4 takeaways from Driven’s Women’s ERG panel: “Give to gain”
A panel discussion for Driven Brands’ Women Employee Resource Group (ERG) explores how thoughtful giving fuels personal growth, prevents burnout, and strengthens teams.
To celebrate Women’s History Month, the Driven Brands Women’s Employee Resource Group (ERG) held a panel discussion virtually and in the Charlotte HQ office on March 18.
The conversation brought together Dr. Rebecca Culver-Turner and Amber Dunn to explore what it means to “give to gain.”
Dr. Culver-Turner is a seasoned therapist, educator, administrator, organizational consultant, and founder of the Culver-Turner Institute. Amber has helped individuals and teams across the country navigate growth, transitions and complex challenges and currently serves as Program Director at NXTUS, an entrepreneurial support organization helping founders grow scalable companies.
Here are four key takeaways from the conversation.
1. You can’t pour from an empty cup
For many women, giving comes naturally. But the panelists quickly pointed out that giving without boundaries can quickly lead to burnout.
“We’ve been programmed to give, give, give,” Amber reflected. “And that sometimes comes at a big cost to our health.”
Instead of viewing giving as something to push through at all costs, she encouraged a mindset shift: “We’ve got to give to ourselves first, fill up our own cups, and make sure that we are solid as individuals.”
In practice, this can be as simple as taking a few minutes each day to check in: How am I feeling? What do I realistically have to give today?
The reminder: Sustainable giving starts with self-awareness.
2. Balance is the goal
Building strong relationships at work is essential, but over-accommodating in the name of connection can lead to self-abandonment. Dr. Culver-Turner described the tension many professionals experience: “Sometimes we silo ourselves off and don’t contribute. And on the other side, we can overextend or over-accommodate just to try to build connections.”
Neither extreme is effective. Staying quiet can limit your impact, while constantly saying yes can lead to burnout and a loss of identity. The goal, instead, is to find a steady middle ground—one where you can both contribute and stay anchored in who you are.
The reminder: Dr. Culver-Turner describes balance as a state where you feel calm, curious, connected, clear, confident, and courageous. And it isn’t something you will achieve overnight.
3. Use your voice (and help others use theirs)
Speaking up in meetings, especially in male-dominated environments, can be challenging. But the panelists emphasized that building your voice often starts with small, intentional actions.
For Dr. Culver-Turner, one simple tactic made a big difference: “If I speak up within the first five or ten minutes, then I’m more likely to participate throughout the meeting.”
But the panelists also stressed that using your voice isn’t just about speaking for yourself. It’s also about creating space for others. That could look like reinforcing a colleague’s ideas or asking questions to invite other women into the conversation.
Both Amber and Dr. Culver-Turner emphasized the importance of communicating directly.
“Clear is kind,” Amber explained. “Being direct doesn’t make you difficult. It makes you effective.”
The reminder: Small shifts can transform your individual confidence.
4. Pause before you say yes
It’s easy to default to “yes”, especially for those who identify as people pleasers. But those immediate yeses can come at a cost. Dr. Culver-Turner spoke to the internal pressure many feel to take everything on and how over time, constantly saying yes without boundaries can lead to frustration.
“We don’t have to be the hero,” she explained. “Saying yes too quickly can often just build resentment on the back end.”
The panelists encouraged creating space between the ask and the answer to allow for more thoughtful decision-making and to prevent overcommitment.
One strategy Amber offered was to ask clarifying questions instead of immediately saying yes, including:
- Can you help me understand the priority?
- Where does this fit among my current projects?
- Is there flexibility in the timeline?
The reminder: There’s power in the pause.
What it means to “Give to Gain”
At its core, “Give to Gain” is about doing what matters in a way that’s sustainable.
“Giving” thoughtfully through presence, honesty, and connection allows us to “gain” stronger work connections, better thinking, and healthier teams.
“If I’m giving my energy and my time, it’s not through fear,” Amber explained. “It’s because it feels aligned and abundant.”
Women’s History Month is the perfect time for women to evaluate what giving looks like for them and what opportunities there are to give in a way that allows them to gain more.
Final reminder: Support others. Honor yourself. And build something stronger, together.