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Strengthening Dana-Farber’s Caregivers Alliance ERG with Pacesetters

May 19, 2026 Leslie Forde (She/Her/Hers), CEO & Founder, Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs LLC

“My wife’s parents watch our kids, and we’re worried it’s not sustainable with their changing health. How do other parents find childcare?”

“My aging parents need so much help, I don’t know how to fit it in while raising young kids.”

“I want to grow in my career, but how can I make the time? What are other parents doing?”

When Dana-Farber asked members of its Caregivers Alliance Employee Resource Group what they needed, parents and caregivers were ready to talk. Their stories pointed to a common reality: caregiving has become more complex, and employees want support that reflects the lives they are actually living.

That need was already on the radar for Ian Matthew-Clayton, Vice President of Inclusion and Engagement at Dana-Farber. To help strengthen the Caregivers Alliance ERG, Dana-Farber partnered with Leslie Forde, CEO of Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs, a Pacesetter company. The collaboration combined Dana-Farber’s innovation-driven approach with the specialized expertise and agility Pacesetter partnerships are designed to provide.

Listening to Shape the ERG’s Next Chapter

The work began with listening: reviewing existing data, gathering employee input, and hearing directly from caregivers across roles and experiences. Employees spoke about parenting, elder care, caring for spouses, and navigating multiple responsibilities at once.

That input helped clarify what the ERG needed to do next: better reflect the full range of caregiving experiences across the organization and create a more sustainable model for connection and support.

Building a Stronger ERG Framework

Together, Dana-Farber, Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs, and ERG leaders strengthened the foundation of the Caregivers Alliance ERG. The work included refining the group’s charter and mission, clarifying its role, and shaping a more intentional approach to programming and engagement.

The result was a more sustainable hybrid model that blends expert-led programming, employee-led conversation, and community-building. The engagement also helped create stronger alignment between ERG leaders and Human Resources, connecting employee insight with organizational structure and support.

Expanding Reach and Relevance

The partnership also helped identify opportunities for collaboration with other ERGs, recognizing that caregiving often overlaps with other identities and experiences. That created more opportunities to share resources, build connection, and extend the ERG’s reach across the organization.

Manager support also emerged as an important part of the strategy, especially for employees in on-site and 24/7 roles, where caregiving pressures can be especially hard to navigate.

A Pacesetter Partnership in Practice

This work is a strong example of what Pacesetter partnerships can make possible: bringing targeted expertise to an emerging need and helping organizations respond with focus and speed.

For Dana-Farber, the goal was not to build a new ERG, but to strengthen one that already mattered deeply to employees. Today, the Caregivers Alliance ERG has a clearer structure, stronger alignment, and a more sustainable path forward.

Meet the Author

Traditional advice about self-care, productivity and leadership, doesn’t factor in the dynamic nature of caregiving. And generic wellness programs and apps don’t work for everyone. After my second maternity leave and return to work, I completely burned out because it was impossible to manage my health or career in the same way. I still had my persistence and ambition but lacked discretionary time. So, I created the Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs® framework and research studies to find the interventions that matter. Especially for women, who are at greater health and career risk after kids. Now, I help organizations to accelerate retention and engagement with proven programs, tailored for moms, parents and caregivers.

We work with leading organizations in healthcare, education, government and tech like MIT, the Barr Foundation, Scholastic, HubSpot, and Merck. I have used research to inform growth and innovation for over 20 years in some of the world’s most admired companies. And for the past decade, I’ve held leadership roles in media, research and technology companies serving the childcare, eldercare, mental health, and education sectors.

I preach inclusion and growth for people with the quietest voices. My writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Slate, Parents Magazine, Directorship and have been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, CNN, Fast Company, SHRM, and Employee Benefits News, among others.

Connect with Leslie

leslie forde headshot
Leslie Forde (She/Her/Hers)

CEO & Founder,

Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs LLC

Email Leslie LinkedIn

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