.”
Building Latino Talent Pipelines Beyond the Field
At Under Armour, Natalia Rodriguez is helping reframe how young professionals view careers in the sports industry.
“We want people to look beyond just the game-day action,” she said. “Sports retail is an ecosystem that includes human resources, product management, engineering—so many paths people might not think of when they picture working in sports.”
She emphasized the importance of mentorship and career exploration to ensure Latinos are represented across departments and leadership roles.
Making Data-Driven ERG Decisions
Jonathan Martinez shared how his team partnered with the DEI office to build data tools that measure ERG engagement and impact.
“We ran a satisfaction survey to better understand membership, growth, and what success looks like,” he said. “The results were shared with department heads and the executive team—it’s been a game changer for visibility and support.”
Dr. Rodriguez stressed the importance of tracking the right metrics:
“More and more ERGs are looking to make data-informed decisions—whether that’s determining what to prioritize, understanding member needs, or simply establishing a baseline to measure progress.”
The next Latino ERG Exchange promises to continue the conversation on advancing DEI initiatives and promoting the success of Latino business leaders in America.
