If you missed the #SupplyChainDiversityDiscussion LinkedIn Live Accelerator event hosted by Kelly Barner this morning - don't sweat....now you can catch the recording!

It was great to hear the different perspectives on this topic - so many good nuggets to think about! Today, Heather Fotch was joined by Canda Rozier, Helen Mackenzie, Philip Ideson, and Jason Roberts who joined on stage too. (Hint: We love people joining us on stage to share their perspective and experiences!!)

Heather's Key Takeaways:

🎯 While 10yrs ago #SupplierDiversity programs may have been a box-checking activity by #Procurement (possibly because of a public soundbite by the company's CEO).

🎯 Suppliers who become #DiversityCertified can't just check the box themselves either.....getting certified doesn't automatically earn you big business...you still have to show what value you can offer.

🎯 Who within Procurement and Supply Chain should really "own" the Supplier Diversity program, and, is there enough understanding from the other business units on what the goals should be and what they can contribute to help those goals be achieved?

🎯 It would be interesting to take a deeper dive into that 70% from the poll, to find out who is from the #SellSide and who is from the #BuySide to further segment those responses. In my mind there are two kinds of "box checking" perceptions: (1) the perception coming from diverse suppliers who have gone through the hoops to be added to a supplier diversity list but have had nothing ever progress from it, and (2) the perception from the company that they have a program in place so they've met certain promises made or requirements for government contracting...and there isn't anything left they need to do.

One other question came to mind after the show ended - should diverse suppliers give supplier diversity programs a break and give them time to catch up to get their plans in place? If the last couple of years dealing with #SupplyChain issues due to the pandemic have taught us anything, it's that companies are having to re-think their supply chain and include diverse suppliers instead of adhering to the status quo, as they may find that diverse suppliers are more agile in providing them with their direct and indirect purchasing needs.

We aren't in Kansas anymore, Toto 🐕, and the same old #Diversity conversations of yesteryear are simply unacceptable.