Vantage Data Centers' Affinity Groups

Bold Font Coaching is proud to work with Vantage Data Centers, a leading global provider of hyperscale data center campuses. With their permission, we share an inside look at the Affinity Group work that Bold Font has been focusing on in an advisory capacity within the 1,800-person organization. We spoke with David Lopes, Director of Data Analytics - People and Culture, and Sharif Metwalli, Global CFO and an Affinity Group Executive Advisor.

 1. What are Affinity Groups, and how do they differ from Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)?

David Lopes (DL): Affinity groups and Employee Resource Groups are similar, but ERGs are more formalized and often linked to the organization's business goals. Affinity Groups are broader, focusing on shared identities or interests, while ERGs can be a specific type of affinity group with a more structured approach and organizational support. 

 2.  What is the percentage of Vantage DC's employee base that participates in Affinity Groups?

DL: We have about 400 members participating in Affinity Groups who attend physical or virtual events.

 3. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind the Mental Health & Well-Being Affinity Group and how frequently they meet?

DL: Vantage-DC's Mental Health & Well-Being Group was established to open the conversation within Vantage about the importance of good mental health by providing resources, information, and support. It aims to create a safe space to break down biases surrounding mental health and well-being. ​We come together once a month, partnering with Bold Font to deliver a 1-hour session on topics relating to mental health, which is open to all Vantage employees. In addition, other meetings, such as panels discussing mental health, take place throughout the year.

 4. What other Affinity Groups are popular at Vantage-DC?

DL: We have four other global Affinity Groups led by our employees: the Black Employee Network, Vantage Veterans, the Muslim Employee Network, the Women's Network, and one regional group, the North America LGBTQ+ community.

 5. Sharif, as a Leadership Team member, can you share the impact you've observed of Affinity Groups on Vantage-DC's company culture?

Sharif Metwalli: Being an executive sponsor of an Affinity group has shown me firsthand how these communities create space for connection and belonging, one which might be lost in a highly dispersed group of employees. Simply put, they provide a safe forum, giving voice to experiences and perspectives that might otherwise go unheard. In turn, this fosters deeper understanding within the wider organization, enabling us to appreciate diversity of thought, grow as individuals, and cultivate a truly collaborative culture.

Lauran Arledge, CEO of Bold Font Coaching and Consulting, has been an observer and participant in these Affinity Groups for two years and shares her experience from an advisor's perspective.

Lauran Arledge: It has been an honor to work with Vantage's Affinity Groups over the past two years. Vantage has a fantastic team of employees who are exceptionally smart, curious, and passionate. Our calls regularly include 60-70 employees from all over the world. The support, advice, and caring they show to one another is like nothing I have seen in a dispersed workforce. For organizations struggling to create a sense of community and belonging, Vantage offers a valuable blueprint for how investing in employee-led Affinity Groups can reap tremendous benefits.