Building Community Through Our STAR Groups: Where Diversity Meets Growth at InfoTrust

Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes
March 4, 2025
Building Community Through Our STAR Groups: Where Diversity Meets Growth at InfoTrust

At InfoTrust,‌ our greatest strength lies in the diverse perspectives and experiences of our people. This isn’t just a statement—it’s a commitment we live by every day through our STAR Groups (Supporting Teams And Resources). These employee-led communities serve as pillars of our inclusive culture, creating spaces where every voice is heard and valued.

To truly understand the value of our STAR Groups, let’s first explore why they exist and what they aim to achieve. Similar to Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) at other organizations, STAR Groups provide essential resources to our employees. However, they have grown into something much more meaningful—driving connections, support, and influence across InfoTrust. Each STAR Group must:

  • Align with our core values – We take our values seriously at InfoTrust! (Check out this video.)
  • Provide resources – Ensuring employees have access to support, knowledge, and tools.
  • Foster belonging – Creating an inclusive environment where employees can connect and thrive.
  • Connect to the business – Offering a space for business leaders to engage with employees, ensuring diverse perspectives shape company policies and decisions.

Our first STAR Group, LeanIn, was founded in 2012 to provide a safe space for women at InfoTrust to discuss challenges and share resources. Over the years, this initiative has evolved into three distinct groups (and growing!), each designed to support InfoTrusters in their journey of connection, growth, and cultural engagement.

LeanIn: Empowering Professional Growth

Our LeanIn Circle draws inspiration from Sheryl Sandberg’s revolutionary work while creating its own unique impact at InfoTrust. This monthly gathering serves as a powerful platform where women come together to address professional challenges, share resources, and build lasting connections. Through focused discussions on relevant topics such as how to say no, how to promote yourself, and negotiation, the circle creates a supportive environment where members can learn, grow, and thrive together.

“Our main goal is to foster a comforting place for women to share their experiences and learnings along their professional journey. Each meeting is centered around a specific theme, but I would argue that the most important part of our discussions are getting to hear everyone’s perspective, what challenges they have faced, and what advice they have to offer. This is an opportunity for us to drop our shields and have honest conversations that we may not be able to have otherwise. Whether you are someone who just wants to listen in or contribute your perspective, there is always something to learn from one another in this group!” – LeanIn Leader Silvia Castro

CELEBRATE: Embracing Our Diverse Journeys

CELEBRATE (Celebrating Each Other, Leveraging Equality, Bridging Resources to Activism, Training, & Education) stands at the forefront of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. This community goes beyond simple acknowledgment of our differences—it actively champions them. Through regular gatherings, members share their personal stories, exchange insights, and contribute educational resources that reflect their unique experiences.

What makes CELEBRATE special is its focus on active participation and shared learning. Whether through enlightening presentations on topics such as unconscious bias, or the Lunar New Year and Juneteenth or thought-provoking discussions, the group creates opportunities for meaningful dialogue that deepens our understanding of each other’s perspectives and strengthens our sense of belonging.

I joined CELEBRATE because I strongly believe that every individual’s background and unique differences should be honored and celebrated. Embracing diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives not only enriches our personal interactions but also strengthens our collective capabilities as a team. I wanted to join the group to contribute to an environment where these differences are recognized and appreciated. I believe this inclusivity fosters innovation, creativity and mutual understanding so we can continue to build a welcoming environment for everyone.” – CELEBRATE Member Courtney Krepline

Learners League: Where Curiosity Meets Community

“Grow Every Day”—this motto perfectly encapsulates the spirit of our Learners League. This dynamic group transforms personal development into a collective journey of discovery. Through their active Slack channel and monthly meetings, members share everything from professional insights to personal learning experiences from content they’ve consumed. Books, podcasts, movies … you name it. Anything is worthy of discussion in this hungry-to-learn community.

What sets Learners League apart is its commitment to making learning both accessible and rewarding. Members can participate in ways that suit their schedule, whether by attending monthly meetings or sharing insights in the Slack channel. The group even adds an element of fun with monthly Amazon gift card rewards for active participants, though participation is always optional and flexible.

“Learners League isn’t your typical bookclub,” says Learners League leader Natalie Shawver. “It’s a safe place to share something that impacted you over the previous month. In one recent meeting, our discussion ranged from gardening and grief to classic literature and favorite recipes. There’s no shortage of conversation, and this group is all about being inquisitive. We leave knowing something we didn’t know before, and more importantly, making a connection with someone on a fun or interesting topic. In a world where we are constantly consuming content at every turn, it’s refreshing to share what we are taking in with coworkers who are curious.” 

Join Us in Making a Difference

These STAR Groups represent more than just employee resources—they’re a testament to InfoTrust’s commitment to creating an environment where everyone can bring their authentic selves to work. We’re looking for individuals who not only value diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging but want to actively contribute to building a more inclusive workplace. 

If you’re excited about joining a company that puts DEIB at the forefront of its culture and provides meaningful opportunities for community building and personal growth, we’d love to hear from you. At InfoTrust, you won’t just find a job—you’ll find a community committed to celebrating differences and growing together. 

Want to be part of the InfoTrust team?

With four offices, we’re rapidly growing through our work with some of the largest multinational brands in the world. Our team actually lives out its core values of diversity, respect, impact, growth, innovation, and ownership.

Author

  • Lisa Wilms is the Head of Talent Acquisition and Employee Experience at InfoTrust, bringing more than 10 years of experience in talent acquisition. An expert in hiring best practices, Lisa excels at helping managers define their needs, collaborating across teams, and attracting top-tier talent. Her thought leadership has been featured in Inc., and she frequently shares her expertise with university students through guest lectures and career talks. Lisa is deeply passionate about creating an inclusive and engaging workplace. She leads InfoTrust’s employee engagement surveying and action planning, ensuring that team feedback translates into meaningful improvements. She also spearheads the company’s mentorship program, supports STAR groups, and organizes cultural events that foster a strong sense of belonging. Additionally, Lisa has initiated and supported professional meetups and volunteered with organizations focused on attracting underrepresented groups to the tech industry.

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Last Updated: March 4, 2025