Designing Belonging | Dr. Lola Adeyemo, Author & ERG Strategist

Episode notes

In this episode of Storytellers: Journeys, host Bernadette Hill sits down with Dr. Lola Adeyemo - speaker, ERG strategist, systems advocate, and author of Thriving in Intersectionality. Lola shares her journey from Nigeria to corporate America - an experience that revealed how workplaces often fail to reflect the identities and needs of immigrant professionals. Instead of shrinking, she chose to create space where none existed. Today, she helps organizations use Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) as powerful tools for belonging, inclusion, and retention. This conversation explores cultural identity, leadership, authenticity, and the ongoing work of designing spaces where women can thrive without compromise. Topics in this episode: • How Nigerian culture shaped Lola’s leadership • The shift from science to systems strategy • Why ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) matter • What “designing belonging” looks like in real life • How immigrant women can take up space and thrive

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