Women at CSX: Business resource group helps female employees connect, grow
1/9/2025
Last month, RailPrime reached out to CSX to learn more about its Women’s Business Resource Group (BRG), which has been supporting the company’s female employees for more than 20 years. Through education and community involvement, the group focuses on fostering connections among the women of CSX and on the issues that impact them.
The Women’s BRG is one of eight BRGs formed at CSX to help employees with shared interests and experiences in support of the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategy, company officials say.
“I joined CSX in 2002 and have been mentored, encouraged and inspired by some impressive women leaders along the way.” — Erin O’Brien, associate general counsel and executive sponsor of the Women’s BRG CSXFollowing is an interview that RailPrime Senior Editor Julie Sneider conducted with the group and its executive sponsor, CSX Associate General Counsel Erin O’Brien. Her responses were provided by email and have been edited for length and clarity.
RailPrime How has the Women’s BRG evolved over the years to respond to changes in the rail industry?
O’Brien: Currently, women make up 5% of CSX’s total workforce — representing 22% of management and 2% of union employees. While we are moving in the right direction in terms of building out and sustaining a diverse workforce, we recognize there is more work to be done, and CSX is firmly committed to doing the work.
The Women’s BRG is intently focused on supporting and connecting with women in operations and other field-based roles. Through our member meetings and surveys, we seek input on the issues that are important to our female employees. We offer a variety of in-person and remote activities to promote inclusion and leverage technology to more easily reach a wider audience.
We also look for opportunities to support community organizations that align with our values and strategic priorities. For example, CSX and the Women’s BRG are leading in the fight to help end human trafficking and assist victims. With eyes and ears across the United States, we are uniquely situated to help in this space.
RailPrime How many women participant in the BRG today?
O’Brien: We currently have over 160 members across seven business organizations within CSX. With support from administration, our leadership team is comprised of women from the finance, operations, technology and the law departments. Our membership is also inclusive of men in the organization who are wonderful allies.
RailPrime How does the group meet, in person? Online? Both?
O’Brien: Our membership meetings and development programs are available both in-person and online. We also provide community activities that field employees can participate in. For example, we held a supply drive to benefit human trafficking victims and a diaper drive both with collection points across our network. We also recently distributed pink ribbon stickers to the field locations with the highest female employee base to promote Breast Cancer awareness.
We also leverage ONE CSX initiatives to increase our presence beyond our headquarters in Jacksonville. For example, in 2025 we are partnering with other CSX BRGs to showcase our groups at "Family Days” events across our network.
RailPrime Describe some of the group's activities.
O’Brien: The group creates forums to engage in conversations on career and leadership growth, and overall well-being for aspiring woman leaders. The group also advocates for creating a sustainable pathway for women in leadership and works closely with other BRGs to advocate for more-inclusive business practices.
As mentioned above, human trafficking is an area of focus. We’ve partnered with Rethreaded, a Jacksonville, Florida-based nonprofit organization that supports victims of human trafficking and helps them heal while offering a safe and supportive work environment. CSX employees volunteer at Rethreaded and invite Rethreaded to our campus for pop-up events where all employees can purchase products made by survivors.
Another partner is Jacksonville’s Pace Center for Girls. Pace has counselors and educators who provide free services for teenage girls in the areas of life-skills, career preparation and behavioral health. Our members provide a constant volunteer presence at Pace and support annual Pace events.
RailPrime How does the Women’s BRG help members develop their careers at CSX?
O’Brien: Career development and education is an important aspect of our BRG. Some examples of 2024 events include a “Railblazing Women of CSX Chat” where our female leaders shared how they advanced in their respective fields and the opportunities that helped them grow.
Later in the year, we sponsored a Women’s Leadership Panel where several dynamic female leaders from different industries shared valuable professional development insights. This panel featured CSX’s Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Diana Sorfleet, a strong supporter of the Women’s BRG, and was organized in connection with Donna Orender and Generation W. Donna is a former president of the WNBA, and GenW is a national community with a mission to fuel the power of women leadership.
We also celebrate Women’s History Month every year with a variety of events. In addition to volunteer opportunities and career panels, we’ve spotlighted women who contributed to American society and the railroad industry, highlighted female employees located across the CSX network and promoted a webinar on retirement planning for women.
We also like to have fun with activities, such as networking socials and yoga.
RailPrime What does the BRG do to help recruit potential new employees to CSX?
O’Brien: The Women’s BRG represents CSX at two annual Jacksonville events where we can showcase career opportunities available at CSX to middle- and high-school aged girls. We support the CSX table at the Jacksonville Pace Center for Girls’ Career Fair and provide volunteers at the American Heart Association’s First Coast STEAM Goes Red event. In addition, all the CSX BRGs are included in recruiting materials that highlight the DEI focus and how employee-led groups help build connections across our company and communities.
RailPrime How does the Women’s BRG interact with other BRGs at CSX or other companies?
O'Brien: We prioritize working with all BRGs, other CSX groups and other companies to support CSX’s diversity, equity and inclusion strategy. Examples of recent events over the years include:
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Menopause awareness (with CSX Employee Well-being);
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Breast cancer awareness (with CSX Employee Well-being);
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Human trafficking awareness (with CSX Police, Quality Carriers, UPS, Rethreaded, Polaris);
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Women safety and self-defense (with CSX Police);
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Black Maternal Health Week (with CSX African American BRG);
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Women in rail panel (with CSX DEI, CSX STEAM BRG and National Association of Railway Business Women);
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Jax Adaptive Halloween Costume event (with CSX ABLE BRG); and
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Internet Safety for Children panel with FBI and Monique Burr Foundation (with CSX ABLE BRG).
In addition, we leverage numerous communication channels to amplify other CSX BRGs, DEI and employee well-being events to our members so that they’re aware of the great opportunities to get involved and engage with their peers.
We also team up with the Jacksonville chapter of the National Association of Railway Business Women for events whenever we can.
RailPrime How long have you been involved with the BRG and why did you join?
O’Brien: I became the BRG’s executive sponsor about three years ago. I joined CSX in 2002 and have been mentored, encouraged and inspired by some impressive women leaders along the way.
In recent years, I have become involved in a couple of external groups where I had the opportunity to meet and connect with local women leaders who are making a profound difference and who have taught me a ton, both professionally and personally. Empowering women has become a passion.
