General

SAN JOSE, CA (January 8, 2026) – Today, Governor Gavin Newsom delivered his State of the State address to the residents of California.

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) have become essential pillars of modern workplace culture, helping employees build community, strengthen belonging, and lead with authenticity. In Silicon Valley’s dynamic innovation ecosystem, where collaboration and inclusion fuel long-term competitiveness, ERGs are emerging as strategic engines for talent development, employee engagement, and organizational resilience.

On September 19, the EmergingTech Economic Research Network (EERN), a Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco initiative in collaboration with the Federal Reserve System Innovation Office, convened selected employers, workforce leaders, and researchers to examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping jobs and economic mobility, especially for low- and moderate-income (LMI) workers. SVLG was honored to be invited by the SF Fed team to participate.

The Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG) – the leading business association representing the innovation economy and its ecosystem – today announced that Katherine (Kat) Chan will join SVLG on a special assignment, serving as Chief of Staff to the CEO over the next quarter to spearhead SVLG’s Future Forward Phase 2.

The Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG) – the leading business association representing the innovation economy and its ecosystem – today announced the hire of Ashonte Smith as Director of State Policy, expanding the organization’s strategic advocacy efforts in Sacramento.

Three days into my first week with SVLG, I joined Women in Tech Connect with my colleague Isabel. The event, hosted by the Bay Area Women’s Employee Network (BayWEN) at Texas Instruments, was supported by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and the Society of Women Engineers, Santa Clara Valley. It was part of SVLG’s Employee Resource Group (ERG) Consortium, which aims to connect employee groups from across Silicon Valley companies to share best practices, build community, and advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. This particular event brought together women in the regional technology sector to share experiences and practical advice for building careers in the industry.

The Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG) – the leading business association representing the innovation economy and its ecosystem – is proud to welcome three new team members: Policy Fellows Chelsea Dixon and Ruhi Dhayagude, and Associate Isabel Migan.