ERGs encourage you to come as you are: Meet Elasticians Unidos

Employee resource groups, or Elastician resource groups as we like to call them, are formal groups within Elastic that are aligned with shared identities, experiences, interests, affinities, and allyships. 

We formalized these groups in 2021, but they’ve been a part of our culture since 2016. The formalization means that they are now ensured structure, budget, and a voice based on any dimension of diversity, identity, allyship, and advocacy. This was an important step in our global diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy. 

Each ERG has their own mission and goals, but as a whole they want to create community and belonging around shared interests and experiences. 

Our Core ERGs

We have seven formal ERGs: The Accessibles, Blasticians, ElastAsians, Elasticians Unidos, Rainbow Stack, Mil-Asticians, and Women of Elastic. We’ll be spotlighting them over the next year as they relate to culture or commemorative events and holidays.

Elasticians Unidos: Who are they?

September 15 through October 15 is Hispanic Heritage month—or as we like to call it, Elasticians Unidos Month. It’s celebrated in the United States as a way to honor the achievements and contributions of Hispanic Americans on U.S. history and culture. We’re taking the celebrations globally, though, and welcoming all that wish to participate in events throughout the month. 

This year, the ERG is hosting a few different events including a fireside chat with Latinitas, an organization that empowers girls to innovate through media and technology, an interactive event that showcases cultural phrases and their direct translations, and two volunteer opportunities for members living in the Americas and EMEA.

These types of events are a great way to meet other Elasticians who identify with or have an interest in learning more about different cultures. That’s why Ana Cervantes, Associate, Employer Brand and first generation Mexican-American, joined the ERG—to bond with others. 

“I got a sense of belonging, that your culture and heritage is celebrated,” she says. “I appreciate knowing that there are people that have a similar background to me that I can relate to.”

Ana is excited to learn about other cultures, and to showcase her own. 

“I hope to gain more knowledge on other cultures and to showcase that we are all interconnected,” she says.

Ana Cervantes joined the ERG in May 2023 as a co-lead. Last year during Elasticians Unidos month she joined a cooking spree event where several Elasticians shared their favorite cultural dish or drink. She showed the group how to make a Michelada, which is a Mexican chilled drink made with beer, lime juice, Clamato juice, assorted sauces, spices and topped with chamoy, and tajin around the rim.

 "It feels amazing to know you're helping make Elastic more inclusive and keeping diverse cultures connected," Ana says.

It can be hard to come from a different background so building a sense of camaraderie within the ERG is helpful. Ana was introduced to our Source Code when applying and the “Come as YOU are” tenet resonated with her, something that the ERGs help to bring to life. 

“I may have an accent at times and may not have the strongest 'Corporate Vocabulary',” Ana says. “But that took a lot of pressure off and I feel confident and accepted  with how I speak.”

Fabio Martínez, Commercial Account Executive, sees Elasticians Unidos as a way to acknowledge, on a wider level, that there is power and influence in the Latino community. 

“This power comes from our heritage, the values and experiences we bring directly or through our families,” he says. “I'm an immigrant and live here, but it can be seen everywhere Latinos/Latinas have gone. They bring grit, tenacity, and dreams for a better life. Those are values every society needs.”

To accomplish their goals and build a community, the ERG has a dedicated Slack channel and monthly meetings to connect, on top of the events they put on. 

As YOU are starts here. Join the Elastic team.